A QUIET PERIOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 27

A QUIET PERIOD.

ONLY MINOR FIGHTING. AMSTERDAM, October 12. The Turkish communiques of the last few days speak only of minor fighting at the Dardanelles. RUSSIAN NAVAL ACTIVITY. PETROGRAD, October 11. A communique states : Two of our torpedo-boats off the coast of Anatolia destroyed 19 Turkish sailin', boats with cargoes destined for the troops, October 12. The ships destroyed off the Anatolian coast were mostly laden with ammunition. The crews of 15 were saved. One vessel blew up. RECRU3TSMG m AUSTRALIA.' MELBOURNE, October 12. Senator Pearce announces that a recruiting campaign will be undertaken in all the States in rotation. The next will probably be held in Queensland. He deprecates fixing a definite quota as the proportion required from any State. The numbers requested by the Imperial authorities are the irreducible minimum, and as many more as can be obtained will be gladly accepted. SYDNEY, October 12. At the big recruiting meeting in the Town Hall someone in the body of the hall asked why men with high salaries remained at home, while the working men were asked to go to Gallipoli. In the midst of an expectant silence a returned wounded soldier struggled forward and replied : “I will tell you why they don’t go. Because their war is here. If we had not men like Mr Holman we should not have the organisation to send the men who ought to go. We want men of Mr Holman’s stamp here. We are Willing to go back and fight for them.” BRISBANE, October 12. The men who enlisted last week totalled 656. SITUATION AT CONSTANTINOPLE. NECESSITY FOR GERMAN HELP. LONDON, October 12. The Daily Telegraph’s Rome correspondent says that the situation in Constantinople is disastrous. The armies are absolutely short of ammunition, and the Government’s requisition of metals has become the wildest pillage. The police are removing thp railings in front of mansions and villas. Enver Pasha is certain that the arrival of the German armies is imminent, and has authorised the commandant at the Dardanelles to use his remaining ammunition, expecting early supplies. The Turkish newspapers announce that the Allies are preparing to evacuate Gallipoli Peninsula. THE ARMENIAN MASSACRES. RESUMED BY THE TURKS. WASHINGTON, October 12. The State Department learns that the Armenian massacres have been resumed by the Turks with vigor- since Bulgaria’s entrance into the war. The American representations to Turkey against the Armenian massacres have passed unheeded. It is not believed that the United States will take further action. ROME, October 12. The Correspondenza states that after the Holy See’s repeated diplomatic protests against the Armenian massacres, the Pope wrote personally to hire Sultan, who promised to stop the massacres. COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY. LOkouN, October 13. A number of Liberals have tabled a motion calling for a Select Committee to inquire into the initiation, conduct, and position of the Dardanelles campaign. TURKISH OFFICIAL REPORT. SUCCESSES CLAIMED. AMSTERDAM, October 13. A Constantinople communique states : The Turkish artillery bombarded the enemy’s camp at Bueyuk Kimikli, causing heavy losses. There was feeble rifle and artillery fire at Ari Burnu and Sedd-ul-Bahr, We shot down an aeroplane at El Arish, on the Egyptian frontier, and captured the aviators, PARIS, October 14. A Constantinople communique states : Our artillery at Anafarta on the 10th bit an enemy torpedo-boat and then a cruiser. Another torpedo-boat unsuccessfully replied. We exploded a mine in an enemy trench and killed the majority of the occupants; the remainder lied. A torpedoboat near Ari Burnu is continually bombarding our right wing unsuccessfully, and & monitor is firing without result in the direction of Maidos,

SHOULD OPERATIONS BE DISCONTINUED ?

