The Seward gateway., 1916-03-04
LOST LEGION
 OF GALLIPOLI.
GREATEST MYSTERY OF WAR STILL PUZZLES PEOPLE
 OF GREAT BRITAIN.
By WILBUR s. FOREST


 was ever heard of them. They charg- ed into the forest and were lost to sight and sound. Not one of them ever came back."-Sir Ian Hamilton's report.
 It is the talk of England, the great est mystery of the war, the charge of the Fifth Norfolks, the Kings own servants, at Anafarta. The story of how these 26O ardent souls" cbarg- ed on through the village of Ana farta and completely vanished into the forest of death" beyond is his tory that some day may t21e its place besides that of the immortal tale of Balalllava.
 The "Lost Legion" it is called to- day, but until the war is over the fate of the men who went to battle from the Kings Sandringham estates cannot be told. The king personally has instituted every possible inquiry. The American embassy in Constantin- ople has asked the Turkish govern ment. The forest through which the "Lost Legion" swept on in GalIipoi has been searched time and time again.
 There have been found no bodies, no graves, no sign, except two small pocketbooks, the property of Captain William Beck, who commanded the Legion. Captain Beck is missing with all of his command.
 Meantime scores of cottage homes in the royal sandringham estates of West Norfolk are in mourning Wives, sweethearts and mothers are wearing crepe, but despite all this there is ever the hope that some day the boys will come marching home.
 Perhaps they are prisoners of the Turks; perhaps they weren't killed at all, and perhaps"-its the hope against hope of the women of West Norfolk.
 The "LOst Legion" received it's baptism of fire before it set foot on Turkish soil It arrived off Sulva Bay August 10th aboard the palatiaI Aquitania from England. Turkish machine guns and artillery ploughed the water about them as they were being transported to shore, where they landed safely and dug them selves in. Two days later the men were ordered to clear the Turks from Aaafarta.
 Colonel Beauchamp was at their head with Captain Beck. The attack developed rapidly. Enfladed by Turkish fire, many of them dropped wounded or dead, but the others swept on through the village and in- to oblivion.
 News has filtered through via Switzerland that thirteen of those who charged through Anafarta are prisoners in Constantinople. But it has developed that these men fell wounded before the mysterious dark ness of the forest was reached. Long before Gallipoli was evacuated the Mystery Forest was retaken by the Turks. This event sealed the puzzle tighter than ever.
 Among those who charged with Captain Beck, organizer of the Legion and for twenty years the Kings estate agent, were the Kings plumb CT, gardner, gamekeeper, wOodman, golf foreman and scores of men in lesser positions. Like their fathers and their fathers fathers they had been born royal servants.
 Every Sunday in all the parish churches now prayers are said for the safe return of the missing ones. In every cottage is a recent message from the king:
 q heartily sympathize with you who are left in suspense but I am proud that the battalion fought so splendidly."
 Smoke the Key special. Always good. Sold only at the Key. poet cic,orr oDo rarraebrneuts at