STIRRING STORIES TOLD BY WOUNDED AT CAIRO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15950, 22 June 1915, Page 7

STIRRING STORIES TOLD BY WOUNDED AT CAIRO.

FIGHT TO DEATH BETWEEN AUSTRALIAN AND TURK. AUSTRALIANS' WARM TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND BATTERY. Cairo, June 20. A majority of the wounded deny stories of Turkish atrocities. They state that the Turks are fighting most fairly. In one case a Turk dressed *h<» rounds of a Britisher under fire, while another left his water-bottle with a wounded Australian. Another Australian, who was taken prisoner but escaped, states that ho was very well treated. After a furious attack on Sari Bair, on May 19, the Turk* sent a message: " We are going to drive you Australian devils into the sea to-morrow." A Turkish aeroplane dropped messages at Gaba Tepe saying Australians and New Zealanders surrender; we will treat you well," and exhorting them not to fight an unjust war. A Turkish officer taken prisoner said: "Germany is our ally. We know our country's hours are numbered, but we fight for her as you would fight 1 for yours." ■ ' The wounded state that the New Zealanders and Australians get on splendidly together, and are like one big family. A number of Australians recently sent a message to No. 2 New Zealand. Battery, which did excellent work upon Colonel Plugge's plateau, Go it, mates; no need for us to use our rifles while you fire like that." The men are so keen that they do not desire to leave the trenches. The 16th Battalion of tho 3rd Australian Infantry was five weeks in, the trenches before being relieved. The Australian war-cry on the peninsula is " Imshi Valla," Arabic words, meaning Be off, move on." Before the Triumph was sunk sho did excellent work in cutting off Turkish reinforcements coming up the gullies near Gaba Tepe. Captain Wallingford, the ex-champion shot of the British Army, and his New Zealand machine-gun are ono of the* mainstays of the force on Sari Bair. __ , . .., , A stirring tale is- told of an Australian lieutenant named Sutton., He volunteered to go out with a small party to blow-up a Turkish -trench. Before this was possible tho Turks, by a sudden . attack, •, forced the party to hastily retreat. Lieutenant Sutton took refuge in a Gurkha trench, and occupied himself by returning hand grenades to- tho Turkish trenches until one exploded and blew off his right . hand. , ''.'•• '. •'' His wound received a field dressing, and he was sitting in the trench nursing the stump when the Turks made a rush, and he suddenly found a huge Turk above him with his bayonet poised to strike. . Quick as thought he snatched the kukri from the hand of a dead Gurkha and slashed tho Turk's neck. The Turk fell upon him, and Sutton grappled the enemy with his left arm. During the wrestle ,: he embedded his teeth in the Turk's ear, and held him for ten minutes' until assistance arrived, when the Turk fell lifeless. Another Australian had his foot riddled with shrapnel, and was being assisted down tho gully to Gaba Tepe. He met General Godlpy, who inquired as to how the man was. Ho replied: "lam a blooming • kangaroo now, ain't I, general v . „