TURKISH CLAIM EXPLAINED. SYDNEY, October 14. Captain Bean cables that their latest newspapers show that the Turks claim to have repulsed the landing of our colonial troops at Kurachali, on the northern shore of the Gulf of Saros, on August 6. This refers to the landing of 380 men jf the French Foreign Legion on the same light as the Suvla landing, in order to give the Turks the idea that a serious landing was being attempted, and to attract their troops in that direction. The landing force met with but slight opposiion. They rushed five kilometres inland, and when the Turks began to pour down i formidable body of troops they re-em-oarked successfully, with the loss of about 00 men. AUSTRALIA DAY FUND. SYDNEY, October 14. The New South Wales contributions to the Australia Day Fund total £745,000. I ACTIVE BOfVSBAROME NT. SEVERE TURKISH LOSSES. ATHENS, October 14. I British monitors and land artillery effec tiveiy bombarded various points along the Dardanelles. They also destroyed portion of the Turkish front. The occupants of the trenches lied, and the Allies’ batteries and machine guns decimated the fugitives. The heavy artillery and the monitors violently bombarded Maidos, where most of the Turkish supplies are concentrated, and important damage was done to the port and quays. RELATIVES IN NEW ZEALAND. SYDNEY, October 15. Private J. A. Rogers, reported killed, has relatives in New Zealand. THE ARMENIAN HORRORS. APPEAL FOR DOCTORS AND NURSES. LONDON, October 15. Sir Edward Grey, in a letter to the Anglo Armenian Association, urges the need for doctors, nurses, and relief supplies. He stated that the Consul at Tiflis reports that the Turkish troops killed the majority of the inhabitants of Sasoon. i TOTAL CASUALTIES. i BRITISH AND AUSTRALASIAN. LONDON, October 15. 1 It is announced that the total British casualties at the Dardanelles to October 9 were 96,899. The Australasian casual- , ties were 29,121. AUSTRALIAN AVIATORS’ DEATHS. MELBOURNE, October 16. Official details have been published concerning the deaths of Flight-lieutenants G. P. Merz and Burn in Mesopotamia. These show that the officers were taking part in an expedition to establish a depot at Asasullabig, and failed to return. An aeroplane was discovered broken, but its identity was put beyond doubt, and political officers later on discovered that the murder had been committed by travelling Bedouins, three of whom were wounded ; and one was killed by the aviators. One Bedouin concei’ned in the murder is now awaiting trial, and large rewards have been issued for the apprehension of the others. The aviators’ bodies have not yet been discovered. DECORATIONS FOR AUSTRALIANS. C.B.’S AND C.M.G.’S. LONDON, October 15. The Gazette publishes the following daI corations :—Colonels M‘Cay, Pope, and I Burnage (Australians), Companions of the j Rath. j Colonel Plugge and Major G. S. Richardi son (New Zealanders), Companions of St. I Michael and St. George. I Majors Turnbull and G. S. Smith (New • Zealanders), Distinguished Service Orders, i VICTORIA CROSSES. ONE FOE NEW ZEALANDER. LONDON, October 15. The following Australian Victoria Crosses have been awarded ;—Captain Shout and Lieutenants Symons, Frederick Tubb, and Hugo Throssell j Corporals Alexander, Burton, and William Dunstan; Privates John Hamilton, Leonard Keyesor. Corporal Bassett, of New Zealand, also receives the Cross. 1 HOW THE CROSSES WERE WON. LONDON, October 15. | Following are details of the deads that won the Crosses :—- Captain SHOUT.—Most conspicuous braL very at Lone Pine Ridge. Heading a

