THE YEAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 31 December 1915, Page 2

THE YEAR

I NEW ZEALANDERS PART IN THE WAR HISTORY OF THE GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN. "COMBAT BETWEEN GIANTS." NEW ZEALANDERS' FEATS. LANDING AT GABA TEPE. MEMORABLE BATTLES. The Gallipoli ■campaign, will rank in history as one of the most memorable . ; in the annals of the world's wars. The / fact that the New Zealand troops have i taken a most prominent part in it, with J such, credit to themselves and their • country, will cause th-;.-? campaign to be • always regarded in this Dominion as a I specially interesting phase of the war. I The bombardment of the Turkish forts at the entrance to the Dardanelles by a combined British Franco fleet was commenced to ward e the end of last February. By the beginning- of March the Al-lied-fleet had entered- the Dardanelles, and had reached Kalid Bah]-, on: the Enropean side of .the Straits, at the entrance to the Narrows,- where some of the forts wei-e attacked. About the same time a warship, "'entered* the -Gulf of Saros, and from there conducted a bombardment. The cablegrams published on Alarch Bth, contained the first- mention of the participation cii the new British super-Dread-nought, the Queen . Elizabeth, in the operations. I LOSS OF THREE BATTLESHIPS.

The warships continued to venture further" into - the Dardanelles, and thus to enter upon what was recognised as. the dangerous stage of the operations:' * On March 20 news was received of the loss of the .British battleship Irresistible and Ocean, and the French battleship; Bouvet. • These ships, none of which was modern, struck drifting mines and. sank in deep -water: The British ships floatedfor some time, and consequently'the loss of life was small, but' ; the Bouvet sank in less than, three minutes, and only 68" of the crew of 620' were saved. The British battle-cruiser Inflexible and the French battleship Gaulois were also damaged By gun-fire. At the. end of .March it was reported •that the Turkish Government was so apprehensive of being unable to : successfully 'defend the Dardanelles that it had issued proclamation's-in. Constantinople warning, the. people that the Allied warships would arrive in the Bosphorus shortly, as "the Sultan is to'open-the ■Dardanelles ■• ' for:.the free passage of foreign warships.'' About the same time-, how.6ver,..ne\ys was; received of preparations for, a 'Turkish' "vl defence against an expected.laud 'attack.. '.. A fortnight Liter' came the'news.'that a, Freheh v 'm'ilitary force, intended ' for service in the attack on the, Dardanelles, ' had 1 been disembarked at Alexandria, and that it was preparing to co-operate' with a British expeditionary force, 'including the' New Zealanders and Australians, and the ? Allied fleet. '' '"

FIRST LANDING AT GALLIPOLI -' ■' . " ■ '

• The landing of the Allied land forces on the Gallipoli Peninsula, under the cover of the guns from the fleet, took place late in April. It was in -the.early' hours of the morning of Sunday; April 25, a. day that will long live in- history, •that the New Zealanders ,who'had arrived at -the island "of Lemnos from Egypt a-fortnight previously, landed at Gaba Tepe, on the western shoi-e of the peninsular, in company -with the Australians, under a withering shrapnel, machine 'gun, and rifle fire from, the Turks. The story. of /this which is destined to rank as one of tlie most gallant feats of arms, has been repeatedly told during the past _ few months. The magnificent valour of. the colonials enabled." them, not only to secure a foothold arid scale an .almost perpendicular'' cliff, but also .during the

