The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1920. ANZAC DAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16722, 24 April 1920, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1920. ANZAC DAY.

“Think for a moment of ono who lies in Ids far foreign bed.”

Five years ago to-morrow, on April 25, 1915, there opened a new and glorious, though inexpressible sad, chapter in the history of New Zealand, written in the blood of her bravest sons on foreign soil on the isthmus of (jallipoii. lu order to create a diversion, to prevent the Turks from advancing to the assistance of Germany on the Western front on the one hand and towards Egypt and India on the other, it was decided by tho Imperial authorities to strike a blow at Turkey's heart. The attack was to he made by way of the Dardanelles, hut the British Fleet found it difficult, if not impossible, to force the passage, on account of the strength of the Turkish defending fortresses. Consequently it was determined to land an army on Gallipoli to fight its way up tin; peninsula and to reduce the fortresses. While the plans were being matured the Turks discovered what was contemplated and made their preparations to counter the attack. 11 mee, when the army was landed on the shores of Gallipoli it mot with an immediate and powerful resistance. The lauding of the New Zealanders took place on April 25, 1915, and never have troops undertaken a more dangerous enterprise. Before the first boats reached the beach of Anzac Cove Turkish shells began to fall among them and many a brave fellow met his fate without seeing the enemy or knowing whence the fatal bullet came. There was none of the glamour and excitement of the. famous charge of the "Noble Six Hundred" at Balaclava to stir the blood of these boys, to whom too war was a novelty to which they had not been trained, as the heroes of the Light Brigade were. Sir lau Hamilton had warned them what they had to face and cold them that once they set foot on Gallipoli they must fight the thing through to a finish. He, no more than they, knew what they we.ro up against. The Aimes, however, obeyed the order. They forced a landing at heavy cost and clung with rare tenacity to the narrow strip of territory which was before the, end of the year to furnish so many of them with a last resting place. But there is no need to enlarge upon their exploits; it has all passed into history, although so short a time has passed. What wo have to do now is to see to it that the memory of the brave boys is kept green. Horace has written that £ ‘It is sweet and glorious to die for one’s country.” The duty rests upon those of us who were not privileged—for it was a privilege— to fake an active part ru the greatest struggle for liberty that the world ever saw, to see to it that the glory of it all never dies. Those who took part in the historic landing at Anzac' Cove and went through the Gallipoli campaign are not the only New Zealanders who proved themselves heroes during those terrible years of war. Thousands of others endured as great hardships. ■ and performed equally heroic deeds. But Anzac Day marked the first real entry of New Zealanders into

tlic battlefield, a dramatic entry, too, and therefore it is a fitting day to set aside for the commemoration of the stirring deeds of our boys throughout the war. A New Zealand poet has written some touchiun- lines concluding thus--“Happy he lies and at rest; ho has chosen the hotter part; Think of him, friend, tho' in silence, deep down in your innermost heart.” Anzac Day is no day for exuberant rejoicing, but an occasion when "In silence, deep down in our innermost hearts," we should' think of those who have given their lives in order that wo may live, in peace and freedom. Peace, to their ashes!