ANDING OF THE COLONIALS

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 83

ANDING OF THE COLONIALS

V SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT FIERCE ENCOUNTERS WITH THE TURKS GALLANT OEEICERS AND MEN ” TREACHERY BY THE ENEMA' [By Captain C. E. W. Bean, official press correspondent with the Australian Expeditionary Force.) Copyright —New Zealand rights reserved bj tho Otago Daily Tiipes. ALEXANDRIA, May 13. The Australians and Now Zealanders landed in two bodies, tho first covering force to seize the ridges around the landing place, and the second —the mam bony— - about an hour later. Ihe moon that mghu sot about an hour and a-balf before daylight. This just gave time for the warships and transports of the covering force to steam in and land before dawn. It had been long known that the Third Australian Brigade, consisting of Queens’landers. South Australians, West- Australians, and Tasmanians, had been chosen to make the landing. This brigade, which consists largely of miners from Broken Hill and the West Australian goldfields, had hut Egypt many weeks before tho rest of its force, and landed at Lemnos Island, where the men thoroughly practised landing from ships and boats. During the second week in April the greater part of tho Australian and New Zealand troopers from Egypt followed,, and had just been a fortnight in Lemnos when they sailed to effect a landing - at a certain position on tho northern shore of Gallipoli Peninsula, about 60 iniles away. FIRST BOAT ASHORE. The covering force was taken partly '■in three battleships. The night was perfect. About 1 o’clock the moon set, and the ships carrying the troopers, together with three warships, which' were charged with protecting the flanks, stole in towards the high coastline. It was known that the coast was forified and that a battery on the promontory two miles to the southwards, and several other guns amongst the hills covered the landing place. The battleships and transports took up a position in two lines, and the troops transferred partly to the warships’ boats and partly to destroyers. These hurried in shore, and re- transferred to boats, in which they made by tho shortest route for tho beach. It was eight minutes past 4- on the morning of Sunday, April 25, when the first boat grounded. So far not a shot had been fired by tho enemy. Colonel MacLoghan’s orders to the brigade were that, if possible, no snots were to be fired till daybreak, but that the business should be carried through with the bayonet. BULLETS STRIKE STONES. The men leapt into the water, and the first of them had just reached the beach when fire opened on them from the Turks on the foothills which rise immediately from the beach. The scene of the landing was a email bay about half a mile from point to point, with two much larger bays north and south. The country rather resembles that of the Hawkesbury River, in Now South Wales—hills rising immediately from the sea to a height of 600 ft to the north. These ridges cluster to a summit nearly 1000 ft high. Further northward the ranges become even higher. The summit j ust mentioned sends out a series of long ridges running south-westward, with the steep gullies between them very much like the hills and gullies about North Sydney, and covered with the low scrub very similar to dwarfed gumtree scrub. The chief difference is that there are no big trees, but many precipices and sheer slopes of gravel. BAPTISM OF FIRE. One ridge comes down to the sea at tho small bay above-mentioned, and ends in two knolls about 100 ft high—one at each point of the bay. It was from these that tho first shots opened on our troops as they landed. Tne bmiets struck fireworks out of the stones along the beach. The men did not wait to be sent, but wherever they landed they simply rushed straight up the steep slopes. Meanwhile other small boats which had cast off from the warships’ steam launches, which had towed them in, were digging for the beach with the oars. These occupied tho attention of the Turks in the trenches, and almost before they had time to collect their senses the first boat load was well up towards the trenches. Few Turks awaited the bayonet. It is said that one huge Queenslander swung his rifle by the muzzle, and after braining one Turk caught another and flung him over his shoulder. I don’t know if this story is true. We landed some hours later. GALLANT STRETCHER BEARERS. It is impossible to say which battalion landed first. Tho Turks in the trenches facing the lauding naci disappeared, out those on the other flank and on tho ridges and gullies still kept up a fire upon tho boats coming ashore, and a portion of the covering force also came under heavy fire. The Turks had a machine gun in tho valley on our left, and this was evidently turned on tho boats containing part of the 12th Battalion. Three of these boats aro still lying on tho beach'some way to tho north, and tho wounded men lay in them for two days before they could be rescued. Two stretcher-bearers of the 2nd Battalion who Went along the beach during the day to rescue the wounded were both shot by the Turks. Finally a party waited for the dark, and crept along the beach, rescuing nine who had been in the boats two days afraid to move for fear of attracting fire. The work of the stretcher-bearers all through the week of hard lighting has been beyond all praise. CHARGING THE HEIGHTS. The 3rd Brigade went over tho hills with *uch dash that within three-quarters of an hour of landing some had charged over gree successive ridges. Each ridge was gher than the last, and each party that feachcd the top went over it with a wild cheer. Since that day tho Turks have

never attempted to face our bayonets. The officers led magnificently, but, of course, nothing like accurate control of the attack was possible. Tho subordinate leaders had been trained at Mena to act on their own responsibility, and the benefit of this was enormously apparent in these attacks. Companies and platoons —little crowds of 50 or 200 men—were landed wherever tho boats took them. Their leaders Had a general idea of where they were intended to go, and, once landed, each subordinate commander made his way there by what seemed to him the shortest road. The consequence was that the 3rd Brigade reached its advance line in a medley of small fractions, inextricably mixed. MAIN BODY LANDED.

