THE EVACUATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16178, 15 March 1916, Page 8

THE EVACUATION.

WITHDRAWAL OF THE TROOPS

CLEVERLY EXECUTED MATTCEUVRE [BIT TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT J Dunedin, Tuesday.

A considerable number of the men on board the transport that arrived- this afternoon took part in the final scenes enacted on tho bloodstained Gallipoli Peninsula, and the accounts they give of tho evacuation, while differing, somewhat as regards actual details, serve to strengthen the opinion already current that these operations represented a military achievement of unparalleled skill. So cleverly was the manoeuvre planned, indeed, that the consensus of opinion directly associates the visit of Britain's war lord to the peninsula with the operations that subsequently occurred. This may, of course, be mere speculation, but one and all are agreed as to the marvellously clever manner M" which the evacuation was carried out, arid pay a high.

tribute to General Munro and his staff. The greatest secrecy was preserved as to the events that were about to take place, and the initial movements in connection

with the evacuation gave the men absolutely no inkling of what was happening. It was scarcely surprising, therefore, that

rumours of the wildest description gained currency. < These were heightened by the fact that some days prior to any movement by the troops a period of absolute silence took place, during which not a single shot was fired for 48 hours, and a close watch was maintained upon the enemy's trenches. The Turks, probably puzzled by this procedure, did not attack, but. busied themselves, re-erecting parapets, arranging positions for snipers, and consolidating

their positions generally. At the expiry of the stipulated time, heavy fire was poured in,' and these new works suffered severely from both land and naval bombardment When the departure .of troops began, rumours again spread in wild profusion. .-\ :. „.-,* .. ~,.,. i

Fine Spirit Displayed,

' The Maoris, and portion of the artillery, were the first New Zealand troops to leave, and it was said that a big French force was going to take their place. Then a certain detachment of New . Zealanders f was ' drafted out, and it. was supposed, that they were to be relieved by Australian .troops. It was not .until the last two days that the men were definitely made aware that they all had. to go. As each detachment left, those, remaining were spread out along the lines of the trenches, and as the end came volunteers were called for and lots drawn as to who were to man the machine-guns. The troops themselves recognised that the last hours were full of peri], and a fine spirit of comradeship was shown by the men, who had been drawn very close to each other by a common association in danger. The Turks never had ' the slightest suspicion as to what* was happening, but they appeared to know that something was afoot at the landing stage, as a number of shells fell into the water in close proximity to the transports. ' Mounted Infantry Last to Leavs. The Mounted Infantry were the last fighting arm of the service to leave, and with these the 7th Australian Field Ambulance remained/ behind to tend the wounded in case of a final brush with the enemy, and, as a matter of course, to become prisoners of war should such a brush eventuate, However, their services were not required, nor were they called upon to make the great sacrifice which their noble and unselfish adherence to duty might have, imposed upon them. Incomplete as the above account is it serves to give some idea of the nature of the task that was. so admirably and so successfully carried out. It was apparent that no real information could be given. The very men who carried out the operations have probably little conception of the actual plans. The men who took part in these operations celebrated Christmas on board a transport in the Mediterranean on a fare of bully beef and biscuits.