NEW ZEALANDERS AND AUSTRALIANS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 49

NEW ZEALANDERS AND AUSTRALIANS.

THEIR MAGNIFICENT WORK. GENERAL BIRDWOOD’S APPRECIATION. (From the Special Correspondent of that Melbourne Age.) ANZAC, August 13. On the morning of the 10th General Hamilton came ashore at Anzao. and saw; at close quarters, the fight in the ranges. General Birdwood (commander of thif Australian and New Zealand Army Corpsj wrote in the following strain to his troops, the letter being couched in the friendly spirit which has endeared him to officers and men alike: —“Boys,” ho said. “I want to thank you all so sincerely for the magni* ficent work which you have all done in thtf continuous hard fighting- you have had sinei the afternoon of the 6th. I well know whaft a tremendous strain this has been on all, and with what unflinching bravery you have on every occasion faced and dealt with the enemy. The Ist Australian Brigade began by attacking and capturing a mass of trenches held by the enemy at Lonesome Pine by the most gallant of charges, in which they completely routed the enemy and drove him with the bayonet from the whole series of trenches he held there. Ever since then the Turks have endeavoured to turn us out, but they have entirely failed, though X regret to say they have, caused heavy losses amongst our boys. These, however, have been insignificant compared with the enormous losses we have inflicted on the Turks, whose dead arc choking the trenches there and lying in piles. On the left the New Zealand and Australian Division, with the Indian Brigade and the 13th Division, made a night march which will be memorable in history through the most difficult of country. They succeeded in completely surprising the enemy in the many trenches he held in the lower hills, capturing- one position after another with the greatest skill and dash. Owing to the enormous difficulties of country wo are unable to achieve our object of capturing the whole of Chunuk Bair, as we had wished, but the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, having cleared all the lower hills, gave an opening for the New Zealand Infantry Brigade to seize portion of it, which we now hold (10th inst.). The Turks have made constant attempts to drive us out, and are sure to continue to do but we all know how determined are the New Zealand and Australian and Indian Brigades, together with the men of the 13th Division, who now have to hang on for all they, are worth until, as wo hope, we completely achieve our object. “ There is one thing every one of ua must never forget—that is, the enormous self-sacrificing assistance the infantry have received throughout from ©very gun. They have always commenced the fight for us by a heavy bombardment of the enemy, and when themselves most heavily shelled by the enemy guns they have continued Co keep up their fire without cessation or hesitation, despite all casualties. Wo can none of us be sufficiently grateful to the gunners, for whom no praise I can give is too great. I know everyone will wish to express gratitude to the stretcher-bearers, who, regard* less of risks, have daily exposed themselves to bring in the wounded under the heaviest of fire. Our losses, I regret to say, have been heavy, but that must always be when strong and well-defended positions have to be taken, and we must remember the Turkish losses have probably been five or six: times as great as ours, and that they are equally exhausted. The Commander-in-chief relies upon us hanging on at all costa to all w© have gained, and making good the new ground wherever we can do so. Wo have already captured nearly 700 prisoners, including some Germans, two large German trenen mortars, nine Maxims, and one Nordcnfeldt, as well as a very large number of rifles and much ammunition. X know well every member of the force mean* to stick to it for all he is wortln see this through to success, and show the Turks bow much better men wo are than they.”