THE DARDANELLES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 4 January 1916, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

i WITHDRAWAL FROM GALLIPOLI | A TRIUMPH OF ORGANISATION ! TURKS COMPLETELY HOODWINKED. LONDON. Jan. 3. The censor has released the accounts of the evacuation of Anzac and Suvla cabled on December 31st. The Fit'ty--fourth British Division had been removed prior to the eventful Sunday, Idaving General Godley's mixed division and the new Australian Division. ■Mr G. Ward Priec, writing from "off Suvla" on the morning of the 20th inst., says :

It is over at last-. Only six .cans have beeii left, which was done intentionally in cjr&er to live until the last minute. 'TheJ" 'were then destroyed. The British Ar-mv and Navy, working hand-in-hand, have' achieved a triumph of joint organisation which will become historic. Every preparation was made for fighting a- desperate rearguard action; nevertheless everything was deliberately carried out under the unsuspecting gaze of the Turks. The masses of men and material were brought down io Anzac and Suyla in an extraordinarily short space of time, and when the tally was taken the only loss was a relatively small quantity of bullybeef. biscuits, and rice. Not a since messroom cat was missing. Several battleships then smashed the .breakwaters built of old hulks by short range. Though the marching and embarking of the troops was stealthily done every Turk on the Peninsula, must have seen the storp 'burning and pier-£ma'shihg. Yet oven then the piizzled Turks never realised that anything : iiniisital was happening. It was only'ivheii the ships were steam ing away and the gunners in an erratic fashion 'shelled the beaches that thev grasped t-he situation.' ' The final decision . to evacuate Suvla and Anzac was due to Lord Kitchener, ■who visited the whole of the lines, and climbed- observation .posts af, every point until the whole geographical and militjiry -problem was before his eyes. He found it a front that twisted and turned at all sorts Qf awkward angles, making a bewildering series of Unscientific salients and re-entrants. Almost along the whole line the advantage of artillery positions was with the Turks. Suvla is a place of 'broad spaces commanded bv long range artillery. Anzac, ;a cramped and small, and under the fire qf snipers. The necessity for the evacuation was therefore apparent. I The last job ashore was the firing of the abandoned stores. The volunteers used time fuses,' which were only lit when news was telephoned that Anzac. ; was all clear, 'because it was expected that the conflagration would immediately apprise the Turks of - what was occurring, and prompt a furious if futile bom•barcLment: Things proceeded as smoothly as a perfectly rehearsed businesslike programme. The silence seemed to hang by- a hair. It was thought that I an infantrv attack was likely. Tliere were only'2o,ooo Turks in the trenches , at. the- Anzac and Suvla fronts, with 60,000 close behind in reserve. Til** ' Turks were anxious to avoid a fight. A deserter who surrendered was disgusted with the apathy of his countrymen, dei clarin" - -that it was difficult even to persuade = the Turks to enter the trenches. Our generals would have welcomed an infantry' attack, as our lines were so stron"- that they could have done a great" deal of execution with machine gU The ships had a splendid opportunity of using- heavy shrapnel, and many ingenious and deadly surprises were prepared for the Turks. The Australasians left many letters of the kindliest farewell, assuring Johnny Turk in colloquial Australian that lie was a good fellow and a ckxan fighter, and the hope that they would meet some day. As a crowning testimony of good feeling a gramophone was left conspicuously on Walker s Ridge, set readv to play -tliei ''Turkish Patrol. The rnght was one of -brilliant moonshine There- was little activity at Anzac and Suvla, a Turkish 3-mcher desultorily bombarding the beach at Thalia Baba. 'There was a vigorous action towards Cape He-lies. . A fantastic variety of equipment v>as lvin<r at Suvla, comprising helmets, relics of summer, woollen helmets in readiness for winter, and hnndreds ot wideawake hats. . The troops came down the hillside a steady, slouching gait, everyone lectin n- that he was lucky to be alive and to leave the place where so many thousands of his comrades lie in the,_ little barQ, wire-enclosed cemeteries, which were the hardest of all to abandon. Che mountains stood out black and sternagainst the stey, a milk-blue mist covett'ing the lower ground. The Salt _ Lake p 1 ?" Smooth-water Bay-both shimmered -in the moon Tays. Everything else was dark except the points of golden light

