ing on the further ridge. From this
vantage-point he kept up a brisk fire, both with machine-guns and rifles,
and it was an extremely risky undertaking to show one's head above the
particular rock behind which one was taking cover. Their fire, however, was
returned with interest, and it helped to make "Johnny" arrive at the
decision that it would be a very unwise thing to attack again that day,
although he _did_ once make a half-hearted attempt to regain his former
position, which was promptly frustrated.
This state of things continued throughout the day, but the exposed position
of these two guns began to make itself very evident, as the enemy's field
guns, firing from the right flank, began to get the "hang of things" there.
It was, indeed, only by a miracle that both gun-teams were not entirely
wiped out! Night fell with the position of affairs pretty much the same,
but, later on, a welcome respite was afforded by the cessation of the
shell-fire, although machine-gun and rifle fire still continued, and if
anything, with greater intensity.
At about midnight, a tremendous "strafe" commenced a little to the left,
bombs and flares were freely used, and although no attempt was made to
force the position, everything was in readiness, should the Turk have
decided to do so. Our left-hand gun had been moved forward to command the
approach to the ridge from which the Turks were driven earlier in the day.
At daybreak enemy shells again commenced to fall, and it soon became quite
apparent that no rest would be obtained that day. The enemy's artillery
left little to be desired from his point of view, as regards accuracy of
range, although considering the amount of shells expended our casualties
were comparatively slight.
At about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, figures were observed to be moving on
the top of a hill about 500 yards away on our left; they seemed to be
making towards a mosque, situated at the end of the ridge. Our two machine
guns were immediately turned upon them, when the whole of the hill-side
suddenly became _alive_ with Turks, who, scared out of their cover, fled
to the further side of the ridge. A trench-mortar battery, which had come
up during the previous night, and had taken up a position about a quarter
of a mile in the rear, opened fire at once; it is feared that "Johnny" then
had a very rough and uncomfortable 10 minutes. Chase was given by some
troops in the vicinity, with the result that practically t
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