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9

C—la

Turkish positions on Table Top, and, moving quickly up Chailak Dere (which was a dry creekbed), took up a position on Rhododendron Spur. This position was firmly held by midday on the 7th, and a further advance was made to try and take Hill 971, which was the key to the Turkish positions. Desperate assaults were made by the New-Zealanders to seize the top of the hill, but owing to the fact that the British troops from Suvla Bay were unable to press forward far enough towards Bujuk Anafarta and Kuchuk Anafarta and thereby protect the left flank, the NewZealanders had to retire to Rhododendron Spur, leaving the Turks masters of the main position. It was in this furious fighting that the New-Zealanders suffered such serious losses. Numberless heroic deeds were enacted, and some were recognized and rewarded. One of these was that of Corporal Skinner (son of the Chief Surveyor, Napier), who carried urgent messages under heavy fire and received the D.C.M. The inability of the Suvla Pay force to push forward and cut the Turkish roads of communication nullified the great efforts made by the Australians and New-Zealanders, and as a result of this failure the whole force evacuated the peninsula, without loss, during December, 1915. Thus ended what will go down in history as one of the most trying pieces of work that ever troops were asked to do, and in the execution of which a new standard of valour was set by the brilliant Australian, New Zealand, and British troops, repeating again almost within sight of Troy those famous deeds which still echo down the corridors of history from the far-off days of Greek and Trojan heroes. As will be seen by the notices in last year's report and in the present one, these far-off scrub-covered ridges and gullies overlooking the Aegean Sea have entered with those of our own country into the inner life of our Department, having become the last resting-place of many of our most promising young officers; others also from our field parties exchanged the labour of our survey lines in New' Zealand forest, scrub, and tussock for rifle and trenching-tool in Gallipoli trenches, never again to return. Haere, haere, haere!

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,300 copies), including maps, £17.

Authority : Marcus F. Mabks, Government Printer. Wellington.—l9l6.

Price 6d.)

2—C. la.

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