The Dardanelles.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 428, 6 August 1915, Page 5

The Dardanelles.

Life on the Gallipoli Battlefield.

Mr. Ashmead Bartlett’s Discriptive

Pen-Picture.

Glowing Praise Given to Australians and New Zealanders. Ottr Men Desperately Eager to Advance London, Aug. (>. Mr. Ashmead Bartlett, under date July 16th, states that the positions of the Australians and New Zealanders has not changed for six weeks. They occupied an area extended only by 2<xx> yards of seashore northward, but in the interior tlic position had changed out of all -recognition since the landing. The consolidating process made everything comfortable and secure. The stalemate cami<>t last fur ejer, and when die moment arrives for a big push all along the line, the Colonials will certainly resume the active rple, lor which they are peculiarly fitted by temperament and training. They are desperately eager to adv ain't?. They have obtained a complete local mastery, deciding whether a daily round shall be truce or constant sniping, bomb throwing or mining. Since their last repulse the lurk.s have not been aggressive, but have been content to hit the trenches and postpone a trial of strength with such a formidable enemy. Although not so spectacular as the periodical British advances, the Colonials’ work m equallv useful, and has entailed enormous physical labour, besides inflicting “n the lurk considerable losses. The German commanders icalme Tie ever-present danger that if lhe innumerable trenches are depleted the Colonials will promptlv break through. Hie great Itirkish attempts have been an' utter fiasco. Now that the fire trenches are irnpreg liable, die danger period has passed, but there is continuous fighting and heavy casualties on both sides.

Local attacks and counter-attacks, incessant bomb-throwing, mining and trench digging keep the Australians and New Zealanders busy , and have given them invaluable experience in this kind of warfare. The soft, sandy soil entails constant repairs to collapsed trenches. Ihe Turks sometimes amuse themselves with shelling an entire section, which must be rebuilt along a ridge a. few feel wide with the enemy a few’ y ards in front and a sheer precipice of shifting sand behind. A glimpse ihrough the periscope shows that the l urks have the same difficulties, and their spades, arc alway s shovelling earth for dear life.

Our outer defence hue is not a complete semi-circle. lhe Turks hold a section of Shrapnel \ alleys Six weeks ago it was unpleasant to visit Ouinn’o Post, Pope’s Post, and Courtenay’s Post. To-day the indefatigable energy of the men from “ down under ” has enabled them to reach the fire trenches in comparative safety.

lhe l urks dare not expose? themselves a second, and no lunger snipe down Shrapnel Valley. lhe New- Zealanders and Australian Light Horse arc here entrenched ,and have obtained complete fire supremacy.

Owing to the proximity ol the lines at this point, hand grenades and trench mortars are the chief weapons in a very deadly struggle. Quinn’s i’ost was for long a “no man's land,” both sides wailing their opportunity. Skilled New Zealand miners finally captured it, ami have since held it lirmly. They have dug a network of trenches and iunnels, which are bomb-proof a.xl supported by beams. The Turks endeavoured to blow up this new defence, but the New Zealanders countermined and blew up the enemy insteadSnipers are forcing the Turks further back, and Quinn’s Post is now impregnable and quite comfortable. lhe underground living is popular, affording cool, excellent cover. Manydead lurks arc King in neutral ground, which is a maze of barbed wire. lhe l urks’ first lesson is io hide and never disclose their number,.

When the Australians were tiring of inactivity and wondering* whether the Turks remained in any strength, a British aeroplane passed oxer. Hying low. The l urks could not resist jumping up and volleying at the intrepid airman. Ihe lifeless trenches fairly bristled with bayonets, showing the importance the lurks attach to the position. The Turkish gunS are constantly shelling the Australian and New Zealand positions. There is one gun the Colonials arc lodging to have a. reckoning with.

They have cheerfully faced llic labour of bringing ammunition and stores, especially water, up the barren cliffs. I hey have an amazing physique ; no European nation possesses anything to compare with them. I In: Prussian Guard consists 'picked men, but they are fat and ungainly, while the Colonials are great, big-limbed athletes with not a pound of superfluous flesh among the ]< v i.

