THE ANTWERP GUNS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 221, 18 September 1917, Page 5

THE ANTWERP GUNS.

CAUSE OF THE GALLIPOLI

WITHDRAWAL

In the course of an interesting address in Melbourne recently, Colonel F. Bird, C.8., who experienced the vicissitudes of; war on Gallipoli, at Salonica, in Prance, and as a survivor of a torpedoed ship, revealed some facts of history which have not hitherto received publication. The Gallipoli withdrawal, Dr Bird said, was due to the, arrival of the Antwerp guns—the guns that the Germans used to batter their way into Belgium, and Antwerp, and that were capable of pulverising the small strips of -territory so long held by 'the Allies with such heroism and at such a cost. General Birdwood allowed the erroneous report to go abroad that the evacuation was to take place on the Friday night, and that night the Turks attacked in force, losing 6000 men. The following night the Allies withdrew with a single ca^u-; alty. ,Tn his opinion, the speaker said, the landing of the heroic 29th British Division at Cape Helles was q. mistake. Had that division been hurled, ashore, in conjunction: .withthe Anzacs higher up the peninsula,-, the Allies would have "won out." ? ,