Several further lines of Turkish trenches were swept through on tho further ridges. The Turks did not wait for the bayonet, and when at sunrise tho ships bringing the first portion of the main body arrived and steamed slowly through the battleships to unload tho men those on board could see figures on the skyline of the ridges near them and the further ridge inland. Presently a heliograph winked from near the top of the second hill. They were our men. They could be seen walking about and digging just as you see them any morning at Liverpool camp during the annual training The relief which flooded the hearts of thousands of anxious watchers on tho ships can better bo imagined than described. It is impossible to say exactly how many of tho enemy were holding this particular portion of the coast —perhaps 500 to 1000. They retired for an hour, and during that welcome spell the men who had seized the ridges were able to do something towards entrenching. Meantime tho main body had already begun to arrive on the beach, and it was possible to land the troops in comparative calm, interrupted only by shells from a Turkish battery to the south. This sprayed the boats with shrapnel as they came from tho ships, but managed to hit very few. One boat, just as it landed, had the bpttom blown out without a single man being hurt. Our men landed in very heavy kits, and an accident to the boats might have been serious. It is believed' that some men wore _ drowned in one or two boats of the covering force, but except for this the hundreds of boats which came to that beach under shell fire during the day scarcely suffered at all. TURKS’ FIERCE-ATTACK.

By this time tho first part of tho main body was forming up on tho beach. Tho Turks had brought up their troops from tho,other side of the peninsula, and a fierce attack began, which lasted all day. As the fresh troops arrived on the beach they were generally sent straight into the firing line, cither on one flank or tho other of tho covering force. The troops went where the Turks were already attacking in force too great to allow of tho digging of trenches. The only possibility was to hold on in the scrub and dig in after dark. It was in that first afternoon that the Australians and, later, tho New Zealanders had their first experience of shrapnel in this war. During tho first day, when they had rushed a position rather like a section of tho blue mountains, full of winding gullies, it was naturally difficult to discover tho position of all tho enemy’s guns. Those on the promontory to the south wore soon placed, and three were silenced almost at once by a cruiser, which put her nose round one side of the point, whilst a battleship shelled from the other side. One gun there continued to fire most of tho afternoon, but was hit before sundown, and has not fired since. MOUNTAIN GUNS AT WORK.

But there was a battery in the ranges inland which it was, impossible to place. During the whole afternoon, from 2'- o’clock until sundown, it fired continuously a salvo of four shells about twice every minute on to the ridges which our troops wore holding, for tho most part without any protection. Somo of them were in a deserted Turkish trench, of which the Turks had tho exact range. Hour after hour the shrapnel burst over tho ridge, along which our infantry were moving. The navy could do practically nothing to help because wo could not tell them where to fire. The first relief was when a small force of Indian mountain artillery, which landed with us, managed to drag its guns into a position just behind part of our line which was suffering especially. Tho Indians began firing over our heads in the direction from which shells were coming. Tho mere sound of our guns answering tho enemy’s came like a draught of fresh water to the infantry. Of course our guns drew the enemy’s shrapnel like a magnet on to themselves and that part of the firing line around them. “It’s those guns that’s bringing it this way,” I heard one of our men say. “They’re doing blooming good work, anyway,” said another. It would not have mattered whether the mountain guns were doing good work or not. The mere sound of them was enough. One of the British officers who was out in an exposed position observing for this battery was hit through the chock, the bullet taking away all tho teeth on one side. Ho wont down to the beach and had tho wound dressed, and returned to his post. SPLENDID OFFICERS. During the whole of this trying time, if one thing cheered the men more than another it was tho behaviour of their officers. I saw one officer in charge of a machine gun, whom one knew for certain must bo killed if tho fight lasted. His men were crouching under cover of a depression a few inches deep on'-the brow of the hill. He was sitting calmly on top of the rise searching for targets through his glasses. Presently three or four salvoes of shrapnel burst right over that group, ending with a round of common shell with its terrifying flash and scatter of loose earth. A shout came from somewhere in the rear. “PASS THE WORD TO RETIRE.” .The officer in question turned round. “Where does that order come from?” ho asked sharply. “Passed up from tho rear, sir,” was tho answer. “Well, pass it back, and find out who gave it,” said the officer. “Yes.” “Who says retire?” said several of the men. This was done, and the next moment the order came up: “Tho line will advance and entrench on tho forward slope of the hill.” KNEW HOW TO DIE. There was a moment of delay gatheringup rifles, and then over tho hill they went. Dusk was just falling, and tho enemy’s battery happened at that moment to switch off in order to fire ite last salvos towards tho beach. The officer spoken of was at his post next morning, when it became necessary to send a man down the bill on some business. Before the man had gone 20 yards he was wounded. The officer walked