where f-11«.» Urc.- woi'e burning at the -deserted camp ii.nd in the empty dug-outs of Anzac . The hospital ship blazed green like :i brilliant emerald liner. Our guns thumped oui a final round, Ike Turks .peppering away with rifle fire and intermittently ' indulging in a sputter oi' machine guns, but with no unusual energy. From the beach a splendid view was seen, five great fir<_<s springing up one ' after another at ' four in the morning, when the store dumps leapt into flames which soon became, a mighty bonfire. Further along the coast- the> Anzacs' forsaken bully beef was burning fiercely, there \yas a sudden spurt- of flame and a violent explosion on the crest. <>F the ridge of a giant Australian mine fortyfive feet under the Turkish trenches. This was the Australians' final act of hostility. It was fired by electric contact when tho last Australian was leaving the beach. It- is believed to have killed hundreds of Turks. The evacuation. was tho greatest thing of the kind the British Army has evor attempted, the Navy co-operating magnificently. The King telegraphed his congratulations to Sir Wiiiiam Bird wood, who constantly visited Anzac, directing the preparations. He remained at the spot the whole of the last day and night in the staff ship. It is a mistake to regard the withdrawal as a confession of entirefailure. It is not- a defeat, although the German, flag next morning was flying en too of Lalla Baba.

Anzac will take a proud place in the 'list of battle honours. There,the widely | separated Empire troops fought- not only the Turco-Germans, but disease, thirst-, and heat in summer, and the deadly winter blizzard. The arrival of tlie new German guns had not- yet bothered us, and we constantly dominated the Turks 7 whole front. We were not- driven oft", and therefore the/ evacuation means pulling ourselves together and enabling a concentration on sure ground which is vitally important here at- tlie crossroads of the Empire. Dangerous., strategy at the Dardanelles and in the Balkans, involving the fate of India aiid Egypt, would "be practically opportunism, the 9peration of a small detachment permitting the initiative to the enemy. l-'y cutting our losses at Gallipoli we have done something towards acting with greater deliberation and better organised strength elsewhere. Anzac is the biggest bluff in history. Everyone expected- a dasperate rearguard action, but the masses of men and stores were brought down with extraordinary qj.-ok-ness. When the tally was made not a man had been left behind. The Turks were puzzled, but they did not fire a gun until the ships had steamed away.

REUTER S REPORT

MOST DIFFICULT OPERATION OF OF THE WAR.

LONDON. Dec: 31. Reuters Dardanelles correspondent savs. ..

the -withdrawal from Anzac and . Suvla was the most difficult and dangerous operation yet undertaken during this campaign, and . one of extraordinary hazards. Infantry, dismounted eayab-y, irims, horses, mules, motor lorries, Indian transport carts, the entire reSeryes of ammunition, and nearly all the stores were removed under the of a- ni<~f,tpowerful Turkish army,., which did lot realise tjjat- the operation had begun until some hours after the last office.rs and naval beach parties had slipped it to the picket boats and steamed a-wa v. The Anzac troops at 2.30 in the morning exploded a huge mine between themselves and the 'Turks on Russ'll's Top, a neck between two ridges a'eng which it was not, desirable that l t-lie Turks should follow. The Turks .thought the Australians were attacking, and lovt up a furious rifle fire for forty mir.ites. Soon after a tongue of flam-i snot up from C Beach, to the south of Suvla, a great of food stores which r art been soaked with petrol haying- I een fired. Then more flames appeared dr. the West. Beach. During the> last- iv:o hours of the night- huge waves of flames reddened the sky and the sea lor mil'.-s around, and columns' of thick 1 «.ck smoke towered hundt'eds of feet ;r the windless air. 'Surely, we thought, tl is will'-wako the Turks. However, it did not matter, and the Turks were we.o mo to liiake tli'j "discovery *?<>•>*.

