Fine sunny morning, glassy sea, hospital ship and supply boats lying
close to the beach, not a shot in the air, any sign whatever of Abdul.
Quite a calm peaceful scene. And at a moment's notice the air may be
crowded with screaming shells, the clatter of machine guns, the din of
artillery booming and musketry rattling in such fits and starts is the
action carried on. Spoke to Doctor at 6 a.m. for touch of dysentery.
Treated with table spoon of castor oil and some tablets and light diet
of meal. Medical men very careful with this complaint, fearing serious
outbreak. Our M.O. Capt. "Gertie" Butler awarded D.S.O. The yarn goes
that in the landing, after bandages ran out he tore up his shirt and
puttees.
Some officers with the object no doubt of inspiring
confidence and keeping up the spirits of the men make a practice of
circulating reports that the Tommies will be here tomorrow, that the
(Achi Baba) the big fort had been captured, that the Turks are cut off,
that we have only a day or two more to hang on to this position, that we
will then advance and so forth. Such statements are mistaken and
childish. The men know the real facts and are prepared as hang on grimly
at all costs. They resent any attempt to bury up their spirits by
inaccurate reports. They are Australians and even this trying ordeal
cannot suppress the Australian temperament. All along the line pranks
are played on the nervy Turkish conscripts. Some outposts have a number
of empty tins string together, which they throw out after dark and then
pull back with a sudden rattle, which throws the "Terrible Turk" in a
terrible funk causing him to waste no end of ammunition.
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