first night,'■after a hard day's lighting in strange rough scrub-covered country, full of deadly snipers, to dig themselves into position, from which (lie Turks for the two-following days vainly eudeavoured to dislodge them. The troops suffered-heavily during the lauding operations, and a week later the first «vt the long lists of New Ze.dand casualties began to arrive. King George sent a special message to the Uovi-ninr. conveying congratulations upon ihe splendid conduct and bravery displayed by the New Zealand troops at the Dardanelles, who have indeed proved themselves worthy sons, of the Empire. The place at which the Australasians landed was afterwards named Anzac Cove, the word being composed of the initial lettersof the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. THE LANDING AT SEDD-CL-BAHR. At the same time that Australians landed at Gabe Tepe Allied, troops were also landed on : both the Asiatic and European sides of the Dardanelles, and it was announced-that -they-had-estab-lished a line across the' south-western extremity of the Gallipoli Peninsula, in spite of continual opposition by the enemy. Tlie landing of British troops at Sedd-ul-Bahr, at the southern end of the ■peninsula, in which many deeds of bi-av-ery were performed, was 'attended by severe -losses. Another force landed at Cape He-Hes. French troops, which also landed, shortly afterwards effected a junction with'the British-troops. General Sir lan Hamilton took command of the Shortly after the landing a nerpe battle" was fought" at»Maidos, on the'shores of tlie Dardanelles, above the Narrows, and nearly 'opposite the point at which the New ■■- Zealahders arid 'Australians' had landed. The forts at Maidos were reported to be destroyed and the fcwn reduce'! to ruins.- . ' ':.''•-■ KRITHIA AND ACHF BABA. On May 5 the trenches at Gaba. Tepe. held 1 - by the New ; Zealand Tnfautry Brigade were taken over by the Naval Brigade. That.night the New- Zealand In-

fantry Brigade and a force of Australians embarked upon destroyers for Gape Helles, "and after a rest of 24 hours they entered the firing line in the southern extremity of the r peninsula-, .■ where" the main invasion b ythe Anglo-Frehcii force had been accomplished'in* the face of a 1 most, insuperable difficulties en April 25. On May 8 the Australasians were moved up for the assault on the formidable fortress of Aoh'i- Baba and the heights: of Rrithia'. They were met by a tornado of bullets, and enfiladed, by machine guns, but not a man turned, back; After severe fighting the Turks evacuated the village of Krithia, but the allies could not then advance.to take or hold it. . -

| "On Alay 10 considerable reinforcements ! hegah to arrive, -for' the British " and French troops. New Zealand audi Aus--tralian mounted irieiv who had volunteered to serve on foot, also An ijidiah brigade was also reported to'be cb-operating-. "-'."" • ) On the night of May ,12 there w-a-s a further attack, the commencement of "a. new plan of the Allies to envelop the hill of'Achi Baba, and to lay aside the idea of ■■ taking 'at ,by direct assault. Honey-combed with trenches and tunnels and with 6in guns mounted near the crest, the hill,.proved' to he strongly •defended. The-fighting continued to be particirlarly fierce around Krithia. Although outnumbered by three to one, ahd exposed .to;a deadly machine gun, fire, the British made considerable headway. It was reported, ■ however, that Aclii Baba could be taken only at fhe bayonet's ipoiht-. - -] On May I? >the New- Zealand Infantry went irito rest camp. '•- They Tece.i'ved notice on,i\laj.v 19 to -return north\yards_, and on th£' 28ih, they were again back at Baba 'Tope. The brigade remained iij- the divibional reserve untdl .Tune 1, when it moved- into' Mpnasli Gitlly t,) relieve one of the Australian brigades.

