CRAVES ON GALLIPOLI

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 186, 7 August 1920, Page 6

CRAVES ON GALLIPOLI

PREPARING FOR PILGRIMS

TREES FROM HOMELAND.

LONDON, July 23

Colonel O. Hughes, officer in charge of the graves on Gallipnli, inter- , viewed by a press representative, said that burials had been completed at Gallipoli. The bodies were gathered in small cemeteries, each of which would be walled and ringed by New Zealand and Australian trees, which are now flourishing in a nursery. Each grave would be /slabbed in, the ancient English style. There would be no standing headstones/ because the local peasants were always armed and were accustomed to take shots at any prominent white object.

The V.M.C.A. intends, to erect a hostel at the straits, either at Kelia, or Kilid Bahr, opposite Chanak, which is only 1350 yards across the straits, and at which seaport large vessels call. From there visitors can ferry over and take a motor on a good road to Anzac Cove, which is ■only twenty minutes' run.

The V.M.C.A. has been greatly assisted by Lady Doughty Wylie, whoso husband was killed at Helios in the landing. He was formerly a diplomat in Turkey and Anatolia. His widow is living in Constantinople at present.

Working parties are sometimes fired on, but latterly the villagers have been warned, and sentries are posted. Hc-;id:(u;>rters arc protected by wire crossing the main roiul towards Constantinople, nnd TrKir>hineglumens are posted in armed m.ifcor branches.

Trouble always follows the visits of Turkish Nationalist officers i'roiu Asia and Thrace.