THE SKETCHER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 59

THE SKETCHER.

HOW I ESCAPED FROM THE TURKS

(By Bone Bull.) J~Mr Rene Bull is one of the most distinguished of modern Avar artists. He haa taken part in seven campaigns, and had many strange adventures, one or which he noAV relates.! In 1897 I was war artist for '‘Black and White" during the Greco-Turk sh War. At first I was attached to the Greek army, but, partly of my own freewill. for I soon greAv heartily disgusted with the coAvardlv Greeks, and partly because I could not help myself, I ended up with the Turkish forces. The wnolo adventure began at the battle of Lerissa. Along AA'itli several other war artists and correspondents, I had taken up a position on a hill, well away from the Greek army, but from which a fine vieiv Avas to be had of the battlefield. We were Avatching the fire of the Turkish batteries, and the creeping advance of their skirmishers, when suddenly a shell passed over our heads. Others quickly folloAved, and before long it was evident that for some unknoAvn reason, for there Avere no troops with us, the Turks Avere concentrating their fire on our hill.

AN UNACCOUNTABLE' ATTACK. While a war correspondent's duty is to see as much of the fighting as possible, he must never commit the unpardonable offence in his editor's eyes of getting shot —a live donkey is worth a dead linn any day. So, to put it gently, Ave retired from that hill, of which I Avas to hear again. During the retirement I Avas slightly wounded by a spent bullet, hut that has nothing to do with my story Bar this trifling casualty, Ave got safely away, highly indignant Avith the Turks for shelling us, and altogether puzzled at their motive in wasting so much ammunition on an undefended spot. Then cam© the shameful retreat of the Greeks from Lerissa to Volo. I have never seen anything to equal that panic stricken rout. We were in far more danger from the retreating Greeks than from the adA-ancing Turks It Avas dangerous to be seen mounted, for they Avere quite equal to murder for the sake of a house, and more men were killed, trampled to death by their comrades, than the Turks had accounted for during the battle. FRIENDSHIP WITH THE! TURKS. I Avaited until the rush Avas over, and then made my way leisurely to Volo. There again the Greeks fled in Avild conthough the Turks were not Avith in miles of them, and practically the only man left in Volo Avas the British Consul, serene under the protection of a big Union Jack.

llere I said good-bye to my friend, Mr Bennet Burleigh, who had accompanied me from Lerissa, as he had urgent business across the gulf. He promised. hoAvever, to return for me. _And he did. But that comes later on. I took up my quarters in a deserted hotel, and awaited the arrival of the Turks, whose leaders and forces I Avas anxious to see.

One fine morning they node in. I Avenr. out and introduced myself to their leader, Edhern Pasha, who received me A-ery kindly. I soon became friends Avith the officers. and one night I learnt Avhy they had shelled that hill at Lerissa. STORY OF THE ATTACK.

We Avere talking about the battle there when one of the Turks remarked how very hot they had made it for the Greek Headquarter Staff that day. “‘Where did you catch them?" I ask:d.

“Oh, on that hill to the right of their position. Wo shelled them right out of it, and I believe killed several of them, though they must have carried away the bodies ” '!

i. began to suspect somethin", and made him explain which hill he meant. And, of course, it was the one on which we had been.

The chagrin of the Turks when I told them they had wasted" nearly a hundred rounds of ammunition on a few harmless war correspondents was most amusing to witness.

After a while I got tired of b.eing in Vole-, and told the General that I was going away. He was very polite, but equally'firm, and said that as I now knew all about their strength, the condition of the troops, and so on, he could not part with me. I protested, but in vain. "Tory well,” said 1 angrily. “I shall escape.” “You are welcome to try,” he retorted suavely. “But I warn you you’ll he shot if you are caught.” So there I had to remain to all intents and purposes a prisoner. One evening when. 1 was returning to my hotel after visiting the British Consul, a man came up to me in the darkness, and, to my great surprise, asked me in English if I knew where Mr Bene Bull was.

“I’m him,” I replied, forgetful of grammar in the excitement of the moment. “I’ve a note from Mr Ben-net Burleigh for you, sir,” he said. “Hear Bull,” it ran, "I’m here on board H.M.S. Dryad. The bearer will take you to a boat. Come off as soon as you get this.” I needed no second invitation, and followed the sailor down to the shore, where a boat was in readiness. I was just going to get into it, when a g'gantic Turk stepped out of the gloom, and, covering me with his rifle, inquired my business.

I answered carelessly that I was just faing off to see a friend. But he would ave none of it. Two other soldiers by this t me had joined him, and there was no chance of making a dash for it. I protested, said I was an Englishman, and so on. But it was no good. They etclidiv refused to let me go until I had

shown my passport, and kept me well covered AA'ith their guns. Meanwhilei, Mr Burleigh, on the ship’s boat, which Avas lying close in, hearing the altercation, kept shouting to* know what Avas the matter and Avhy I didn't eome off.

It looked very much as if I should have to return . ignominiously to my hotel, with possibly a drum-head court-martial to follow — Avhen a happy thought struck me.

in my pocket I had an old passport 1 had used in Turkey during the Armenian massacres. It Avas signed by Lord Salisbury and the Sultan of Turkey. Pretending suddenly to discover it, I handed it over to the soldiers. Of course, they could not read a Avoid of it, but they recognised with ignorant aAve the Sultan's seal.

To them this Avas all-powerful. They loivered their rifles, and alloAved me to depart in peace and triumph.