THE HIGH COMMISSIONER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 19

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER

IMPRESSION'S OF GALLIPOLI RELATIONS WITH THE TURKS. THE MILITARY POSITION. (F.eom Ode Own Correspondent.) LONDON, June 2. Sir James Allen has returned from hia Mediterranean cruise, which included the visit to Gallipoli and the unveiling ceremony. 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 took the opportunity of thanking tho 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. Tho High Commissioner has given me a few of the general impressions left on his mind after his day on tho Gallipoli Peninsula. “I waa naturally very much pleased,” said tho High Commissioner, “that so many people took tho 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 tho graves _of relatives and friends who were buried in tho cemeteries there. In tho circumstances it was not unnatural that this large party of British people should have participated so fully and sympathetically. “It was my intention to leave a good impression on the Turks, and I am quite convinced that wc havo done so. At tho entertainment on board the Ormonde after the ceremoney there were about 20 Turkish officials present, including the Valis of Chanak and of Gallipoli, the head men of the various villages, heads of the police, and others. It was quite a unique occasion. They seemed to enjoy themselves, and I am euro wc left a good impression.

IMPERIAL WAR GRAVES COMMISSION. ‘I also came away with, a groat appreciation of tho 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 during tho past few years and never made a serious mistake in their attitude to the Turks. Colonel C. E. Hughes appears to havo a remarkable influence not only on Gallipoli, but at Constantinople as well. “Sir John Burnet, as architect for tho cemeteries, has certainly produced just the thing that suits the place. Lone Pino 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 tho 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 tho campaign. Taking into account our own linos of communication, I am convinced that tho purpose of was an impracticable proposition.”