small party, be charged tho trenches and personally threw four bombs, killing eight Turks and, routing the remainder, captured a further length of trench. He continued to bomb the enemy under the heaviest fire till he was severely wounded, and has since succumbed. Lieutenant SYMOIS! S.—Bravery at Lone Pine Ridge. Commanding a section of newly-captured trenches he repelled several counter-attacks and retook a captured sap, shooting with his revolver two Turks. When the sap was under fire from three sides he withdrew for a space of 15 yards, built a barricade of fascines, which was fired, but he extinguished the flames and rebuilt tho barricade. Finally he compelled the enemy to withdraw. Lieutenant TUBB.—Bravery and devotion to duty at Lone Pine Ridge. The enemy made a determined counter-attack on a captured trench and blew up a sandbag barricade. Lieutenant Tubb led the men back and rebuilt the barricade. The enemy’s bombing parties twice blew up the barricade, but Lieutenant Tubb, although wounded in the bead and arm, \Tith the greatest coolness maintained his position under the heaviest bomb fire. Lieutenant THROSSELL.—For most conspicuous bravery at Hill 60. Although severely wounded in several places, he refused to leave his post until the danger was past. On his wounds being dressed he returned to the firing line until the medical officer ordered him out of action. His personal courage was largely instrumental in saving a critical situation. Corporals BURTON and DUN STAN assisted Lieutenant Tubb in defending a captured trench, until finally Corporal Burton was, killed by a bomb while building up the barricade. Private HAMILTON, with an utter disregard for personal safety, exposed himself to heavy fire at Lone Pine Ridge in order to secure a better firing position against the bomb-throwers. His coolness and daring example encouraged the defenders, and they drove the enemy off with heavy losses. Private KEYS OR, at Lone Pine Ridge, on August 7, threw back two live enemy bombs and continued throwing bombs, although wounded, thus saving an important section of the trench. On August 8 he bombed the enemy out of a position. Although again wounded and marked for hospital he volunteered to throw bombs for another company' whose bombers were lost, and continued until the station was relieved. Corporal BASSETT (a New Zealand signaller), after the New Zealand infantry had established themselves at Chunuk Bair Ridge, in full daylight, and under continuous heavy firo, laid a telephone line to Chunuk Bair, and was subsequently brought' under notice for most gallant work in repairing telephone lines under heavy fire. Lieutenant GEARLY, of the Ist East Surrey Regiment, was awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery at Hill 60, Ypres. ANOTHER NEW ZEALANDER. SYDNEY, October 17. Captain Shout was a native of New Zealand, and a resident in Sydney. He fought in the Boer war, where he was mentioned in despatches. Shortly after landing at Gallipoli be was wounded, and received further injuries at Lone Pine Ridge. His wife first received a cable stating that he was killed, then one saying that he was wounded, and a third confirmed his death. lieutenanFthrossell. SYDNEY, October 17. Lieutenant Throssell is a son of a member of tho Westralian Legislative Assembly. ARMENIAN MASSACRES. LONDON, October 15. The Times Milan correspondent states that the Vatican is anxious over the Turkish atrocities as to the Catholic religious orders’ fate. There are Franciscans in the Holy Land, and their patriarch has received no news in Rome. It is supposed that the Turkish Government is intercepting all correspondence from Asia Minor. TWO INTERNATIONAL CRIMES. LONDON, October 15. Mr J. A. Bryce, M.P., speaking at the Mansion House meeting to open a fund for the persecuted Armenians, said there were two international crimes during the last 12 months worse than anything in the past four centuries. He had thought the wickedness and faithlessness of the invasion of Belgium could not be surpassed, but the recent massacres in Asia Minor and Armenia were worse than any massacre in history. ANOTHER TIMES DIATRIBE. LONDON, October 15. The Times, in a leading article, describes Sir E. Grey’s statement as singularly jejune and utterly disappointing, and says there is universal dissatisfaction in Britain’s diplomacy, strategy, and general conduct of the war. The true story of the Dardanelles is becoming common knowledge, and it does not redound to the credit of those responsible. PRESS COMMENTS. LONDON, October 15. The Manchester Guardian, commenting upon Sir Edward Grey’s speech, says : “ Tho Government should have known rears ago that Turkey might be a dangerous enemy. All that time we were deliberately keeping up the privilege of tho

