WAR GRAVES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17143, 27 December 1929, Page 11

WAR GRAVES

GALLIPOLI PENINSULA HOW -MEY ARE FACING Sir! James Allen has received a letter from Sir Fabian Ware, the vicechairman of the Imperial War Graves Commission, written fit Constantinople jftst after his visit to tlie cemeteries on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The fol- ! lowing are extracts* from it:— j "I have just spoilt two days on the Peninsula, and thought you would like to hear at first hn'nd now things are going there. I bad not beoathcre for four years, and. was. very pleased with the development of the cemeteries. •In yrjttirs, as in all others (except in 'the one or two'right down by tluV seaside exposed to salt spray--), -the tre>s; are growing well—cypress, pine and Tamarisk—and the effect of large spherical clumps of rosemary is excellent. Tht horticultural work done in 'this respect is really very remarkable, ,'aii'd {.hough' we cannot grow the flowers 'we do in France and Belgium, they quite hold their own in comparison. with the cemeteries there, ami have a • dignity and very peaceful permanent appertrailce which was-very moving, to my mind.

"The stone everywhere has retained its whiteness—l had. expected it to weather much darker —and the view of the eemetefies from Chanuk Bair and other heights is very much 1 as it Was, absolutely overwhelming in its itiipressiVeness, though 'the growth of the trees is adding a green framework to the cemeteries which makes them living ih the landscape,. You niay remember that I never liked the form of headstone wO bad, adopted there, but since the horticulture has. developed, all my objections have disappeared.

"The New Zealand memorial at Chamtk Bail' stands strong and solid, and will do so far a thousand years or so. I was very interested to see that the Italian boats (I expect some of -the others do so, tod); in passing the Cape Helios monument, blow three blasts, dip their flag, aittl-a.sk (in d notice put lip the dny 'before) everybody .to observe iliree minutes' silence. The work generally is going very well, but of course one hits to keep a constant Watch on the Treasury; but if I live, I think 1 shall see the. Five Million Endowment fund established."