THE DARDANELLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16566, 14 December 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

ANZAC'S FIRST SNOW. SHEEPSKIN VESTS WANTED. SYDNEY, December 13. (Received Dec. 13, at 9.5 p.m.) Captain Bean, cabling on November 28, says: The Anzacs' first experience of snow caught the troops unprepared and still without sheepskins. Warm hand and foot gear would be acceptable. Although the troops are well provided in many respects, comforts are not easily procurable, and without these the campaign might almost become a second Crimea. Besides the loss of the outgoing Christmas mail, a steamer carrying a large incoming mail has foundered. TURKISH TRANSPORT TORPEDOED. LONDON, December 13. (Received Dec. 13, at 10.35 p.m.) A Turkish transport of BCOO tons was sunk by a submarine in the Sea of Marmora. TURKISH TRANSPORTS. ONLY SEVEN LEFT. ATHENS, December !3. (Received Dec. 13, at 11.30 p.m.) It is reported at Constantinople that the transport Rechid, Pasha was sunk near Silivria. in the Sea of lWar« mora, bv a French submarine. It is stated that only seven transports are left, the others having been sunk by submarines.

AUSTRALASIANS' MAGNIFI* CENT WORK. GLOWING TRIBUTE BY THE TIMES. "THE SPIRIT OF ANZAC." (Times and Sydney Sum Services.) LONDON, December 12. (Received Doc. 13, at 5.5 p.m.) The Times " War History " number says: " The spirit of Anzac comprehensively visualises the Australasian war efforts from the point of view of Englishmen. It declares that the spirit of Anzac has percolated through both dominions, changing their fibre. Their thoughts have followed the fortunes of their sons on those dreary, inhospitable cliffs, where the destinv of Turkey is being so strangely linked with theirs. They became busy, too, with visions of new Australianism and new Imperialism, and for the first time become conscious of a place in the troubled orbit of conflicting nations." Referring to episodes at Anzac, the number describes the whole-hearted efforts of whole communities to equip their sons with the best of everything, and points out the ordeal of labour in the Egyptian desert camps. Thes4 were a part of the essential preparation, the men's commonsense desire to become as efficient as Imperial soldiers triumphing over the self-dependence inculcated by the fine, limitless spaces of the dominions, and describes the joy and eagerness, almost sacred de sire, with which each draft lands at, Anzac. It laments the prevalence of dysentery, pointing out that few armies have borne so much over such a length of time and few have risen better to the perilous calls of their commanders. The most moving part of the Gallipoli story will always be the splendid feelings called out in the breasts of young Australasians. To them it was no ordinary adventure in war. These single-minded loyal youths had different conceptions of God, but every conception fitted in with the sublime conception that this work for race and country was God's work. Upon the tissue of their natures the warm affections, cleanliness, and liberty amongst which they had been brought up, this fighting call precipitated something that seemed to them the highest thing possible. Gallipoli proved the warmth and generosity of the Australian and New Zealand character. They spent money, blood, everything with liberal effacement. and the wonderful story of the sinking of the Southland proved the verities of discipline. FEELING IN GERMANY. WAR OVER IN THREE MONTHS. FOOD SHORTAGE NOT GREAT. LONDON, December 12. A pro-Ally Swede, who has returned after a month's visit to Germany, says that Berlin is but little changed. The French and English extreme views as to the German shortage and suffering are unfounded. There is an impression throughout Germany and Austria that the war will be finished within two ot three months. Serbia is finished, and Constantinople is within reach. There would be a rapid advance on Egypt by the light railways now being constructed, and perhaps a further blow at Calais will be attempted. The war would then be over. The Entente Powers, it is believed, will probably succumb singly, England being the last to give in. Everywhere he went the Swede encountered different opinions in regard to England. Before the war the British army was treated as a joke, but gradually it has come to be recognised that "Tommy" is a man of amazing determination. The fighting quality of the French surprised the Germans, who ex pected a repetition of 1870. There is a great dearth of fat in Germany, and the highest authorities believe that it will continue for more than a year unless new supplies are obtained. Paraffin oil is almost unobtainable, and is distributed by the police in homoeopathic doses. Copper supplies have not yet been called up, but there is a terrible shortage of rubber. The potato harvest is abundant. The English, he says, should understand that the German regulations are largely of a precautionary nature. The general view is that the food tickets are merely a check on waste, and they cause no resentment. THE BERLIN RIOTS. NUMEROUS CASUALTIES. COPENHAGEN, December 12. Fifty thousand persons participated in Thursday's riotous outbreak in Berlin. The police charged, and killed and wotitided many. The Crown Prince, who has arrived in Berlin, was subjected to insults. PAN-GERMAN PAPER SUPPRESSED. AMSTERDAM, December 12. The authorities at Berlin have pn>hibited the publication of the Pan-German Conservative newspaper Die Post for publishing articles opposing any form of peace unless Germany keeps all the occupied territory. AUSTRALIAN PASSPORTS. THE TANGLE WITH NEW ZEALAND. SYDNEY, December 13. The Daily Telegraph, commenting on the passport tangle, after suggesting that the recent cases were due to misplaced zeal on the part of the officials, says: "If the Government insists on imposing additional restrictions they should make the fact widely known. A reciprocal under- • standing with New Zealand as to the recognition of permits would obviate misunderstandings. New Zealand is not a foreign country." -.' ' *