It is not so much an army a; a community come together 10.1 the job. Ihev have framed their own laws to carry it out. They work in little groups, united cither by home ties or mutual regard. Th<group:, discipline themselves. hen ordered to carry water they do not mao h smartly in obedience to the non-com., but saunter slowly, sit down and light their pipes while contemplating the work.

Probably there is a millionaire or ;i cow boy , a doctor or a. clerk among them. Ihe unofficial leader of tin: gang presently rises slowly and say s, “ Well, boy s, it’s got to be done, ami the quicker the better we get it oxer.” Then they start work like niggers, not stopping or slacking until it is finished. Four millionaires arc working in a mini shall, and had not finished when other., lame to relieve them. They refused to go until they had finished, because thev waul'd it to be known as their job. Not since the la.-t cliaigc ol DerviJics at Umduriuan has such a naked army been seen in the field. [he British loininy works sweating and broiling in the sun without removing a single pack, it is difficult to find an Australian or New Zealander wearing any thing except a pair ol shorts, and probably these are only due to a feeling of decency. At first coats went, then shirts and underclothes and boots. Ihe huge frames and giant limbs arc burnt a dull brick red A learned ethnologist suddenly discovering them would probably* classify* them as a branch of the American Indians. Excellent sea bathing has alone rendered the c ampaign tolerable. Ihe procession of naked warriors beach wards does not cease from sunrise to /.mi .el, legaidlc n of .piper, and bin .ting shrapnel

ITALY WILL ASSIST THE ALLIES. London, Aug. 5, 4.25 a.m. lhe High Commissioner reports: —Pans reports that Italy has sent an officer to die Dardanelles, and is intending to cooperate with the British and French operations. THE SICK SULTAN. ONLY A FEW DAYS TO LIVE. (Received 6, 11.5 a.m.) Amsterdam, Aug. 5. The ” Berliner Tageblatt ” reports an interview with. Prof. Israel, who successfully operated 011 the Sultan. It says Prof. Israel found him in a desperate condition, with only a few days to live. Prof. Israel was annoyed because the Sultan, who understands German, only spoke through a French interpreter. The professor remarked that Turkey was absolutely under German control, and happy to be so! OFFICIAL TURKISH REPORT. ATTACKS BY LAND, SEA AND AIR. Received 6,2 p.m.) Constantinople, Aug. 5. OFFICIAL.-—On Tuesday our artillery destroyed a. bombthrowers’ position near Ari Burnu. An enemy cruiser unsuccessfully shelled Altoitsme. Our artillcrv, replving, struck a torpedo boat, which retired. An enemy aviator bombarded Eznie, southward of Kurn Kale, killing and wounding some men. A cruiser and four torpedo boats appeared southward of Smyrna, on Tuesday. An aviator ascended from the warship and dropped three bombs on Sighajik, killing one man. The warships then fired 200 shells on the towns, destroying one house! RUSSIANS IN THE CAUCASUS. Received 6,2 p.m.) Athens, Aug. 5. A Constantinople communique, saysaWc heavilv at tacked the Russian rearguard in the Caucasus, in the neighbourhood of Hamur, compelling their retreat northward, and capturing 150 Our pursuing troops occupied Kara Kilissa, in the region around Hamur.

FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICES. MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES. [PRESS 'ASSOCIATION —COPIBIGHT. | London, Aug. 5. Sir lan Hamilton’s despatches mentioned the following Imperial officers attached to the Australian and New Zealand Forces: —Colonels R. Carruthers, N. Walker anil A. Skeen; Lieutenant -Colonel de Lotbiniere ; Majors Vi'.iiers and Stuart ; Lieutenant P. Keeling. The following New Zealanders tire also mentioned:--Major-General Godlcy. Lieut enant -Colonels R ieliardson. Plugge, P. Stewart, W. G. Alalone and Pearless. Colonel Chav ter. Majors Waite. C. Smith, Turnbull, Hart, E. O’Neill. Neale. Captains Wallingford, Sahuunsuu, Craig. Lieutenants Newbould, Neisbcl, Cowan, E. Wilson. Sergeant-Major Porteous. Sergeant, V.a.hue. Corporals Salmon, Saunders, Abbey, Barralt. Stecdinan. Singleton. Sappers Carlyon. Crimshaw. Privates Tempi! ny, Stockdill, Findlay. Hayden. Swaim, Comrie, C. Watson. Hoaxer. V,. Henry.. D.S. MEDALS. DEEDS THAT WON THEM.

