NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 55

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS.

GALLANTRY PRAISED. LETTER FROM GENERAL BIRDWOOD. (Feoai Oue Own Coeeespondent.) WELLINGTON, July 16. Praise is bestowed upon the New Zealanders by General Birdwood in a letter to the Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister of Defence), dated May 15: “ You will have seen details of the landing at Gallipoli Peninsula,” ho reports. “The Australian Division was leading on this occasion, so naturally they came in for most of the work, but the New Zealanders immediately followed in support, and they came in for tin equally hot time. I am exceedingly sorry about Colonel Stewart’s death, as he was a gallant officer and was doing well. Another officer was wounded in the wrist, and refused to hand over his I hear he has nowbeen wounded, again while temporarily under my command. Without seeing the ground we had to fight over it is impossible to realise the work that was done by our troops. “We are, I think, in for a great deal more fighting, but whatever our future may be, ' nothing can detract from Uie achievements of the Australians and Now Zealanders so far. I have just received a letter from a high authority, who writes;—‘The achievement on Gallipoli Peninsula will bo quoted as long as history lasts/ At present wo have before us a perfect Gibraltar of a position, known ns the Kilid Baht Plateau, which commands the Narrows and which has its flunks goroughly protected on either side by the ardanelles, bo you will realise to some extent what the difficulties are before us. The Turks are no mean fighters, and as the

Sultan of Egypt said to mo on bidding me good-bye, we must be prepared to meet there the flower of the Turkish army.

“ At the beginning of the month I had to send off tho Now Zealand Infantry Brigade and an Australian Infantry Brigade temporarily to help the forces further south. Both these brigades arc still down there, and I am delighted to think that they will be rejoining mo again almost immediately. I hear that both have done splendid service there, but I fear they lost heavily, so that they can only return in depleted numbers. “Fortunately you have always such excellent reinforcements from New Zealand that we feel this loss less than we otherwise would: The First and Second Reinforcements w-e have with us, and I hope the Third will arrive immediately from Egypt. I need hardly say that those you have sent meet with our approval, both in physique and training. We are most thankful for

them, and look forward to welcoming the Fourth towards the end of the month.” “ Of tho Maoris General Birdwood writes that ho had suggested that they 'should join him, and if that w-as approved the Minister could i-est assured that he woxikl do his best to take special care if ho could of them. RECKLESS AUSTRALIANS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 19. . Some light ic thrown upon the daring of the Australians by a letter that has been received by a Wellington clergyman from a brother of the cloth, who w-as with tho forces at Cape Hellos. The letter states that instructions were given to a colonel of a British brigade to charge. The colonel said he would rather be relieved of his command than order his men to advance to certain death, w-hile tho Australians bounded to the charge when the order was given. Their ranks w-ex-o sadly thinned, but so eager wex-e they that, instead of digging themselves in when 500 yards had been covered, they charged 400 yards further on, and were consequently driven back. “In such a hail of lead the feat w-as a most glorious one,” says tho Avritor. “The Australians were sent to take a certain ridge. The Canterbury, Otago, and Wellington Infantry Avero to link up Avith them as a support to hold the position. Great cheering \va,s hoard from the trenches as the Otago men moved out, and gradually tho cheering became fainter and fainter, and those in tho tx-enches knew that matters Avere not well with the attackers. Tho Otago men were thought to be holding ground to the right, and the order Avas given for the Canterbury men to go to their assistance. A section had moved out Avhcn the order Avas countermanded; but it came too late to call the men back. Those Canterbury boys never returned.”