of marker. The gods
were favouring this genial quartette, but in many parts of the line men
lay dead, dying, and maimed. They bore their wounds with a wonderful
patience, and few complained. Comrades ripped out their field
dressings and staunched the blood. Doctors, regardless of whizzing
shells and bullets, crept from patient to patient. Stretcher-bearers
manfully did their job. Over shell-swept zones they carried and pulled
the wounded to succour and safety. Despite the danger, men even found
time to note and praise the deeds of these Red Cross heroes. The name
of the R.A.M.C. ought to be printed in letters of gold on the dome of
St. Paul's. It is one reminiscent of heroism, faith, hope, and charity.

Now, during all this gun and rifle firing not a reply was sent. The
Staff allowed the Turks to expend their shells and bullets. That is
always good business in war. It adds to the enemy's problem of supply.
This bombardment lasted for two hours. No doubt the Turks were well
pleased. But immediately they ceased their fire there was a universal
Boom! from the Australian lines. Battleships, cruisers, torpedo boats,
howitzer batteries, field batteries, and Maxim guns sent back salvo
after salvo of a deafening and devilish kind.

The unerring aim of our gunners paralysed, for a time, the initiative
of the Turkish Staff. This tremendous reply was unexpected. And the
British shells burst in their magazines, their supply depots, their
headquarters dug-outs in a startling way. Never was gunnery so deadly.
Never was slaughter so sure. Regiments waiting _en masse_ for the
assault were torn and butchered. Trenches were burst and destroyed.
It was death, desolation, and disaster of an unexpected and amazing
kind. Such is the value of information in war. A good Intelligence
Officer is equal to a complete division of all arms.

Yet this bombardment did not deter the Turkish assault. It had been
arranged; it had to go on. When the British bombardment ceased, they
leaped boldly from their trenches and came on _en masse_. A strange
silence now pervaded the Australasian lines. Not a shot was heard. It
was the calm before the storm. They allowed the Turks to advance. On
they came, great, dark, strong-looking men. They shouted "Allah!"
"Allah!" as they ran. This cry for "Allah" was a bad sign. The Turks
expected "Allah" to do what they felt they had not the confidence to do
themselves. Still, the German ta