down the hill at once to pick him up, but within a couple of seconds the Turks had a machine gun on him, and he fell riddled with bullets. Australia has lost many of her best officers this way. The toll has been really heavy, but the British theory is that you cannot lead men from the rear —at any rate, in an attack of this sort. It would bo absurd to pretend that the life of an officer like that one was wasted. No one knows how long the example will live among the men. There were others whom I will mention later on, when the casualties have all reached Australia, who died lighting like tigers—some who fully knew they would die. One was sometimes inclined to think this sort of leading useless, but no one who heard the men talking next day could doubt the value. “By God, our officers were splendid,” one Australian told me, and wherever I went I heard the same. WELL DUG IN. During the night the lines were straightened, and the men dug in as best they could. The Turks attempted several charges on the extreme right. A charge was generally preceded by a cessation of firing. Then could bo heard arguments between the Turkish officers and men going on over the edge of the hill, just such arguments^as used to take place whenever anyone tried to superintend the natives loading a cart at Mena camn. Finally, over the ridge came a line of figures shouting “ Allah, Allah !” Qur troons waited until the oncmey were within about 70 yards, and then jumped out of the trenches with bayonets fixed and charged. The Turks have never oneo waited for cur bayonet rushes so far. They have always turned immediately or flung themselves flat and allowed the machine guns to fire over their heads at our men.

By morning our line was well dug in. Water had been sent up during the night by every possible means, chiefly ; n Petrol tins, carried on donkeys, mules, or by hand. Troops’ stores were constantly arriving on the beach from tho hng:i fleet of transports until tho place looked like a great busy port. Some New Zealanders were caught during the night out in the open by a machine gun, and many of them were lost. TRAINED IN GERMAN METHODS. The Truks are well trained in Gorman methods, and orders have certainly been given to the men in the trenches by strangers, possibly in the scrub near the trenches. Sometimes orders have been given in perfect English, and passed along the trenches. There has been hard fighting since, which I will report later. I would have reported before if I had been able to obtain leave from the Admiralty. When all is said, a feat which will go down in history is that first Sunday’s fighting, when three Australian brigades stormed in the face of fire tier after tier _of cliffs and mountains apparently as impregnable as Govett’s Leap. The sailors who saw tho Third Brigade go up those heights and over the successive, summits with wild cheers, their bayonets flashing in tho sunrise, speak of it with tears of enthusiasm in their eyes. The Now Zealanders arc just as generous in their appreciation. It is hard to distinguish between tho work of' the brigades. They all fought fiercely, and suffered heavily. I believe the British at Capo Hellos fought a tremendous fight. Of Australia it may be said that tho Australian infantry, and especially tho Third Brigade, lias made a name which will never die. As I write tho guns of half a dozcn_ warships arc shaking tho hills. The evening is a quiet one. From tho ridges above comes tho continuous rattle of musketry. As no bullets are whistling overhead the firing must he by our men. Tho issue cannot ho in doubt, but nothing could take away from the Australian and New Zealand infantry the fame of last Sunday’s fighting. THE SECOND DAY. On Monday, tho second day of the landing, the enemy again pumped shrapnel on to the ridges. They also fired about 600 shells at the landing place, scarcely hitting anyone. Tho shells on the ridges were far worse, hut this time the battleship Queen Elizabeth was sent to support us during tho morning. The effect of her shells was enormous. Standing several miles out she shelled tho enemy opposite the north-east corner of our position. Tho effect of her shells was like a tonic for our tired men. Huge yellow clouds burst from her side, and some seconds later there was a crash as if tho -sky had fallen in, followed almost immediately by a tremendous roar somewhere on land. Looking in the direction of the Turkish position you saw a vast cloud of earth and green smoko skyward. The Queen Elizabeth had been provided with monstrous shrapnel sent out specially for this job. Each shell weighed nearly a ton. and on hurduig it leaves in tho air not tho woolly little puffs of ordinary shrapnel, hut a miniature thundercloud. Early on tho second morning the Bth Australian Infantry repelled four Turkish charges. Tito 4th Infantry made a most gallant attack with tho bayonet, and drove the Turks hack through the scrub until, they came on the Turkish camp. Tho 9th- and 10th went straight through that until they were faced by three machine guns in a position farther hack, and came under the fire of a hattory. These battalions wore afterwards ordered to retire somewhat, as the position was one difficult to sun-port. - SHORT OF FOOD.