The Turks had counted- upon- the difficulty and danges of the operation deterring us from attempting it, and with reason. The probable loss of life was the gravest care of the high command, and'none believed that it could, be done without loss. The problem was to withdraw the armies occupying a front of 20,000 yards which was hardly <u ywhere beyond -500 yards from *he. enemy treriches," and at some points only 50 yards distant. The main Australian embarking beach was overlooked by -lie Turks upon Snipers' Ridge, only eleven hundred yards away. If the retreat was discovered it nas certain the Turks would hold up and force the rearguard to fight a Uu-jHy actibn all the way to the shore, and tlie ivounded and stragglers would neo'.- , '-,-r - ily have heen abandoned, besides the guns. . ' §l'4f)B The Array managed to hooLviuk the. Turks, despite the parliamenU. Lans at Home, who announced that ic was commoii knowledge that General Munro favoured evacuation:

i The second problem was the weather, i Fortunately the weather in the Aegean can* be calculated with remarkable accuracy. After the November -t'./rms I come ~ thqre is fine weather lasting 1 ill : Christinas, and then a violent so-j'he !v gale ushers in really bad weather. The tine' December weather obligingly gave us a margin ox eighteen hours. The- third essential was an adequate supply of lighters, steamboats, tugs, and and abundant support of naval guns. The troops were' :n iroori fettle, despite the November blr.iy.ai.c 1 . Everyone grudged leaving the> j.Jac.e to the 1 Turks, 'but- were exJiivat at the manner in which to diddlid them , The Turks fired the usual daily quantity of shells, and dropped half-.a-dozon n 3 inch high explosives on the West Beaoh 'on Sunday morning; then they gave the Lalla Ba;ba beach a dusting, and continued firing at the. usual intervals throughout the day. Our .4uns repi'ed. By four in the morning everyoojy wr,s off, and the stragglers who lost fit it way in the labyrinth of trenc'nas 'a ere fetched off from Anzac as late as eight in the morning. The doctors and ortlerlies who remained at one oi ti:e hospitals to receive the wounded, of whom fortunately there were licne, wore fetched oil" with thb men who stayed as! rre to fire the piles of boxes containing the abandoned bully beef and 'biscuits. By daybreak every transport liad departed and only the warships remained. They beigan to* fire at- the beach, breakinp- im the pier and' the sunken ships and wa i-ertanks on the principle of leaving- onlv- charwood for the enemy. "Then" the Turks woke up, and their artillery.blazed away at the fires, several birr shells falling on the burning stores on West' Beach. When the.y saw our battleships shelling our own positions they perhaps thought Ave had gone mad and were kiiing one anothea*. i The only regret of' the Anzacs was that ;tlEy were unable to wait- to witness t-ht. chagrin of the Turks when they learnod'the truth. • Ey >iyitu ease's of the Anzac evaciiation state ■ iht-fc the calmness of the weather counted'for an immense, part' in the success- of the undertaking. When ; the or(pr was received. frpp.. Home which let the evacuation machinery in motion the moon was within two days of the fuf. * • , , ... ! TliQonly fighting in connection wit-li j the eabarkation occurred' between the Austilian brigades, in order to deter-

j mine who should have the privilege of staying till the last. Many paraded before their- officers to protost against r-oarvLng tlie transports while men who arrived on the Peninsula after themselves were allowed to stay an hour or two longer. The- two hundred who formed tho ultimate rearguard at Suvl- n . were the first to lajid in August at- the very spot where they held t he. final barrier until tlie embarkation of the last details had been completed. The 85,000 Turks were so ignorant of the true position that they shelled Lalla Baba. and Chocolate Hill, whei>£ there was not a soul. They were still plastering- the hill, which was mvkh bombarded 'by a battery of eighteen-pomiders with high explosives, when the battleships left the bay at. nine o'clock. They did not realise the painful truth atSuvla until 11 o'clock.

The Turks were a little spryer at Anzac. They climbed out of their trenches and peeped into ours soon after daylight, but a few shells from the ships sent- them 'back.

'Our casualties were an officer and two men wounded at Suvla. and two men wounded at Anzac.

