rately they can hit a small
object miles off. The very birds have got accustomed to the din, and
on the face of the rocks where I sit is a pair of exquisite
birds--probably jays--flitting about as though nothing unusual was
going on. The variety of birds is not great, but all are new to me and
have interested me greatly, so also have the flowers, which are very
fine. I was specially taken with a big light purple rock rose, nearly
three inches across, and in great abundance.

From this place of vantage I have watched our beach for some time, but
as our services are not likely to be much needed here I must return to
our Ambulance which lies to the east of the rock, and we must follow
our Brigade (86) shortly.... Back and seated here again. The van of
the Munsters arrived at this spot before I left, and dodged and ducked
at every shell. On Sunday and Monday they had 286 casualties,
including most of their officers. They still stream past just behind
me, with the Lancs. and others. The Lancs. had suffered very badly at
W. Beach, while the Dublins lost 550, with twenty officers out of
twenty-three. Four Dublin officers sat at my table on the "Ausonia
"--two are dead, the other two wounded.

_April 29th._--I had no time to finish my account of the day's doings
yesterday. It was too soon for our Ambulance to go out so I spent part
of the forenoon at the General's Observation Hill with General Reeks,
who was afterwards joined by General Hunter-Weston. By way of excuse
for being there I was waiting to see how our attack on the Turks was
getting on to see when I could get off with my bearers. The A.D.M.S.
Colonel Yarr, was also present. By 5 a.m. the attack had stretched
right across the peninsula, the French on our extreme right, next the
Hants and Lancs., with Munsters and Dublins on the left. A furious
cannonade went on for many hours, we advancing slowly till we were
near the foot of Achi Baba, when the Hants ran short of ammunition and
had to retreat, the French of course retiring also. Things were really
looking bad for a time, and rumours of defeat were soon afloat.
Ammunition at last coming up, we could get on, but during the retreat
which had to be carried out over an open piece of ground, the want of
shelter was the cause of very heavy casualties.

By 1 p.m. wounded began to pour past our camp from the 88th Brigade,
and, although it was not our Brigade, I went up to their front with
all the bearers, Morris remainin