NEW ZEALANDERS CAPTURE "QUINN'S POST. In tlie meantime the troops of the ■German commander, General von. Sanders who had boasted that, the British forces would be driven, into tlie sea, met with defeat on .May 18 and 19, when the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, fighting o'ii foob were engaged. On that occasion the Turks lost 70CO or 8000, as compared with. 500 colonials killed find .'wounded. ~ Tile enemy's fire was chiefly directed at Quinn's Post and Courtenay's Post. At dawn on May 19 the 'Chirks, numbering 30,000 fiercely bombarded t)u& Australasian trenches, following with a series of desperate attacks, but not a Turk set foot in the Colonial trenches, although hundreds fell within, a. fewyards of them. The.■enemy -retired about 10 a.m., under a deadly fire from the Australasian field guns and howitzei-s. "«A. very deadly struggle took place at Quinn's Post, which for long was '"no man's land,'' both sides waiting an opportunity to attack.' Skilled Xew Zealand engineers finally captured the .position. They had dug :i network of trenches find tunnels audi bomb-proof shelters, supported by beams. The Tuiks endeavoured to blow up this new 'defence, but the New Zealanders coun-ter-mined and b'jw up the enemy's works instead. CO-OPERATION" WITH SOUTHERN ARMY. A combined general assault on the Turkish trenches in the southern portion of the .peninsula was begun on June 4. During this attack, the New Zealanders succeeded in holding Turkish trenches opposite Quinn's Post —named the '"death trap"—during .the night. The Turkish casualties, were heavy. Next morning, however, the enemy made a counter attack and ultimately regained tlie trenches. Turkish attaclts on the position won. by the Indian troops west and north, west of Krithia were unsuccessful, and the Gurkhas charged the enemy with their kukris for the first time with excellent effect. Further formidable attacks on the Allied forces in the south of Gallipoli were made during the firsc week in July, but they ended in failure. Desperate fighting, which resulted in favour of the Allies, also took place on July 28. LANDING AT SUVLA BAY. The news of a new "surprise" lauding by British troops in Gallipoli atj Suvla Bay, a few miles north of Gaba. Tepe, thereby threatening to cut the only laud highway to the. Gallipoli Peninsula; was published on August 12. General Sir lan Hamilton reported that the landing was successfully effected, and. after a day's., fighting considerable progress was j made, 620 prisoners being taken. Genj eral Hamilton also reported the capture ■of one of the crests of-ySari Bair, which lies in the northern zone, where the I New Zealanders and Australians l were \ fighting. The crest was occupied after 'fierce fighting and the successful storming of .strongly-held positions. An, advance made by the New Zealanders on August • 7 audi'B in connection with the new landing was described by Mr Ashmead Bartlett as "the finest! feat of the fighting and the highest point any troops have yet gained ; on the 'peninsular." On the night 'of ('August 7 the New Zealanders charged

ithe Turkish line- with fixed bayonets, anj swept, the Turks- -before them. 'Fighting rcntinned dining- the night* and throughout August 8 and until dawn on August 9. The Turks fought, courageously, but, were unable to resist the dash of the New Zealanders. Tile'' New Zealand advance resulted in the capture of a Nordenfc-k- gun, twt> machine, guns, many trench mortars, and 600 prisoners. 300 being taken by a .single "New Zealand battalion.

• GREATEST BATTLE ON GALLTt'OLI." In another despatch Mr Ashmead Bartlet gave a thrilling account of the battl© for Sari Bair, fought between August 6 and 10, when the-; New Zealanders reached the summit of the coveted ridge, but were compelled to withdraw owing to the delay in the arrival of reinforcements-from, Suvls. Bay. " The combat was described as -the "'greatest battle on Gallipoli." Only the dead weight, of the Turkish numbers prevented the New Zealanders holding all the ground they So gallantly won. Mr Bartiett, who visited the ground where the New Zealanders, including the Maoris, and the Australians- advanced, said : "The New Zealand Infantry Brigade, the Gurkhas, and." other battalions actually reached* their objective, but were -unable -to'.hold on. through no fault of their own. A battalion of ■ Gurkhas actually reachedV ; the crest of the .plateau but at the same/.-moment, the Turks, taking advantage of the confusion, coun-ter-attacked: with..-great".force, and drove back the Gurkhag-to, the-lower .spurs.-. Survsvorg wh^ l ; - I "6*.t'aihedi. views .of the promised 'land. 'describe - the" waters of the Dardanelles':"^s"lying beneath, with a Tu'iikish-'■■''■transport. st'earniLng south-, ward. - They • alsr> looked down' -oil the. Narrows at :'Kilid!.Ba-hiy- "'. ■' ■"- •