A tremendous southerly gale sprang 11 p on Monday niglit, flooding the trenches, and the landing-stage at Anzae was washed away. Our heritage to the Turks constituted a few picks and shovels and a number or hospital tents, but these were, so conspicuous on the landscape that it was impossible to remove them without excifing suspicion. The -t-ur; destroyed were three field guns and two wo; it nut howitzers. A STRANGE INTERVAL OF FRIENDLINESS TURKS AND AUSTRALIANS EXCHANGE MESSAGES. LONDON. Dec. 30. Mr Henry W. Nevinson, the noted journalist, writing on the 14th, says that after the recent, severe storms and cold weather,, a strange interval of friendliness occurred at Anzac. It began. by the wagging of a Turkish -periscope. An Australian wagged an answer, and tlieti a Turkish hand appeared, and tho fingers moved in the Turkish sign of amity. Heads went up 011 both sides, and cigarettes and fruit were exchanged. A note, written in 'bad French, was thrown to the Australians stating : "Wo don't want to fight you. We wan*, to go-home. We are being driven on by people you kno\v abooit." Then there were signs that an officer was approaching. and the heads disappeared ,ana 'bombs were exchanged. Once an order* was given not to fire for three days. Eventually a- hundred Turks, wondering at the silence, creptout. One sprang into the Australian, trenches and was bayoneted ; th 6 others were shot. There is 116 doubt but- that the Turkish g~jns, ammunition, and firing have improved in quality, quantity, and' sis© since the gate of Bulgaria- has : been opened. TOHKEY •GROWING DETESTATION OF GERMAN RULE. LONDON; Dec. 31. The- "Daily News" correspondent at Athens says the committee of the German Legation in Constantinople has redrafted the martial law, making- it much sta.-ic.ter. Miiny British and French subjects were paraded in'the streets'an<Tthen ti-ansported and imprisoned in the interior. Talaat Bev went to Ancera to quieten a revolt, due to the Germans seizins metals and provisions, • and thence _ to • Kara-idem mines io calm the oninerS, who had revolted against their German-. masters. Turkish detestation of German rule is growing . The price of food has tripled. .. MEN O?fiALLIPOLI "A NEW STANDARD 'OF HUMAN COURAGE." 1 (Rec. ' Jan: ■: 4y" 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3. The Chief Rabbi of the Greek Synagogue says tliat the men who \ fought and died at Galiip'oli set a new .standard of human courage, and added' to the luminous pages of British history. TURKISH MESSAGE. (Rec. Jan. 4, 9.20 a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 3 A Turkish official message states that artillery is active near Sedd-ul-Bahr, and an enedhv cruiser aiid Monitor have been obliged to retreat. ATurkifeh hydroplahe dropped lbombs_ 011 tlie enemy camp.

THE StiBMABINE OUTRAGE ■STARBOARD BOATS USELESS. SPLENDID UoIuTUCT OF PASSENGERS AND CREW. CAIRO, Jan. 3. The survivors from 'the Persia include 10 military officers. . ... The Persia was -struck amidships at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and disappeared in five thiinufes. .It is a miracle that anyone was saved. ■ Four 'boats were lowered with the greatest promptitude.. The captain was drowned. He was last seen swimming, after the liner's plunge. • The Hon. Charles Bighorn, who was a uassenger by the Persia, telegraphed that she was struck on the port bow. The submarine made no attempt to assist: It was impossible to' lower the starboard boats owing to the heavy list, but five of the six port." .boats were lowered. The conduct of the passengers and crew was splendid. - There was no struggling or' panic.. British warships ■nicked np four of the boats after"they r>ad beeQ; adrift for 30 hours. TWO BOATS MISSING. ~~ CAIRO, Jan. 3. Two boats were thrown down, there being no time cut the ropes. The waves almost immediately washed over . the 'Persia's deck; and. swept tlio passengers and crew into the sea. Mr Bigham sarik, and on rising wajr -bumped by 'the head of the boat, ac-7 was thus saved. There are no tiding of two other boats wliioh were launched • and it is feared that -there'are no father survivors. ' ' 'i THREE HUNDRED AND NINETY VICTIMS. - LONDON, Joh. 3. , Approximately 390 of ,the Persia's passengers and crew hie missing. THOSE RESPONSIBLE SHOULD BE KANGED COLD-BLOODED MURDERERS. , (Rec. Jan. 4, 9.5'.a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3. The ".Daily Graphic'' advocates that no peace be made except on condition that -the Kaiser, von Tirpitz, and tho Ministers be hanged as the authors of the cold-blood|3, murder of civilians on j the high seas. ' 1 ■ •