The Turks noxt_ attacked the left and right of the 3rd Brigade. The Queen Elizabeth’s fire and that of the other warships soon settled the fate of the former attack, but in the latter case the fierce fire of machine guns swept down the ridge, which, being peculiarly exposed to shrapnel fire, proved too trying for the battalion holding it. There had never been an opportunity of digging trenches at this spot, the fire being Too hot. The battalion had been put straight into this nasty corner immediately after arrival, and was subjected to a heavy strain for a time. The ridge was left almost clear of our troops. The Turks began to creep up to the edge of it almost in the rear of the 3rd Brigade. This was towards the evening. The 3rd Brigade had been in the trenches continuously, fighting often without food. Every man brought ashore with him three days’ rations, but in the fierce rush up the hills on Sunday morning many had left their packs behind. On Monday afternoon an endeavour was made to take some of the battalions of this brigade out of the trenches to rest and collect portions which wore scattered through the firing lino. Part of the 9th and 10th wore waiting down the valley at the rear. When the Turks began to take this ridge there w T as nothing for it but to send the tired 9th and 10th to take the ridge again. I saw that advance from a few hundred yards away. RETAKING A RIDGE.

First one very gallant officer of the retreating regiment came through the scrub,

collecting the odds and ends of his battalion from hollows and waving them forward. Standing up all the time ho succeeded in rallying a few men and leading them forward sovexal hundred yards. There the effort rested, but I saw this particular officer several times later running up and down in the firing line in his mackintosh hopping over the scrub amidst a deadly fire when every other living thing upon that plateau was flat upon its face. Presently up came the 9th and 10th, lino after line, in very good lines of 20 or 30. They went up through the scrub, rushing for all they w r ere worth, dropping every hundred yards or so to take breath, then up again and on towards the end of the ridge. About three rushes covered it. They were facing shrapnel and machine gun fine, but reached the required point. Three times they wore driven off the ridge, but three times they came and took it, and the last time they remained there. When the brigadier asked them afterwards what they wanted to go and retire for, “Well, wo retired in very good lines, sir,” said one stalwart, grinning. “And so they did, the beggars,” added tho brigadier. TURKISH TRICKERY. Just after the two battalions had- begun their first charge across tin’s hill an order was passed along the trenches to the point where the writer was. “Pass along the order to cease fire. The British are getting round at the back of the Turks, and there is some fear of hitting them.” Some of (ho men ceased firing automatically, but tho officers around mo questioned the order. “Where docs tho order come from?” they asked.

This -was passed clown presently. Tho answer came back, “Order from General Headquarters, cease firing. The French and Indians arc within two miles of tho back of tho Turks, and we are afraid of hitting them.” Our officer knew there were no French or Indians, and the British were believed to bo at least 10 miles away. “Take no notice of that order” was passed along; but before the firing could be begun again the Turks had two or three minutes during which they could raise their heads with impunity to fire into our undefended men. Exactly the same trick was played at another part of the line two hours earlier. A very few days have put the officers and men wise to these ruses. COUNTING THE COST.

There was little or no rest for the men in tho trenches on Monday night, and on Tuesday tho fighting was still in parts heavy; but between Tuesday and Thursday it was at last possible for the tired troops who had come up the hills that first Sunday morning:, and who had been fighting hard over since, to be relieved and sent clown to the rest camp. Then was the first time any estimate could be made of the losses. Men and officers supposed to bo dead or wounded turned up safe and sound from various parts of the line, where they had mixed in with other battalions. SURFING UNDER SHRAPNEL.

The tired men almost all enjoyed a bath during the warm hours of the afternoon, and for a time the beach in the nrdst of the fiercest battle ever fought in the Dardanelles looked more like Manly on a public holiday. Hundreds of men were bathing, while out in the roadstead nine or 10 warships were constantly firing salvos of huge guns along the sunny shore. The men were diving, splashing, or enjoying a sun bath. Occasionally shrapnel flicked up the water, but very few men were hit. Only one, as far as I know, was killed during the whole day whilst bathing—an accident which had not tho least effect on *the bathers. Practically all our men have now had a rest of a day, and have gone back to tho trenches. They arc attacked somewhere every night and most days. Last night, for example, the Turks attacked. They did not reach the trenches, and the dead wore lying thick on the ground this morning. To-day they attacked another part of the line, and reached within 50 yards, but none got nearer. A machine gun mowed them down. Twenty or so can be seen lying within a small space.