Ottoman Empire. This was unfair to Russia, and giving Germany an advantage at the expense of the British naval power. Does it not show a strange lack of coordination between national policy and strategy ? Regarding Bulgaria, the best of all answers to King Ferdinand would surely have been to concentrate an overwhelming force at the Dardanelles, which would have carried us through. The Evening Standard refers to the Dardanelles as “ this costly, and, we fear we must add, unsuccessful experiment.” SANE COUNSEL. LONDON, October 15. The evening newspapers are commenting freely upon the situation in the Dardanelles. The Westminster Gazette considers that the Government should not he pressed respecting the situation. If the House of Commons refrains from pursuing a line of inquiry it will show itself more prudent than the House of Lords. The Gazette suggests that the equipping of the new expedition to Salonika must not be allowed to dissipate or weaken the forces in the west, which will be the decisive theatre of the war. The Evening News draws attention to the discrepancy in Mr Churchill’s and Lord Robert Cecil’s optimistic statements regarding the Dardanelles and the illusions of Lord Derby. It estimates that the compilation of the returns of those available under the recruiting scheme will be completed on November 30. NEW ZEALANDER WITH FORTYNINE WOUNDS. LONDON, October 16. Tho latest arrivals at the Mount Felix Hospital, Walton-on-ThameS, include a New Zealander with 49 distinct shrapnel wounds sustained at Gallipoli. FLEET’S MAGNIFICENT WORK. WHAT THE DESTROYERS DID. MR ASHMEAD-BARTLETT’S TRIBUTE. LONDON, October 17. Mr Ashmead-Bartlett, in an article in the Daily Telegraph on our navy’s splendid record in the Dardanelles, says that the arrival of the submarine as an active factor in naval warfare has entirely altered the role for which other units were originally designed, but the most responsible duty which now devolves upon light cruisers, destroyers, and torpedo-boats is not to attack enemy capital ships, but the protection of our own battle squadrons against underwater attack. Modern gunnery has already rendered torpedo-boats obsolete for their original purpose—namely, as an offensive weapon against armoured ships. The only instance in this war of a battleship being torpedoed by an above-water craft was the unfortunate Goliath, which was torpedoed three times at the Dardanelles on May 13 by a Turkish destroyer with a German crew. The precision of modern gunnery has also diverted destroyers from their original purposes of defence against torpedo-boats. This war has shown that the destroyer is the only effective antidote to submarine attack. It is not a perfect nor an ideal defence, but it is the best available. The destroyer has performed immense service, and the amount of work accomplished by our destroyer flotilla in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Dardanelles is stupendous. Their labours are but little known fo the public, but are fully recognised by the army and navy. Tho destroyers have worked for 12 months almost without a break. Their first job was to watch the Australian fleet, and then to patrol the Adriatic and the Eastern Mediterranean. Their most arduous task commenced when Turkey joined in the war. They kept up throughout the winter an incessant patrol of the Dardanelles and the Asiatic coast of Turkey, ■ tossed by such terrible gales that their decks were never dry for weeks. Emerging from the lee of Tenedos Island, the destroyers steamed to the entrance to the strait in howling storms, blotting out any view of over 100 yards distant. They encountered off the entrance a four-knot current and an east wind, compelling them to steam at the rate of 10 knots before they could make headway. They were ordered to maintain their stations lying in the trough of the sea, their decks swept by huge green- seas, until the most experienced seaman became sick from sheer exhaustion. None aboard could keep dry, the galley fires could not be kept alight, the decks were frequently covered with ice, and oilskins "were frozen. Still, despite these awful conditions, the gallant crews never for a moment relaxed their grip on the Dardanelles. Never, even in the old days before Brest and Toulon, have our navy men shown greater determination or suffered greater hardships. Spring brought fine weather and sunshiny conditions, hut the -work of the destroyers was harder when active operations against the Dardanelles commenced in February. Many destroyers were engaged in mine-sweeping, after tho outer forts had been reduced to ruins, under a heavy fire from the remaining forts and concealed batteries, and were struck and suffered heavy casualties. When it was decided to make a great attempt to force the Dardanelles with the fleet alone, without awaiting the army, the preparatory work fell on the trawlers. Their difficulties were almost insurmountable. On March 18, when the great naval attempt was made, tho destroyers took only a secondary part in the

fighting, but did splendid work sweeping ahead of the battleships and also in saving the crew of the Irresistible. The failure of the March attack led to the fleet being temporarily withdrawn from Tenedos and Mudros. The during the landing of April 25, carried close inshore the second batch of infantry supporting the first landing parties. No one can forget the sight—the long, low craft, packed with khaki figures, creeping closer and closer inshore, the destroyers ever ready to lend a helping hand. One day two British transports were lying locked together close to the beach, when a shell damaged the steam winch, and they were unable to raise the anchor. When a Turkish battery opened fire a destroyer dashed in to the assistance of the transports and placed its frail form between them and the enemy, emitting great clouds of black smoko as a screen against the gunners. It was a miracle that the destroyer escaped, but it remained until the transports were out of range. German submarines arrived in the middle of May, and the most valuable battleships were sent away, only the older craft being kept to protect the army’,a flanks. The destroyer flotillas meanwhile cruised round and round, and searched every yard of water for a suspicious ripple, indicating a periscope. Whenever, a scare of a submarine was reported every destroyer dashed at top speed, endeavour, ing to ram it, while the battleships commenced a series of evolutions at top speed. Even the incessant vigilance of the destroyers was not sufficient to save the Triumph and Majestic. These disasters necessitated the withdrawal of the battleships, which had long chaperoned the army, to protected harbours, and thenceforward they only came forth when they were required to bombard the enemy’s works. For two mentis the duty of protecting the transports and covering the flanks of the army fell on the destroyers, and frequently they tickled up the Turkish at Anzac most effectively, especially on the right flank. The amount of work the destroyers did in the summer was amazing. If a ship were torpedoed or sunk by shell half a dozen craft would come up like greased lightning from nowhere, and pick you up almost before you had time to get wet. They are now facing another five months of an icy blockade of the Dardanelles*, where they will he washed by enormous seas, tossed to and fro like corks, and encrusted with ice. Only men of iron can stand the horrible life. But they will never relax the grip of iron obtained over the tottering Turkish Empii'e. AUSTRALIAN POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS. MELBOURNE, October IS. Despite many bitter complaints from men at the front and their relatives, the postal arrangements for serving the Expeditionary Forces are still most inadequate. It is estimated that at present 50,000 letters addressed to members of the Expeditionary force are in the dead letter office at Melbourne, THE INVASION OF EGYPT. LONDON, October 17. The army order issued by Djemal Pasha; on the eve of the invasion of Egypt in February last declares: “By the grace of Allah we will attack the enemy, seizing the canal. When the conquest of Egypt is completed, the Government will build a house for the family of every officer and soldier killed.” MR ASHMEAD BARTLETT’S ADVICE. ' THE BLUNDERS AT GALLIPOLI. LONDON, Otober 17. The Sunday Times publishes an interview with Mr Ashmead Bartlett, who la enthusiastic regarding the wonderful fighting qualities of the Australians and New. Zealanders. He says : “ The results of the fighting at Gallipoli are highly unfavour-, able to ourselves. Apart from the concept Lon and doubtful paternity of the expedition, we committed every conceivable blunder in the methods of carrying it out. Few minds engaged in the enterprise knew the Turk’s fighting qualities or the geography of his country. But the appalling slaughter at Gallipoli has not been altogether in vain. The blood of Australians, New Zealanders, Britishers, and Indians has proved that we are still a great fighting people. Our prestige is higher than before the war, despite the reverse, which is serious. We cannot fulfil the wild promises made to Serbia. As usual, we have been scrupulously fair to our enemies, and warned them in time to be prepared. The Allies ought to have occupied Serbian Macedonia two montha ago. Instead, Bulgaria waited until our failure at the* Dardanelles was manifest, and then joined Germany. It is out of the question for the Allies io win a victory in the Balkans this winter. It will require half a million men even to win a victory in the spring. If defeated, tho Germans will merely retire to the frontiers, leaving ns to keep Bulgaria and Turkey in subjection. A few divisions sent to Salonika can do little. The time has come to seriously reconsider our position without self-deception. Wo should no longer exhaust our resources on an enterprise of secondary importance.” A QUIET FORTNIGHT. TURKISH ARTILLERY INEFFECTIVE. PARIS, October 17. A communique states; Tho first fort, night in October at the Dardanelles ;wasi