FEELING IN AMERICA HOSTILITY TO I'RESENT POLICY GREATLY INCREASED. (Rec. Jan. 4, 9.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 3 The Persia outrage has enormously increased the chorus against the United St-'-t<?s* present, policy. .Mr Ford, has returned. He. complains that- the rp-arty -thought more of sightseeing at his (?x:>ettse ill an riromnting tli o world's pc'^ica "#HAT GEBMISM STANDS FOR" AMERICAN PR ESS COMMENT. LONDON, Jan.. 3. The "-Daily Telegraph" ways; JL'rompt upon the opening of the year cu'.iks another act of monstrous atrocity as if our enemies w-er-e under- some fatal compulsion to repeatedly -remind humanity of what Germanism stands for, mid what its success in the wav would mean. Aus-Iro-G-erman. fright fulness decrees that it is the business of the ru'jvy to sink liners, and the business of the diplomats 'to construct a defence afterwards. The Persiaoutrage deepens the loathing with which Germany is regarded throughout the civilised world. The "New York' Herald" says that in l.lie policy of frightfulness Austria/ and Germany are tarred with the same brush. Th<? "Tribune" asks : Is President Wilson, still too proud to fight? How many more murders of women and children are needed to convince the nation that there is no escape from the duty of action in more than words and inquiries? INTENSE FEELING IN INDIA. DELHI, Jan. 3. The sinking of the Persia, caused ssevere shock throughout India. Feeling strongly condemns any peace until the enemy,are entirely crushed. WH AT SURMA B INE SANK THE PERSIA. i (R-ec. .Tan; : 4. 3.20 -a.m.) .WASHINGTON. Jan. 3. The Austrian. Charge - ...ct*Affaire? assured President "WiTsbii. that if it 'was proved that an Austrian submarine 'sank the Persia- full satisfaction- and reparation would be given. the> United States. TWO MORE jSTEBMEiIS SUNK ». . JAPANESE AXI>. RIUTTSII. ; , (Rec. Jan. 4. 9.35 a.m..) . J„ONI>ON, Jan. 3. The Japanese steamer Kenko Maru has been srunk. All were saved. ■ .. The .British steamer GTengj'lo- has been sunk. A hundred were saved. #• BRITAIN AND COIIiPtiISION

SIR JOHN" SIMON'S RESIGNATION MAY YET BE WITHDRAWN. 1 LONDON, Jan. 3. Sir John Simon lias resigned. The resignation may possibly be v.-ir.h-drawn. COMPROMISE STILL POSSIBLE. " LONDON, Jan. o. . .Mi- J. H. Thomas, ;M.D?., speaking at Bournemouth, said, he believed it was possible to come to an arrangement to avoid breaking Mr Asquith's or any other, pledge. The first object of Britain was •to light the enemy. We could quarrel, if necessary among ourselves afterwards. t. ; POLITICAL TENSION EASES SOLDIERS THE FIRST ESSENTIAL. • • LONDON, Dec. 30., "The Times" points out that economic arguments are fallacious. Soldiers come' first; if we do not provide the necessary troops we will bfe 'beaten, no. matter how strong wo may be economically. What > becomes of finance then? No industry depends for its existence on men of military age; there are older men, lads, and' women to fill their places. "The Times' " Parliamentary/ corespondent says that the Unionists £»r.d Liberals are prepared to follow ti eir leaders implicitly in anything '■conisklari.'d. vital for the'prosecution of svar. •. The "Daily Mail" states that ilia members of the House of Com:n ;ns orr* Speculating on the recejitioh" oi'.Mi 4"Asquith's Bill. A strong minority will certainly attempt to defeat it cr force an election, ibut its passage is' afesiired. Forecasts of the number of opponents are: Nationalists 70, Radicals 30, Labour 20.

