CHUNUK BAIR MEMORIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19072, 17 July 1925, Page 11

CHUNUK BAIR MEMORIAL.

IMPRESSIONS OF GALLIPOLI.

RELATIONS WITH THE TURKS

[FitOM Ot.'H OWN CORRESPONDENT. J LONDON, June 2. Sir James Allen lias returned from his Mediterranean cruise, which included the visit to Gallipoli and the unveiling of the memorial on Chunuk Bair. Sir Andrew H. Russell, who also took part in the ceremony, left the Ormonde at Athens, but General Sir Alexander J. Godley and Lady Godley and the High Commissioner completed the passage on the Orient liner., On the night before the arrival of the liner at Southampton Sir James thanked the passengers, numbering about 400, for their attendance at the ceremony on Chunuk Bair, and for their sympathetic interest in what so vitally concerned the Dominion. The High Commissioner has given a few of the general impressions left on his mind'after his day on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

" I was naturally very much pleased," said-Sir J.'imes, " that so many people tuok the trouble to cross the Peninsula and take such a deep interest in our ceremony. More than a score of the visitors had themselves served on Gallipoli, and numbers of others had relatives who had gone through the campaign. Others again had come to visit the graves of relatives and friends who were buried in the cemeteries there. In ';he circumstances it was not unnatural that this large party of British people should have participated to fully and sympathetically.

" It was my intention to leave a good impression on the Turks, and I am quite convinced that we have done so. At the entertainment on board the Ormonde after the ceremony there were about 20 Turkish officials present, including the Valis of Chanak and of Gallipoli, the head man of the various villages, heads of the police, and others. It was quite a unique occasion. They seemed jo enjoy themselves and I am sure we left, a good impression.

"I also came away with a great, appreciation of the capabilities of the members of the Imperial War Graves Commission, not only in regard to their work, but also in regard to their relationship with the Turks. They seem to have gone through the past few years and never marlo a serious mistake in their attitude to the Turks. Colonel C. E. Hughes appears to have a remarkable influence not only on Gallipoli, but at Constantinople as well. Sir John Burnet as architect for the cemeteries has certainly produced just the thing that suits the place. Lone Pine memorial is very much finer than I expected. The designs throughout are very simple, delicate and peaceful. Naturally, I am very pleased with our own memorial.

" Finally, after standing on the top of Achi Baba, and remembering what I saw from an aeroplane two years ago, I am impressed with the impregnable position of the Turkish Army during the campaign. Taking into account our own lines of communication, I am convinced that the purpose of the campaign was an impracticable proposition."