IN EGYPT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9246, 13 January 1916, Page 5

IN EGYPT

7TH AND BTH REINFORCEMENTS THE LAST SCENE AT GALLIPOLI. A special message from the New Zealand war correspondent, Mr Malcolm Ross, dated Cairo, January 11th, states: — The Seventh and Eighth Reinforcements are joining the main body in tho new camp. Six hundred Maoris, encamped at Cairo, are in splendid fettle. Every precaution is being taken to secure the Canal against the threatened attach. All the New Zealand guns were got off the Peninsula, a t&m of horses being left to gallop in with the last gun on Sunday night. This was safely accomplished,' even the horses, which it was thought would have to be killed, being saved. The officer commanding was determined that no New Zealand gun should been exhibited in Constantinople, even though some of the guns had been used against Cronje in the Boer War, and were not worth saving. The artillery are naturally proud of. the splendid feat accomplished in saving the Even though some of the guns had been used against Cronje in the Boer War, and were not worth saving, and the artillery are naturally prouc'. of this splendid feat. The gunners love their guns, especially those they brought with them and fought through the campaign. On December 17th, when one subsection Jeft without a bullet-marked howitzer, and when it was thought that the gun would have to be blown up, the limber gunner in charge broke down and cried. . i

Two nights later this gun was got off by another section. The delight of Winter, the gunner, may be imagined at the success of saving the gun. The evacuation of Helles puts the coping-stone upon an operation unique in military annals. *" '

TURKS ATTEMPtfcAVY ATTACK TRENCHES CONTINUOUSLY SHELLED. The High Commissioner reports: LONDON, January 12, 1.50 a.m. Regarding the Dardanelles, General Monro states that the Turks attempted a heavy attack on our lines at Helles on Friday. Our trenches were continuously shelled. The bombardment was intense, and the Turks opened a heavy musketry fire. They sprang two mines near the Western Birdcage and 'Fusilier Bluff, and later fixed bayonets all along our front. Their officers were seen apparently endeavouring to make the men assault, but were only successful opposite Fifth Avenue and Fusilier Bluff. The Staffordsbires completely repulsed .the attack, a largi portion of the Turks being killed and wounded. ■ Our casualties were five officers and 130 men killed and wounded. Aeroplane reports state that the naval fire on the left flank was most accurate, and probably the enemy suffered considerably. On the night of the 7th-Bth the weather was fine, and evacuation operations were quietly and successfully continued. On Saturday there was a calm 6ea, but the weather suddenly got worse, and at 11 o'clock at night the wind increased to 35 miles an hour. The Turkish artillery was practically silent the whole nijsht. The Turks fired red lights all-along the line, opening heavy shelling until after .daybreak. The French embarkations were carried out by their navy. GERMAN PRESS COMMENT RUSSIAN INTEREST IN THE WAR SHOULD DECLINE. Sy Telatntph—Press Association—Copyrlcbt LONDON, January 11. German newspapers, commenting on the evacuation of Galliipoli, say that Churchill's dream of a victorious march on Constantinople has - been destroyed, and the campaign has ended in the complete failure of proud England. The evacuation means the release pf large Turkish forces. Now that Russia has been denied Constantinople her interest m the war should decline. austral]Rcruiting MANY UNWILLING TO ENLIST. By T«l«s;rapß—Press Association—Copyrlthi . SYDNEY, January 12. The recruiting cards are flowing >h. They show that a. large percentage is unwilling to enlist. Various .excuses are made, such-as, that the men are waiting till- all the Germans are interned, or "when conscription comes."' Many evasive, impertinent replies have been msde. WOUNDED IN FRANCE By OW«s;r»pb—Press Assoclatlon-CopyrWu (Received January 11, 10 p.m.) LONDON, January 11. Lieutenant J. Rutledge, of the Field Artillery, a New Zealander, has been wounded in France. . " - . THE SHATTERED EMDEN CANNOT BE SALVED. By T«l«eraph-Preu Association—Copyrlflil MELBOURNE, January IS. The Hon. J. A. Jensen, Minister in Charge of the Navy, referring to the salving of the German cruiser Eraden, states, that Mr Proctor was sent to the Cocos Islands to report on the possibility of the scheme. He found'that the stern half of the Em den had disappeared, and a heavy surf was breaking over the remainder. It was now impossible to salve the vessel.