DESPERATE SITUATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16008, 28 August 1915, Page 8

DESPERATE SITUATION.

COMPANY SURROUNDED. " FOUGHT LIKE EATS." OVERWHELMING ODDS The manner in which the 9th, Hawke's Bay, Infantry Company defended itself in a critical situation is described by Corpl. Allan Watkins. "Since writing last," lie save, "I have been through as tough an experience as can fall to the lot of any so'.dier. "We, the ninth, took up,a position in tho night, an outpost, and no sooner were we there than the enemy surrounded us, vastly outnumbering us. The trench, hastily put up, made very poor cover, so we lost heavily. However, like rats we fought all through the night, with our backs to the wall. The enemy jabbered outside our trenches all tho night, but were scared to hop over and wipe us out, which they could easily have done had they been game. So the beggars pelted us with hand grenades and rifle fire. Half the grenades we pelted back, for luckily the fuses allowed about five seconds. The other half exploded either behind the trench or on the parapet, or amongst us, causing the greater part of our casualties. It was good to hear the enemy squealing when their own bombs were landed amongst thein. Before the night was very far advanced, we were very deaf, caused by the detonation of the grenades and the point-blank rifle fire.

" The following day the enemy stood off—thick scrub all round our position— and proceeded to burst away our slight cover with heavy rifle tire, but we worked the shovel hard in replacing the earth, and were just able to replace the amount blown away, as it was done. Shrapnel burst over our heads all day, mucn to our enemies' plainly-heard delight. The following evening Ihe enemy undermined a section of our trench, but we vacated it just before the explosion. Relief came late that night, just 111 time. We were all just done. I had a small piece of onion, one biscuit, and half a small tin of bully beef, and two pints of water in the 24 hours. Most of the food had been destroyed by the hand grenades. We helped carry out the wounded—a great trip, rough going and dark, with the enemy pressing behind us. Great reception from the boys in camp, an extra issue of rum, and a snug rest in the ' dugout; all very thankful. We are all in good heart here, and. though we feel losing so many of our mates keenly, yet it is all in the game. They all died game to the end.'

SHOOTING BY WARSHIPS. NOTABLE MARKSMANSHIP. SENSATIONS UNDER FIRE. Describing the fighting at Galljpoli, Major J. N. McCarroll. of the 11th, North Auckland. Mounted Rifles, writing from Malta, says: — " The noise of the firing is incessant, just like hundreds of stockwhips, and as the bullets whistle overhead we all involuntarily duck our heads—just at first. . . . . If you remember the maze at the Auckland Exhibition that will give you some idea of what the trenches are liketwisting in every conceivable direction —one knows when he is in the firetrench, as the bullets are raining on the bank in front and overhead. . . .

These trenches were all dug ready, and great cunning was used in constructing sleeping places. . . . Each man does his own cooking, and there are all sorts of small one-man fireplaces, and stoves and cookers made of large beef tins. Everyone is hapoy and contented, after waiting nine months patiently and determinedly. " The shooting of the warships is a sight to see. They move about in the water, taking their positions almost to inches : j then they seem to open up, and the air ' seems to quiver, and bang! Away goes the 1 taxpayers money. . . . Early, the Turks bring their artillery into" action, their object being the base, without any result, not even one water barge being damaged. Soon a man-of-war starts on to their position, which is a low sandy hill full of hollows. When the warship has finished, the hill looks leveller, and I we have no more trouble from that battery. Later on, a battery opened on our left, near a small village. The warships opened fire on the village, and in about fifteen minutes there was nothing stand- ! ing but the mosque, which they had tried I —successfully—not to hit." As an instance of the skill of the Turkish snipers. Major McGarroll says:—"Cap-] tain Bluck and Lieutenant M. Ma-rr, both j excellent officers, were killed bv snipers, j quite 1000 yds away, showing "that the Turks have some good "marksmen." With reference to Malta, the major writes: —"Most things are cheap here. Thev have a coin worth one-third of a farthing. We, the Australasian troops, got blamed for spoiling Egypt- Now we are blamed foT spoiling Malta also—that is, by the free way we spend our money the English troops don't have so much" to spend. Where the usual cab fare is Bd, our men give Is and bootblacks 6d, where they usually get Id." Major McCarroll was sent to England from Malta. In his letter he expresses the hope that he will soon be back at the front.

WORK FOR VOLUNTEERS. HOW A CORPORAL WAS KILLED. Mrs. J. MeArthur, of Papanui, whose son Corporal James MeArthurwho en- i listed from the Union Steam Ship Company s service, and was well known as an engineer on several of their steamers died of wounds on the hospital ship Sicila on June 5, has received a letter from a comrade who was wounded in the same engagement, and is now in St. Andrew's Hospital, Malta. The following is an extract — ' " At our position .it Gaba Tepe was a position known as 'Quinn's Post.' It was ft particularly difficult point to defend, as the Turkish trenches were only 15vds sway, so on the morning of June 4 volunteers were called for from the men of the Canterbury and Auckland battalions. Of course the ' nautical division,' as -we seven officers and engineers from the Union Company's service were called, had to be in it, and we were duly picked to make up the , party, numbering 100 men. The charge took place punctually on time, 11 p.m. We soon made short work of the Turks who occupied the trenches, but unfortunately our losses were pretty heavy. Poor old Mac was badly hit, and was immediately conveyed on hoard the hospital ship. We six others joined him there j later, along with most of the others from our regiment. Mac's case was considered I hopeless from the first, and he passed j away quietly on the evening of June 5."

PENINSULA NOW SAFER. TRENCHED AND SAPPED. Private Vivian Moore, who went away as wireless operator 011 one of the main Expeditionary Force transports, and who was formerly postmaster at Mart writes to a friend at Devonport. from Qallipoli. The letter is dated June 27 last. " The country for miles around is one mass of trenches and sans," says the •writer. "We can thus move about prettysafely. The Turk, so far. is proving himself a sood and honourable foe. Wo miss our horses, hut 011 the whole we are doing well- There is a fine feeling existing between the Australians and ourselves. The Turks' artillery fir* is heavy at times, but wo are getting adept at taking cover now, and their chills are less harmful." •