The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-02-25

From this moment the Apex. tne
highest point on the ridge In our line
| which was won by the Wellington pat
talon on August 8, and held. though 1t
cost Wellington 712 out OF 1853 men
who went into the fght-from this mo
ment the Apex is free to the enemy
His FIRE trench there is 50 yards from
ours.
T:45 a. m.-'Beachy Bill has fired
again. The shell burst in the supply
depot near Brighton beach So he 10
at his old games. That supply depot Is
the favorite target Of 'Beachy Bits
shells at night This is the first time
they will find nobody there. Two
bombs at the Apex Our men have
been gone from there a quarter OF an
hour. Those bombs must have been
thrown by the Turks at our empty
trenches
:55 a. m-There has just steamed
silently past us the small warship
which know contains the commander
OF our army corps. General Birdwood
was ashore &: AnZac among our men
today They were in splendid heart
'1:57 a. m.-Another bomb at the
Apex We had two tunnels out far
beneath the Turkish trenches there In
case Of need. and into these the engi-
neers have put what explosive remains
with them. The biggest mine we ever
fred before contained less than five
hundredweight. This mine of three
tons, if we decide to fire It. should
rend the Mex to pieces. 1t is an ex
traordinary ending TO fine history
'Quinn's' POST. the trench that the
Turks could never take at whatever
cost, we have quietly left in the night
1t now lies open to them
Mines on the Mex. Blown Up.
"3:25 a. m.-The trenches opposite
the Mex have at this moment been
left. The old Anzac line is now open
toIhe Turks along every part. Desui
tory fire still continues exactly as on
other nights from the far right to the
far left
1876 a. m.-Just now a huge red
cloud rolled low across the Mex.
There was low rumble. Presently. a
still larger cloud curled low across the
further slope of the same ridge, the
angry revolving fumes glowing orange
n
night. They were the two mines at the
Mex where our Light Horse once
charged. A rattle of rifles has started
from the center 1t is spreading thick
ly to the tanks. and growing steadily
into roar. The Turks evidently
think they are being attacked. and
they have started firing all along the
line.
1916 a. m.-The firing is heavy.
right to the extreme southern end Of
the line. A message has been received
to say that the Anzac wireless station
has been closed and that the last party
on the left Is safely in the boats.
"3:45 a. m.-Firing still heavy, in
Guiding machine guns. Suvla wireless
station closed also. The navy must
have timed the embarkation perfectly
"a a. m.-The fire at Amaze has al.
most ceased, except normal sniping
by the Turks along the whole line. Elk.
cept at Shippers Nest ! can see no
flashes from their rifles. go they must
be in their trenches.
"4:10 a. m.-The tents and stores at
Suvla have just begun to burst into
fame The flames are spreading
swiftly along the line Of beaches We
can see the torch OF the man who is
lighting them. going just ahead of the
line Of fame.
ALB a. ma wireless has been re-
ceivcd stating that the whole embarkaA
ton has been completed. A naval Of
ficer next to me turns around and
holds out his hand. Thank Cod"
Thus It will be perceived that this
retirement was accomplished between
dusk on December 10 and four O'Clock
on the morning of December 20.
Turks lombard.
~ a. m.-Day is Just breaking" con.
cludes Captain Bean. A quarter of an
hour ago the Turkish batteries sudden.
ly opened furious bombardment OF
the ridges along which the old Amaze
line runs. The firing was ,extraordi.
narily hurried and wild, some shells
bursting low, others wildly kigh-four,
six, eight at time.
"7:15 a. m.-Watching thu old Anzac
trenches just now through glasses, |
saw what took to be line of small
pine trees growing over tue crest of
them. When saw some # the trees
move along the parapet of the trench
southwards l realized that my pine
trees were Turks. Evidently the Turks
have been making an attack. They
first bombarded our enemy line, and
then charged across against the silent
parapets They are swarming
over the parapets on the skyline. stand.
ing still for a moment. then swarm
ing farther south.
"7:20 a. m-This ship let go two
salvos straight into the Turks on the
sky line, and they have quickly disap-
peared into our trenches. We have
now turned with, the rest OF the feet
to lombard the few remaining heaps
of stores on the beach. The valleys
are quickly filled with smoke and
dust.
1887 q. m.-Our bombardment
ceases. The feet slowly turns toward