SIR IAN HAMILTON'S NARRATIVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2508, 8 July 1915, Page 5

SIR IAN HAMILTON'S NARRATIVE

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN .WITH : MORE GUNS , ' - GENERAL'S PRAISE FOR HIS OFFICERS • . By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright . London, July 6. Genoral Sir lan Hamilton, commanding the Expeditionary Forces in the Dardanelles, in his report on the operations (continued from the narrative published in The Dominion yesterday), says:—"We made a bold effort on the ' sight of May 2 to seize a commanding knoll on the front of the centre line, but the enemy's enfilading machine guns were too scientifically posted, and nine hundred men were lost without any advantage beyond the infliction of - corresponding loss on tho enemy. _ ■ "An attempt on tho 4th to seize Gaba, Tope was also unsuccessful, tho barbed wire entanglements being something beyond belief; but a number of minor operations wore carried out, such as the taking of the Turkish observing Btation, the strengthening of pur entrenchments, reorganising units, and the perfecting of communication Ttvitli the landing places.. Also a constant 6train was placed on some of tho best of the enemy's troops/ numbering 2d,000, who were constantly kept fighting, being killed and wounded;freely, as the Turkish sniper is no match for the kangaroo shooter, even at his own-game. •"The assistance, of the Navy, here as elsewhere, was invaluable. Admiral Thursby proved a trusty, powerful friend to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. A Cencral Advance. "Meanwhile, a, French regiment .had disembarked at Kum Kalo and cap-' tured five hundred Turks, and the main French forco was disembarked at Sed,dul Balir on the evening of tho 26th.' I ordered a general advance on the 27th to a line from Hi11'236 to the mouth of a stream two miles north of Tekeh Burnu. This was completed, without opposition, and relieved the growing congestion on tho beaches, while giving us several new, wells, and affording a temporary solution of tho water problem, which had been causing us much "it was decided tb further advance on the 28th, in order to make what headway was possible before tho enemy recovered and had been,reinforced." • Sir lan Hamilton records tho courageous behaviour of the 86t'i, 87th, and ' 88th Brigades. The few gun. landed did not give adequate artillery support, and the small amount of transport did not suffice to maintain-the supplies of cartridges. Hopes of getting a footing on Aclii Baba had perforce to be abandoned for the moment. "Had it been possible to push in reinforcements of men and artillery munitions, Krithia should liavo fallen on tho 28th, and 1 much subsequent fighting would have been avoided. This reinforcing would have been feasible two days later, but the enemy meanwhile had received proportionately greater support So I have no reason to rijgret thit I did not hosi- . tote to delay, especially as our line had been appreciably advanced. The bulk of the artillery had been landed by the 13th, when tho line was readjusted, the French increasing the length of theirs. ' "The Turks delivered a series ot desperate attacks at 10 o'clock m the evening, beforo .moonrise. Their, formation was three solid liner, the men in front being doprived of ammunition in order to make them rely on tlio bayonet. Tho officers had pistols, firing Bengal lights, red indicating when tho Turkish guns were lengthening their range, white that our own front trenches were being stormed, green that the main position was carried. The Turkish method of attack was to crawl ou bands and knees until the time for the final rush. A ponderous Onslaught, ''General von Zowcnstcin, in an eloquent exhortation to the Turkish attackers, called on them for one mighty _ effort to fling back the Britishers to tho sea. He said: 'Attack the enemy with the bayonet, and utterly destroy him. We shall not retire one step, otherwise our religion, country, and nation will perish. Soldiers,■ the world is looking. Your .only hope for salvation f I is to tiring tho battle to a successful solution or gloriously <lio in the attempt." "The first momentum of this ponderous onslaught fell -upon the right of tho 86th Brigade. It was an unlucky Spot, as all the officers thereabouts wore killed or wounded. Tins Turkish bayonet thargo made an ugly gap in tho line, but it was instantly filled by the sth Royal. Scots Territorials, who faced to their flank and executed a brilliant bayonet charge. Tho rost of the British lines held their own with compaiative Case, and it was not necessary to employ the reserves. • „ "Tho storm nest broke on the rrcjich left, where were the Senegalese. After several charges and counter-attacks, the Senegalese! began to givo ground. Tho Worcesters were sent to hold the g a p. Tho counter-offensive began at 5 o'clock in the morning. The wholo lino tranced at 7.30. The British left gained five hundred yards, and our centre pushed back the enemy, inflicting heavy losses, hut conccalcd machine guns niado it necessary to withdraw to the former trenchos. . . . "The net result of the operations was .repulse of the Turks and the infliction of very heavy losses. At hrst wo had them fairly on thu run. Had it ■not boen for those inventions of tlio devil, machine guns and barbed wire, • .xhisli .nuili '.tho Turkish chyuctcr and should; fvA -in®

stopped short of tlio crest of Aclii Baba. As it was,-all the brigade-: reported a great number of dead Turks in front\of their lilies. We did not interfero with tlio Turks burying their dead under the red crescent. - "The losses, exclusive of the French, to May a, were 177 officers and 1990 men killed; 312 officers and 7807 taeii. wounded, 13 officers and 3580 rnen miss-, ing."High Praise for the officers. ' Sir lan Hamilton pays a high tributc_ to Admiral de Itolieck (copnmander of the British fleet) and the Navy, who risked everything to give their soldier comrades a fair run in at the enemy. ' > "General d'Amade (commander of the French land forces) has given me the benefit of his wide experience in war, and afforded most loyal and energetic support. No troops could have acquitted themselves more creditably under.thb trying circumstances and under the heavy losses than the French. • '•-■ - i "General Birdwood (coiumander of tlid Australasian forces) was responsible for tlio execution of a difficult and hazardous operation connected with, tlio Australian and New Zealand forces' landing operations, which were, crowned with' very remarkable success.- This fact speaks for itself. "Major-General A. G. Hunter-Weston was as uutiring and resourceful as ever, and more cheerful as the outlook upon occasion grew darker. He possesses special qualifications as a commander of troops in the field. "Major-General W. P. Brnitliwaite_ is th'o host Chief of General, Staff it has ever been my fortune to encounter in war. "I liavo many other names to bring under notice, which will be.Hho subject 9f an early and separate report." 1 —" — GERMAN COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WOUNDED Athens, July 6._ General Liman von Sanders wEo' is in command of the enemy's forces in Gallipoli) baa been wounded. ' Tlio official version of General von Leipzig's death is that it was a case of suicide. . . • [It was recently stated from Berlin that General von Leipzig had been killed at Usunkoepen through a revolver exploding while ho was sitting down at a meal. The general impression was that Von Leipzig was murdered. His death' is a grpat loss to German influence in Turkey; where ho was extremely, popular.] , „ „ . , ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services) (Rec. July 7, 7.40 p.m.), London, July 6. 'A' report from Bucharest states that General von Sanders wears armour of some kind to protect his body and also his head, as he fears assassination at the hands of some disenchanted Turk. No one is admitted' to lis house unless personally, known to him. There is a small sliding .panel door in his room, and visitors are thoroughly oxamined before being received'.