At Taumarunui on tho 14th a milkman, charged with selling adulterated milk, was convicted and lined £SO (says the Auckland Star). Another tradesman, convicted of gelling light-weight bread, was fined £lO. A man named Stevens, for allowing sawdust to flow into the Wanganui lliver, was fined £4.

calm. An attempt to approach our trenches hy means of mines was stopped by counter-mines. The Turkish artillery was active but ineffective, thanks to the superiority of our batteries. Our aircraft daily bombarded various enemy establishments and camps. AUSTRALASIAN OPINION. LONDON, October 18. The Daily Mail, commenting upon the Australian reception of Lord Milner’s suggestion to evacuate the Dardanelles, says : “ Owing to the censorship, the Australian and New Zealand public were not allowed to know all the facts, though they had Sir lan Hamilton’s glowing communications, the war correspondents’ censored despatches, and Mr Churchill and Lord Robert Cecil's amazing prophecies. Despite official optimism, rumours are circulating in the Australian and New Zealand quarters in London that the facts regarding the Dardanelles are being hidden. These are causing grave perturbation in colonial circles. A suggestion has been made to hold a meeting at London at which leading Australians and New Zealanders propose to acquaint the Government with their anxiety regarding affairs at Gallipoli.” THE VICTORIA CROSSES. LONDON, October 17. Australian and New Zealand wounded in Great Britain are delighted at the awards of nine Victoria Crosses, which ar” given prommence to in all the newspapers, and have called forth many tributes to Australasian bravery. Members of the Seventh Battalion are specially delighted. They recall the fact that Lieutenants Tiibb and Symons took part in the original landing, of the members of which it is believed not 5 per cent, are now unscathed. Men who took part in the Lone Pine Ridge affair describe Captain Shout as doing incredible things, though he never risked his life to no purpose. It gave anybody good heart to see him stalk through the undergrowth. CAPTAIN SHOUT’S BRAVERY. SYDNEY, October 18. Captain Shout leaves a widow, and a ten-year-old daughter. Besides his bravery at Lone Pine Ridge, he displayed great courage and self-sacrifice two days after landing at Gaba Tepe. A returned soldier relates that, although wounded hirnsJf several times. Captain Shout kept nicking up wounded men and carrying them out of the firing line, tie saw him carry fully a dozen awav, and then another bullet struck him. His arm fell useless by his side, but he absolutely refused to go to the rear. A little later he was again wounded, and fell. He declared : “ T am going to remain, boys, to the finish,” rose, staggered, and fell several times. Finally his comrades, despite his protest, carried him to a place of safety.