SYDNEY SOLDIER'S LETTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16415, 21 June 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

SYDNEY SOLDIER'S LETTER

FOUR DAYS' FIGHTING. Lance-corporal H. M. Lanser. -writing to his parents in Sydney, says:—"Wo were first of all in destroyers, which went inshore as near as they could, when wo were transhipped in lifeboats. All the time this was going on shrapnel, machine gwi, and rifle fire was being dealt out to m in large quantities, killing 16 on one destroyer, and many more after we landed. We stepped from the boats into the water; the water came up to our armpits, and one of my mates went under altogether, rifle and four days' rations. But what did any of us care—Turks we wanted, and Turks we jrot. On landing we extended. This was done without orders, but on our own discretion, and poured rifle fire into them while they slaughtered us with shrapnel, killing many of oar officers. How we managed to keep the Turks back surprised us: our rifles must have been doing some very good work. The second ridge was taken by us. and all ridges where the enemy could get cover for about two miles, when wo scratched holes -with ont entrenching tools when -we coakl grasp an opportunity.

The fighting kept on from Sunday morning continuously until Wednesday evening, when, unfortunately, I was shot by a sniper in the back 'of my left knee, and my mate was also ehof by, I presume, the same eniper. our casualties were by these men, who were buried in holes on either of our flanks, leaving only space enough for their rifles, making them frightfully hard to find.

" I shall never forget that four days' fight, without sleep, and very little food, but one doesn't want to eat when he has a job like that to tackle. I caused some of the chaps to laugh when, on Wednesday morning, I fell asleep in the trench in all the turmoil. It was only about 10 minutes, I think, when I awoke, and was at it again. The shrubby ootmtry makes it very difficulty to see the dark uniforms of the Turks. On Wednesday night there were frightful scenes of dead and wounded, but anything else was impossible under such fire and difficult conditions. lam now happy, with my comrades all on the mend, and our time is spent in reading and having food very sparingly. We have been supplied with bunches of palm leaves, to keep off and kill the flies. Arab men are in attendance, and one, I am quite sore, is « Turk; if he is not, I will eat my cap."