FIGHT FOR SARI BAHR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 53

FIGHT FOR SARI BAHR.

TWO HUNDRED YARDS FROM GREAT VICTORY. In the opinion of those who took part in the great attack from the Anzac zone, the greatest importance js attached to the capture of Hill 971 (Sari Ruhr), and tins was almost accomplished. A special correspodent at Alexandria cabled that a wounded Australian officer said: “If only the night had been two hours longer we should have had all the Turks off the hill, but when day dawned we were 600 yards distant from the foot, and the enemy rained down a merciless fire upon us, and we were forced to entrench.” “It was very dramatic,” said another officer, describing the silent night march which preceded the attack, “marching along the sea in the dead of night. Occasionally we heard the gurgling sound that indicated that a Ghurka was .busy using his kukri. Not a shot was fired ; it was all silent knife and bayonet work. The use of the ride would have given the alarm, which was to be avoided at all costs. By dawn we had reached a point some 500 or 600 yards from the hill, having up till that time met with no serious resistance. W e had surprised the Turks everywhere. When day broke the whole situation was revealed to the enemy, who must have been very surprised to find us so near. They were soon pouring a deadly fire into us, and we had no option but to entrench, and to possess our souls in patience until night, when wo again attempted to move forward. The Turks again fought most stubbornly, but our troops rushed them from their trenches in fine style, and it was not long before we had possession of a ridge. The New Zealanders were supremely good, and although the men must have been very weary they obeyed the order to charge with wonderful courage and spirits. It was on this ridge that I was wounded, and my participation of fighting came to an end. The Now Zealandprs in rushing one position came up against a difficult ascent, but to their great astonishment the Turks, entrenched above, loaned oyer and helped the New Zealanders up, kissing their hands as they did so. They then surrendered in a body. The fighting for the crest on a portion of the Bari Bahr position was very fierce indeed. The Turks were strongly entrenched, and their numerous machine guns wore well concealed in the scrub, but here again our troops were not to be denied, and although many a brave fellow was killed, the enemy was dislodged from his strongly-held positions after magnificent charges with the bayonet and the crest occupied, the Turks fleeting down the opposite slope. The gallantry and dash of the troops in this fighting was beyond all praise. The brigade participated in this struggle. They had left Anzac at 10.30 a.m. on Friday morning, August 6, and they had been on the go continuously for 20 hours when they were ordered to charge. The men were very fatigued, but pulling themselves together in wonderful manner, they stormed the hill in splendid style, and got to within 200 yards of the summit. Wounded men speak of the inspiring sight of seeing their comrades straggling for possession of the hill, which, it is hoped, wall give the British the master hand. Once Hill 971 is in our hands the Turkish communications will be cut, and the control of the Narrows will then bo a question of time. All the wounded men speak very well of the Turk. They say throughout he has fought very fairly, and has shown that ho boars no animosity against the British. They take the greatest care to avoid hitting our dressing stations or hospital bases, and there have been further instances of Turks dressing our wounded men and carrying them into our own lines.