New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-04
Flame and Smoke Shr0ud
Struggle for Achi Baba
British Reach Crest Three Times and Are Three
Times Hurled Back-Rain of Shells Ignes
Brush, Making Field an Inferno

and actually occupied a section OF the
trench line, but the Turkish battery
behind Hill li2 fired salvos OF shrap-
mel at a range Of only 200 yards.
which swept whole lines away and
forced the survivors 10 retire further
down the slopes 10 some feeble cover.
Here they hung on few minutes, bu:
the attack had spent its force and they
came back TO the trenches. Once more
Hill 20 was left TO the Turks, wounded
and dead.
Meanwhile the fighting had been just
as severe on the right. At $3.50 o'clock
the troops stormed the first Turkish
line under a fearful fire overground,
without particle Of cover. They were
driven off by the terrible fire which had
broken out, ignited by bursting shells.
The flames swept in a solid bank, sur
mounted by rolling clouds OF black
smoke, right across the hill. The heat
was terrific. Many wounded who had
been placed or had crawfed there for
safety had to be carried out hastily and
laid out in the open. This delayed and
stopped the further development Of the
attack on Hill 112.
New Attack Is Ordered.
Meanwhile orders were issued for an
other attack on Hill 10 by battalion
which hitherto had been held in reserve.
This splendid body of troops, in action
for the first time and led by men bear
ing some of the best known names in
England, moved out from under cover
and proceeded to cross Salt Lake in
open order. No Sooner did they appear
than the enemyvconcentrated heavy
shrapnel fire on the advancing lines,
fully exposed as they were. The men.
moving as if on parade, pressed stead
lily on, losing many but never wavering,
and formed up behind the infantry
brigade in front of Hill 70.
II was now o'clock, and once more
the crest was furiously bombarded by
every available gun, while the Turkish
batteries concentrated on our trenches.
The scene was majestic. but awful, for
the light was now rapidly waning and
the whole horizon almost blotted out
with the enormous clouds of smoke and
flames, as trees, scrub, homesteads and
the very grass burned furiously at a
dozen different points, while the noise
OF guns and the incessant roar from
thousands of rifles rendered the scene
a perfect inferno.
A little after o'clock the battalions
went forward, seized the southern slope
of the hill and began to dig themselves
in, preparatory TO further advance
against the top. At this point the shell
fire seemed to begin to tell on the
Turks, for many could be seen stream
ing from the northern knoll down the
trench line. For about an hour there
was no change in the situation, and
then the yeomanry again moved for
ward in a solid mass. forming up under
the lower western and northern slopes.
Yeomen Charge Up Hill.
II was now beginning TO grow
dark. and the attack seemed to hang
fire. when suddenly the yeomanry
leaped to their feet and as a single
man charged right up the hill. Tney
were met by whitening fire, when
rose in a crescendo as they neared the
northern crest. but nothing could stop
them. They charged at amazing speed
without a single halt from the bottom
to the top, losing many men and many
of their chosen leaders, including the
gallant Sir John Milbanks.
II was a stirring sight, watched by
thousands in the now ever-gatherlng
gloom. One moment they were below
the crest and the next on top. Many
had disappeared inside the Turkish
trenches. bayonetting all the defenders
who had not fed. Others never stopped
at the trench line, but dashed in pur-
suit down the reverse slopes. From
thousands of lips a shout went up that
Hill 20 was won, but the night was
now rapidly falling. The figures be-
came blurred, then. lost all shape, and
finally disappeared from view of the
battlefield and disappeared completely.
As one left Chocolate Hill one looked
back on the vista of rolling clouds of
smoke and huge fires, from the midst
of which the roar of rife fire never for
moment ceased. All through the
night the battle ragged necessarily, and
when the morning broke Hill 10 was
no longer in our possession. Apparent
ly the Turks never were driven of the
knoll on the northern crest, from which
they enfiladed us with machine guns
and artillery fire, while the yeomanry,
who dashed down the reverse slopes IN
pursuit. were counter attacked, lost
heavily and were obliged to retire IN
the night. II was decided that 1t would
be impossible TO hold the hill in day
light. and the order was given for the
troops to be withdrawn in the original
position.
Nothing. however, will lessen the
glory of that final charge OF England's
women. Thus ended this great night
The troops at Anzac achieved some sue
cesses. The Australian infantry fnally
drove the enemy from Hill so, while
our whole line was linked up with the
trench line instead of isolated posts.