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Mataura Ensign, 21 June 1915, Page 5

TURKEY'S HOURS NUAIBERED. -OFFICER’S STATEMENT. Ro:ei ved Jnne 21, noon. ■ TXJNDON, June 20. The despatch continues. “The armored turret : motci-ears ’of tint Nn va 1 Air Service did useful work, hut the roads are mainly unsuitable for this method of warfare. Udng iwo fairly good roads frquySedd el Bahr and Cane Tlelles' to V Kritl\ia, 'which cut the enemy’s trenches at right-angles, light cars advanced. Crossing our trendies over typical bridges they ran close to the enemy ’s lilies - and opened -machine gun-dire.'-on deep entrenchments. The enemy made . further progress- impos--sible. The < ars ajv the same time offered good targets-.- for : the enemy’s guns add shells began lo drop around, but' the .motoriels hacked oni of the danger -zone. - Two'-ears are slightly damaged. - “Guy centre dashed so far forward that we were unable (o maintain all tlie ground although ' the naval division fought with the:utmost gallantry. The Turks reserved: a ■ vigorous counter-at-tack until Sunday, when a reserve came up from beyond. Achi Baha. Our men were very hard pressed and abandoned two of the conquered trenches hut held the remainder _of the. ground, repulsing the Tui/ks with , great loss. The storming of Achi Baba is a difficult problem. It presents a series of Smooth- slopes terraced at intervals which are as, difficult to: mount as a glacis and as old-fashioned. “A» Turkish officer who ' was. .taken prisoner, said, ‘Germany is our -ally. We know thajc our country’s:: hours are •niiinhered, hut wo will-light for her as you would light for yours.’ ” ■« ■ ■ • TURKS FIGHT FAIRLY. . ATROCITIES DENIED. Received. June 21, 12.20* p.tnCAIRO, June 20. The majority of , tlie wounded men deny the Turkish atrocities. They state that the Turks ate. fighting most fairly. In one case a. Tttrk. dreused the wounds of a Britisher under lire and another left his water-bottle with a wounded Australian. Another Australian who was made a prisoner Hut who escaped states that he was very well ■treated. ... 'After the'furious- attack ,on Sari Bair pn May, 19 the Turks sent the. following message, “Wo\are going to, drive you Australian devils into the sea tomorrow'.'”’A Turkish aeroplane dropped •a' message at - Gaha Tepeh, saying, “Australians and New Zealanders, .snr-* render. We will treat you well.” The message exhorted them, not to light in an unjust war. ■ The wounded state that the Australians and New Zealanders get on splendidly together and are -like one big family. A NEW ZEALAND BATTERY. DOING EXCELLENT.WORK. ' The Australians recently sent a- message to the No.' 2 New Zealand Battery, which was doing excellent work upon Colonel Plugge’s plateau, as folJp.ws, “Go it, mates! There.is no need for ns bo use our rifles while you fire like that.” ' : The men are so keen that they do not desire to leave ijie trenches. "The 16th (Battalion of the 3rd Australian - Infantry was live weeks in the trenches before it-was relieved. The Australian war- cry on-the peninsula is, “Xmshi valla,” which are ■Arabia words, meaning “Be.off! Move on.!” . Before H.M.s. Triumph wa,s sunk she did excellent work in cutting off the Turkish reinforcements were corning up the gullies near Gaba Tepeli. Captain Wallingford (the champion shot) and his/ machine gun was one of the mainstays -of the force at Sari •Bard. ‘ ■