THE TRAGEDY OF WAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 January 1916, Page 2

THE TRAGEDY OF WAR.

GRAVES OF THE FALLEN. INSPECTED BY GENERAL. INCIDENT ON GALLIPOLI. The following description of an imircssive inspection of me graves of the iiiien ut file Dardanelles comes from lie special correspondent of the Melbourne “Argus,” who wrote from “the Near East/' on December Ist; rhere were eight perfect rows, each soldier’s place being immediately behind file other in front. At intervals there were gaps, but new arrivals were constantly taking up the vacant spaces. That very morning seven of the places had been Tilled. It was not everyone who was accepted, one necessary qualification being that each one nominee should have been under lire. Some of the 'men in those regular ranks had taken part in a dozen desperate lights; two had been awarded the Victoria Crot-s, and at least a dozen had been “mentioned in despatches.” Every soldier in that group was an undoubted hero. Selection had not, however, been confined to particular units or to special arms of the service, practically every brigade and every battalion being represented. , All of them were Australians. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.”

A Common wealth general, who himself showed scars from many engagements, was milking an inspection. A sergeant at his elbow held a book, containing every valiant man’s name and record —it was called “The Roll of Honour,’,’ Turkish guns boomed, and were being answered on the ridges, while rifles snapped and cracked viciously. . Bullets Unit had failed to find a mark in the firing-line came roaring down into the valley to kick up bubbles of dust in the well-ordered lines. The staccato notes'of machineguns chopped spasmodically into the medley of sound. The general took no notice; The noise' was familiar enough. Anyway, he was engrossed by the business in hand. Starting from the left the general strode along the front, while fhe sergeant read aloud from the open book: MANY HEROIC HEEDS. of landing party, led number of patrols info enemy lerriala ihsmsimtk mama to

comrades; hit by bomb at Steele’s Post. ’ ’ “Where did this In an enlist?” en* quired the officer. “Sydney, sir—mother lives at Maitland. ” “SIMPSON.— Conspicuous bravery following the landing. Rescued 16 wounded men under fire. Made a great many trips daily with injured down Shrapnel Valley, when enemy guns were most active. Hit.by sniper Ironi the Bloody Angle.” “How did he move the wounded men ?” “On a donkey, sir. Everyone here in the early days knew Simpson, He was a wonder.” “HOGARTH.- —Fearless in the most trying circumstances. His confidence was contagious. Went single-handed into scrub to find a machine-gun, and came back riddled with bullets to report.” “That was at the beginning?” “Yes, sir. He was mentioned in despatches—a school teacher in Victoria —one of the bravest.” GRIEF AND PRIDE. So the inspection went on, first one line and then the other being viewed. The general halted in front of each soldier's portion in turn to hear his personal story. The general jiassedalong with a sigh. His heart-, was beating fast, stirred by mixed .emotions, in which grief and pardonable pride struggled for the supremacy. ; A great many of the men had been in his own command. Now and then, he stood longer than usual, asking,for further particulars, with his head turned to one side so as to catch every word. • “it is wonderful,” he would say. SometimesADlie general remarked', “And one of mine!” Inside the hour the final name in the last rank had been read. The general walked back to his starting point. His face was very serious, and he could not trust him- ~ self to speak for some minutes. Then lie said simply ; “What brave fellows they all are!” The bugler had his heels together and his head up. The sergeant closed his. book. “AUSTRALIA SHOULD BE PROUD OF THEM.” “Sound the general salute!” the officer said. While, the clear liquid notes rang out the little party stood at attention, with their hands to their brows. “Now blow the ‘Last Pest.’ ” For some minutes afterwards there was silence. Any one of them would have had difficulty in speaking. The general once more looked up and down those orderly lines, with the little mottnds so equally spaced out — half a yard apart and a yard between. At the head of every one was a rough wooden cross, with a white number printed upon it. From one or two tiny shrubs were sprouting, and on others wild poppies were shooting up. There was an open hole in the last row. It was to be filled in next morning, and a new cross would be put up with another number.

“How many will that make? the, general asked. _ A. “Nine hundred and ninety-two, sir. 1 “For ihem f-he war has finished. Their joys and troubles are ended.. Australasia should be proud of them.