The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-08-15

point I found that British were in
clined to drive hard bargain. I was
In favor of an exchange of rifles, each
party returning such rifles as were
found with the dead intact. The
British baked. A long wrangle en-
sued. From this l gathered that the
British were under the impression
that we needed the few rifles on their
side of the line. ] assured them that
such was not the case.
Incidentally, this led to discus
sion as to what was and was not to
be taken from the dead. The Brit
ish proposed taking all cartridges
from the dead. / took the stand that
all dead should be turned over with
out search for the few cartridges
likely to be found on them. That
point / gained after making it clear
that above the law of military neces-
sity stood the higher law of human
ity, which to my mind forbade abso-
lutely so wanton an act as the search
of body already we'll advanced in
dissolution.
"But the British wanted each side
to keep such rifles as were found. 1
insisted that they be exchanged. We
finally agreed to exchange all rifles
minus their locks.
During the armistice the British
were to suspend all movement of
their vessels. On this point Sir Ian
Hamilton, the commander of the AL
lied forces had to be consulted. The
general sent back the reply that he
could not accept that condition.
81 told the British officers that
there would be no armistice except
this condition was complied with. To
gain time they suggested that / bring
Sir Ian's reply to the attention of my
superiors. This, i told them, was not
necessary, because my instructions on
the subject were final. After that
the British officers demanded that all
Turkish shipping on the Dardanelles
be also suspended. They were not
inclined to accept my. explanation
that this was an unfair condition, be-
cause suspension of the Turkish ship
ping on the DardanelIes would affect
the Ottoman troops at Sid-al- Bahr,
who would not be concerned in the
armistice. ] had put no condition re-
garding British vessels at Sid-el-
Bahr, and, consequently, no condition
concerning Turkish .shippip~ supply
ing the Turkish troops at Sid-el-B ahr
ought to be exacted.
"My conditions relative to the Brit
ish vessels off Kaba Tepe and Ari
Bournu were that none but hospital
ships were to weigh anchor during
the period of truce, or were to steam
in or out of the territorial point His
reply was that he would not affix his
signature to so, preposterous a de-
mand. Ny answer was that there
would be no armistice except the
condition was accepted
"The arguments of humanity work
both ways, so I finally asked permits
sion of my superiors to waive Sir
Ian's signature to that condition, ac-
lcepting instead the promise that the
condition would be observed without
forming part of the protocol, reserv-
ing for the Turks the right to oper
Institutes without notice in case q
single British vessel, other than g
hospital ship, undertook to change
its location during the armistice.
The rest of the story is simple
enough" concluded Major Renal
Next day the line of sentries was
established and the dead were buried
For nine hours we had peace at Ar
Bournu. Officers and men from botI
camps met and talked together as
much &c linguistic attainments per
mitted, or pantomime made possible
Some even exchanged presents. Wher
the nine hours were up the state Of
I