Distinguished Service Medals were awarded to the following New Zealanders : --Laiiee-CorporaJ Fear, lor conspicuous gal’.antrv on 9th and lOtli June Tepe, volunteering to demolish a Turkish blockhouse within twelve yards of the enemy s trench which could only be approached over a, machine gun swept ground. Fear exhibited great skill in approaching and demolishing the blockhouse and was exposed to lire for an hour.

Sapper Hodges, for great, gallantry on June 9th and 10th, siiniar to Fear’s exploit. Private A. McLeod, for conspicuous gallantry on May Sth south 0; Klit.il in.. He was one of a party carrying ammunition to the advanced trenches under heavy fire. The majority were unable to proceed, but McLeod, although wounded in the leg, performed his task and returned. Not having been reported .wounded, he was again detailed to carry ammunition, which lie performed. Private F. O’Uonuor. who on May Bth. near Krithia, rendered distiuguislied services in the firing line until severely wounded, losing his right eye. He had previously been twice wounded. llis ga'laut example was of great value . Private G. Wilson, who during the operations on May Bth, south of Krithia, ilisplayed great gallantry iti carrying important messages under fire.

WHAT NEXT FROM GERMANY.

OFFENSIVE .AGAINST ITALY. SF.KVIA, AND THE ALLIES IN GALLIPOLI.

Some people think that if tile Russians should be thoroughly beaten and prostrated for months the Germans would then turn their whole attention, to the French and British. “Shrapnel.” in the Otago “Daily Times,’’ thinks they certainly would give the western front more attention than t.’iey have been giving it: ; but that front, Would not receive their whole attention. The need of the attempt to crush the Russians arose from two calls-that of the Austro -Hungarians anti that of the Turks. Austro-Hungary has been reliev'd from fear, and now Germany’s chief task ami hope is to relieve the lurks. She’ will not pursue her attacks towards Petrograd or Central Russia, however tempting the bait may be. The Germans will now turn, their attention to Italy and Serbia for the purpose of relieving Turkey and keeping an outlet to the Mediterranean through the Adriatic. The great Van’.'German conception and ambition for years past has been to con-

vert the Adriatic into a German lake and Turkey anti Asia Minor into a great Germa 11 Asiatic empire, which would give the Germans control of all the Russian outlets and a road to the East via the Persian Gulf as well as the control of the eastern side cl' the Red Sea. The attack on the Dardanelles threatens all those contemplated strokes and ambitions at the heart, and Germany’s first work after (as she hopes) thrashing the Russians wil. be to thrash Serbia, annex it, give Macedonia, to the Bulgarians as a bribe thereby enlisting Bulgaria through self-influence on her side, and opening the munitions road to ( ostantinople. Then the AustroGermans would rush 11-inch and 16inch howitzers to Gallipoli with the hope of subduing the Allies. The best way of preventing that is for the Allies to counter strongly in Lorraine and Flanders and for them, iuelnding the Italians, to reinforce Serbia strongly with men, guns and munitions. Already by the cables we know that the Austro-Germans are concentrating three army corps near the Serbian borders ; but if the real truth were known it is probable that the enemy is preparing more than three corps. Time is everything to Germany, and she is out to make no mistakes this tiim* against Serbia. If not- more than three army corps are to be employed by them against Serbia, the Austro-Germans must be going to have the assistance of the Bulgarians. Britain must send more submarines to the Sea of Marmora, and more heavy guns to Gallipoli, and get through the work more quickly than she is doing. There-, can be little doubt that munitions are being forwarded to Turkey by way of Bulgaria. The process is simple. Austria sells munitions to Bulgaria.- and sends them -through Rumania by way of the Danube, a very short distance, and Bulgaria sells them to the Turks.