READY FOR THE BIG PUSH.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13791, 11 June 1915, Page 8

READY FOR THE BIG PUSH.

COLONEL RICHARDSON'S OPINION

"SEE YOU IN 1016—NOT BEFORE."

Lieut.-Colonel G. S. Richardson, of tho Now Zealand Ktaif Corns, ivho for some fimo before- tho out break of war w;is ntbdiect to the War Office nt .Home as a General Hfcafi' Officer, has been in tho thick of activities sinoo hostilities commenced. Colonel Richardson—lie was bettor known in times of peace, as* Major' Richardson. — lias many, friends in New Zealand, and «> far as his professional standing is concerned, lie. is admittedly w-e °f tue> most brilliant gunner^ officers that has ever been associated with- tho N.Z. forces. ' . Wr'ting a couple of months ago to his friend and old colleague, Mr W. F. Warren, of Dcvonport, Colonel Richardson, then on board 2. transport,

>said: — "I am now in an unexpected quarter of the globe c-npaged in an operation [which has interested mo all my life, viz., the attack of a1 coast fortress. "My division is the only one here at present. We have had a bit of a knock, 'but all will -come right soon. We arc going io Egypt this week, where wo remain xurtil everyone is ready for the big push. I shall there see 'the New ''Zealanders, and have quite a pleasure I did not expect. "Sir lan Hamilton arrived the other day, and the General and I went on board his gunboat. He then took tho staff up the Dardanelles for a reconnaissance. This was the day of the big battle—this letter would not be :iilowed to get through were I to tell you about it. "We landed a company one day last, week and lost about 50 men. One s<;;-%-cant was woimded and left on U: ground in order that he might bo pic':cd up on the'return of tho party, i.nt when they came back a German officer 1 was near' him, and r.he .sergeant h;:d had his head hashed in and his bayonet driven through his stomach. Our men promptly shot tho officer. There uvc many- German officers with the Turk^. and V.o have a hard nut to crack. I think of you all in peaceful Auckland. and wonder if I s'ball ever see yov: again. However 1 hope and expect to see you in 1916. and not before."