The "Daily' Chroriicioi" says' therW. is less tension politically greater hoipe of a settlement without, a Ministerial rupture. The Bill will probably be a simple one, ordering unmarried mc<h to attest within a fortnight or three weeks with the same privileges as volunteers.' GERMAN PRESS JUBILANT. LONDON, Dec., 30. I The German Press is jubilant at "the | so-called dissension in England in connection -with Lord "Herby'li ".' Scheme, "which it regards as an insoluble problem. , ' " AUSTRALIA AND COMPtJLSION. LONDON, liec. 31. ;I'aa '"'Daily -Mail," in a- loader on the conscription question, says iliat Australia and New Zealand showed the way. Their compulsory system resulted in the magnificent deeds at Anzac, which carried the name of Australasia t6 glory. France* and Italy had' proyed that, comDulsion was compatible with, democracy., FRENCH PRESS COMMENTS. , LONDON, Dec. 31. M. Pichon, writing in the "Petit Journal," says that the British decision is a great step in leading all tlie Allies to concentrate their whole strength. Thtt "Temps" says that "the * English people are rising to the of the occasion. It is a moving sacrifice. The "Figaro" says the resolve t<? conquer i£ unanimous.

(The Laibotf ..nuimlestb, published oil Yili 'October, sifted: "In nn' tiins: iii history has the nation been faced Avilh a crisis of siich gravity, Tjnctbr the voluntary system .England has raised great' armibs, but if the s?in*cip]e is t-o be vindicated iGflsfc 30,000 recruits -weekly must 'be raised to maintain the efficiency of the armies, and secure such a victory as -will, .free the world of the fear of .the iiiilitiity tyranny of Germany. Thousands'of men of nn- ; litary age and fitness havej failed . to | join the colours", for .whom equipment and munitions are ready.-. We ffppLxfilxo them to take up immediately tlielr.. share I of the bilrde!n, hnd preserve trie vital'in-, ! tercets of the natioii:' •••It is riot want of I that -prevents men onliHing,.''but the fifilnre to appreciate the of the situation. - W6i kttow that defeat or inconclusive, peacfe mean, riot' only loss or prestige to 1 tlid .liation. and the-cer-tain by that the conflict will be renewed m a few-years, but the) losfe of th&sb p'erkoniil "liberties has taken < centuries of effott to -win. ' for victory or defeat rfcsts tipoil thbs'o -who have not' yet responded to the call.")

GERMANY S CAMPAIGN OF LIES STATEMENTS REGARDING. A UST R ALI A. (Rec. 9.20 a.m. ) 31ELB0URNB This Day. Mr Pea roe quoted extracts fiom a book published by George Turner, recently German Consul-General, entitled "The Awakening of the People of the Pacific/' Turner declares that he visited. many villages where only one person. spot English. ,ind as he* left he conld he;?, them singing "Deutscliland Über Alles.-;" He states that the Australasia*!; colonies had ripened into Socialistic States, «.lVd were working strenuously towards .the -severance of the last link 'binding-. thej.n to the Motherland. It -was not on account. of Englandi that they rendered military assistance, but because ,tlie,v wanted. Samoa. and New Guinea;" Txirnev concludes "The injury lias ma do Germany wise. Her future colonial policy will be different from what -it lias been. After victory we will bind <>n the helmet .tighten I .'"' ,• DEPRECIATION OP ENEMY MONEY LONDON, Dec. it. The Amsterdam, correspondent of "The Times" s-nys the value of the mark li.'is again declined, and is now about- .-30 per cent.. Austrian money lias depreciated 40 per cent. ' .. ... AUSTRALIA CASUALTY LIST. . (Rec. 9.20 a.m. ) SYDNEY, This Day. List 129 gives the following New Zealanders:— , ; 111: PrivatesW. Kennedy, .in hospital at Heliopolis; J. L. Knox, A. HJ jVIoIndoe, in hospital at Abbassia; G. A; Ross, A. McDonald. in hospital at Ghezireh : J. T. S. Cooper, dangerously 'ill in hospital at Alexandria; SergcaiVt C. Hudson, in hospital in London Sapper L. Salck, transferred to Raseltih convalescent camp:, Privates W. '.j-Ali'-. hold, T. W. Hodgson, in hospital *'.afc : Malta. COMMONWEALTH' RECRUITING : scheme; . ■ ; !' , (Rec. 9.40 a.m.) ' MELBOURNE/This .Day; 7 MrrPearce has received a copy ,of Derby's recruiting' scheme, and ' ophi,ei that it is not as complete as thp. C'oqt.-. ■ §OUTII AUSTRALIAN REVENUE. (Rec. .9.40 a.m.) " ' ADELAIDE, This Day. The revenue s f or'the'half-year totalled £17,555,494, a. decline ..of JOIO, 132.