WAR MEMOIRS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 244, 15 October 1931, Page 7

WAR MEMOIRS

A TURKISH GENERAL ROOSTER SPOILT ATTACK LONDON, Oct. 13. General Denogalis Venezuelan, who commanded the Turkish division in the world war, in his memoirs of soldier fortune, published to-day, tells a curious yarn of how cock-a-doodle-do ruined an attack on the Suez Canal in January, 1915, and possibly cost the central powers the victory, as the cutting of the canal would have cut off England from India and Australia, and caused a revolt in Islam against the western powers.

Two Turkish reservists approaching the canal concealed several chickens an 1 a rooster in their saddle bags in order to have fresh eggs. At dawn the rooster let off a sonorous crow, which put the British wise to the Turkish attack.

General Denogalis a’so narrates after tho Turkish evacuation of Biressabah, the Third Imperial Lancers wer? defending the rear against Allied cavalry. One squadron of Turks sallied out and defiied the Australian squadron in mortal combat. Cross and crescent clashed and after the fight only a dozen Australians and Turks remained standing in the stirrups. Not a rifle or machine-gun was fired until the survivors retreated to their respective lines.