Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-09

more "merhabas" were heard. Every
where smiling faces and eyes grateful
for the recognition Of a salute.
The ride to the actual firing line
continued under a shrapnel and shell
fire which at times became rather
critically uncomfortable. Wounded
men were being met now. Most Of
them walked. few were carried on
stretchers-all were we'll bandaged, as
an inspection established.
Here is another danger zone" said
the officer guide, and sped off. This
time the ground had to be covered at
full speed. Through low shrub and
across rocks he led the way. When
the party halted in dry river bed. the
trenches of the Turks had been
reached.
In the shelter of high embank-
ment rested more Turkish soldiers.
Most Of them were men on fatigue.
They had been making a portable
barbed-wire ENHANCEMENT known as
Spanish horse.' A few of the men
had come from the trenches for water.
others for the evening meal. The
same good humor was met in their
the previous night, owing to an attack
they had made on the British in front
of them.
The correspondent was received by
a captain and his sergeant presiding
geniuses of a machine gun section.
Coffee was offered in a little wooden
shack which the two inhabit. The at
tack on the previous night had been
severe, said the captain. The British
had thrown hand grenades, but the
Turks had occupied part of the trench
and were still holding it.
Il am against your going into the
! trenches this afternoon continued the
captain. THE shrapnel fire is too Sc
we're. Come back tomorrow"
Just before shutdown the party left
for another section of the Turkish
line. The artillery fire on both sides
had become more severe; machine
guns began TO be heard and the bull
lets of one of them splashed into a
clay bank nearby.
One of the oldest things we have
around here is the village Of Kirthia."
said the officer-guide. The Allies
have almost RACED it with shell and
fire and since then they have tried in
Vulnerable times to take it by as
sault. Do you want to go there?'
To reach Kirthia one had to ira
verse the broad ridge Of low hill.
swept by the shells of the Allied bat
teries.
when we get to that bush over
there break into gallop," cautioned the
officer Ride for all you are worth
until you get into the communication
trench" This advice was followed,
and the trench was reached just in
time to escape two shells, compli-
ments of the ever-alert Allied gum
ners. Their range was poor, but a
marked improvement was all too no.
tceable as an attempt was made to
survey the contested terrain from a
point from which it was visible in its
entirety.
Kirthia, once a flourishing Greek
settlement, presented a melancholy
spectacle. The Allied shells had
wrecked every house and fire had con-
sumed most Of the debris. A few
starved cats were its only denizens.
One Of the streets of the place is still
swept by the rifle fire from British
trench. The party advanced as far as
this street and then decided to return
instead of visiting the Turkish positions
some 1000 yards south of the last house
There was surprise in store for the
party on the return. Just before the
danger zone was approached the officer
recommended that one man at time
cross the summit at full gallop. The in
terpreter, an Arab, went first, the CORE.
spondent was second the two riding
about 900 yards apart. Evidently the
Allied gunners guessed that the men,
who, half-an-hour ago. had raced down
the slope. would return that way, and
were ready One after another the
shrapnel shrieked over head or burst
close by. but shelter was reached in
safety.
THAT was experience enough for one
afternoon" said General Weber that
evening at dinner. II must confess that
the Allied artillery is very. very diligent
Just why they go to the trouble OF
wasting shells on individuals, I don't
| know. No doubt, they have plenty OF
them"
During dinner, General Weber went
over the major features Of the campaign
of the Allies against the Dardanelles
His praise Of the Turkish soldiers was
unstinted.
'They are probably the most frugal OF
men," he said, land accomplishing tc
q fault. / am beginning to understand
the military successes of the Osmanl
when they first came to Europe The
Turkish soldier is satisfied with a piece
Of dry bread and a little water, when
he can't get anything else. He is re-
markedly immune from disease. Injured
| to hardship and almost shockproof. He
has nerves, Of course, but am sure they
do not bother him. His indifference to
the possibility Of dying any instant Is
due, believe, to his fervent adherence
| to his religion. The Mohammedan, gen.
| orally. is very pious, and to him a life
hereafter Is much more Of q reality thar
to most others. To be as sure Of eternal
bliss as the average Turkish soldier Is
makes dying easy
The Turkish soldier prefers bayone,
work to rife fire. because In this man.
ner he gets at his antagonist. though,
Weber Pacha. There II an exhilaratior
| to man-to-man fighting which all othe,
phases Of combat lack.
| The second days visit at the front
| started with a lively cannonade shortly