A BITTER .DISAPPOINTMENT. "It was a bitter disappointment."con-i-tinued Mr Bartiett, relinquish, the when it was almost Within grasp' after so "many months, but there was no alternative. The.;"'A'rizaes* fought like lions,- and accomplished a- feat.' of armsalmost, without parallel,."climbing- those heights although\ handicapped -by the \ failure of another corps-toinake'-good its positions on- the: Anafarta Hills further 1 north, for the purpose of -checking.;- the enemy's shell fire." /.';,: ■'■■: '<•'■•• -:* -' - ■ * • -."''• In concluding his -..story,- Mar Bartiett said:—"When the; details of-the- complicated operations are sifted they •will form one of the most fascinating: in the • war's history. > It .was- a-' combat of giants in giant country." ; V "

"CHARGE ON HILL 70. Another brilhant fe<at. of amis was the assault of a division of: British Yeonianry on Hill 70 on. August \O. After;' &• most heroic charge the -troops- gained- the crest, of the hill, : hut' it was found -to pe untenable and it had..to be aoandoried.. • • A subsetiuent official accouttt of'.- the operations bet-ween A*gius''t ; 6'3nd 'August 21, stated that al'thbugh 'the'' N T ey Zealanders and Australians,-by; "their', hrilliant attack, gained the;-«.unimit'df : the Sari Bair and Chanak Bair - ridges,' tliey werre obliged to withdraw owing to'<the British attack from Suyla. Baj> ; nbfc : "developing quickly enough.' The gained,, however, enabled- the siahand British, lines, to be established along, a. front of ;12 miles. ''A renewed attack was "made ; oh August 21', hut although points, on the slopes of: the hills forraing the enemy's centre were .reached;: the troops summits, and withdrew' to their original "front. Since Vfchen. operations -at/Gallipoli have been' almost, at- a, standstill.

THE MAORIS' 'BAPTISM OF FIRE. The high, honours gained, by the New Zealaudors in the -campaign have been shared by the members of the Maori Expeditionary Force, who have proved themselves true sons of a fighting race. The Maoris .after doing a. period of garrison duty in Malta, went to Gallipoli, •and, according to a story told by-a JSTew Zealand officer, they astonished the perplexed Turks ' by dancing the- fiitet haka performed under Orient sides. Thcv participated in -various engagements, including the brilliant fight for Sari Bair. their task ori that occasion, which -was skilfully performed, being ■to creep forward over broken ground, cut the barbed wire entanglements and otherwise prepare the way for the advance. NEW ZEAI/ANDERS" HONOURED.

I A large number of awards for gallantIrv and distinguished conduct .during .the | campaign were -awarded to New Zeai landers. One," Corporal Cyril Basseft, of ! Auckland, was awarded the Victoria' I Cross. Lieutenant-Colonel Plugge,. of 'Auckland, who took a prominent part in the fighting following tlie landing was awarded tlie C.M.G. CHANGE IN COMMAND. LAN HAMILTON RECALED. EARL KITCHENER'S.'VISIT. On October 19th it was announced that General Sir lan Hamilton had been recalled and that Gemeral Monro'had I been appointed to succeed him in the charge of the Gallipoli forces. A cablegram published on November '2O stated that Lord Ribblesdale rei marked in the- House of 'Lords that "it was common knowledge that General ' Monro had reported in favour of withdrawing from the Dardanelles, and was adverse to the continuances of winter operations." Lord Ribblesdale asked the Government whether'Earl-Kitchener had gone to withdraw the men. ; Lord Lansdowne, in replying, said that General Monro's report had been made, but the evidence accompanying it did not seem sufficient to enable the Cabinet to form any conclusion. Great questions of policy were involved, and it had therefore, been determined to .ask EaTl Kitchener, who had a wide experience of the Eatt, to visit Qallipoli in oixter to report and advise the [Government. ~. ~ , , Earl Kitchener visited .Gallipoli, but , up to the present announcement of the withdrawal from Anzac and Suvla Bay there was no official statement ot the intentions of the military authori-' ties. —This account is from the •'A.Z. Herald."