GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 198, 17 May 1920, Page 5

GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN

HAMILTON'S DIARY REMARKABLE RECORDS OFFICIAL SHORTSIGHTEDNESS HEADQUARTERS CRITICISED BY KITCHENER IBy Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Eec. May IC, 5.5 p.m.) London, May Ik Th 3 Australian Press Association haa secured the rights of early publication of Sir lan. Hamilton's Gallipoli diary. It' contains remarkable revelations of tho early days of the campaign.—Aus.N.Z, Cable Assn. . London, May 15. Sir lan Hamilton, in the preface to his diary, says: "I will not leave my diary to be flung: to posterity behind the cover of my coffin. If any one wishes to challenge the contents'l am above ({round to give him satisfaction." The book contains a remarkable record of official shortsightedness, but is cvei more noteworthy as a revelation of the personality of such a coniniandur of a great fighting force which is rarely given to the world. Referring to the attitud* of tho Press Bureau ajid the W.r Office's desire for secrecy, Sir lan Hamilton has recorded: "Some newspaper correspondents arrived. I told them to do. whatever they damned well pleased "-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. OPERATIONS DISCUSSED WITH KITCHENER VIEWS OF FRENCH AND HIS STAFF. (Rec. May 16, 11 'p.m.!) London, May 15. Sii* lan Hamilton's Gallipoli diary is published in two volumes. Sir lan Hamilton, in tho early chapters, graphically describes the meeting witi the late Lord Kitchener to discuss tho operations at the 'Dardanelles. "Referring to the sending' of the IVentymnth Division, Lord Kitchener" said: 'You might just as .well realise at once that G.H.Q. in France will not agree to this. They think they hnvo only to drive the Germans back fifty miles to wjn the war. French and his staff believe firmly that they can pitch camp ia a. corner of Europe' and fight a world war to a finish. The thing is absurd, but French plu-3 France are a strong combination. They are fighting tooth and nail for the Twenty-ninth Division. It must be clearly -understood that all thing* earmarked for the East are regarded by powerful interests at iSbme and in France as being stolen from the AVest.' Generals Wolfe Murray, 'Archie Murray, and Braithwaite were then called in by Lord Kitchener. This was apparently the first cither of tho Murrays heard of the Dardanelles project. Both seemed taken aback. Braithwaite said: 'We should have bettor air service than the Turks.' He begged that we should be equipped with up-to-date aeroplanes, pilots and observers. Kitchener exploded and said, 'Not ono.' Kitchener was perfectly sure the fleet would get through the Dardanelles, and that a revolution would occur among tho Turks at tho mere sight of the smoke of the warships. Kitchener added:_ 'The moment tho holding of Constantinople comes along the French and Russians will bo very jealous and prickly, therefore thi< more wo 'efface ourselves at that stage the better.' He (Kitchener) would be pleased if we could let the French and Russian garrison at Constantinople sing their hymns in Saint Sophia whilst we held the railway and perhaps Adrianople." Faulty Organisation. Sir lan Hamilton refers to Lord Kitchener's desire iu pre-war days to become Viceroy of India or Ambassador at Constantinople. "Under Kitchener Indin could have beaten the Turk sin-gle-handed, while'as Ambassador at Constantinople he would have prevented Turkey ertering the war. The Intelligence branch was hopeless. It did not know anything about the enemy's strength or guns. Winston Churchill whs. in a fever to get us off. On the German system plans for the .landing Tvpuld have been in my pocket worked ciit to a cartridge and a pail of water By the British system I was obliged to concoct 'my own plan in a brace of shakes, almost under firo. Our way ma.v have merits strategically and tactically, but in tho matter of supply, transport, and organisation our administration was in the way of Colncy Hatch. When I iarewelled\Kitchcher he snid: 'If the fleet gets through, Constantinople will fall itself. You will have won not a battle but the war/ " Inefficient Mine-sweepers and 'Planes, When Sir lan Hamilton reached Tencdps he found the mine-sweepers inefficient and the engines worn out. With more powerful sweepers the business would have been easy. The Peninsula was well fortified. Our seaplanes could not locate the enemy guns. Nominally, the 'planes possessed powerful engines, but he adds: "The damned things would barely rise off the water." "After the mishap to the Inflexible and the Irresistible it became clear the soldiers must do the .trick. The War Office notion that the Fleet's guns would sweep the enemy from Achj Baba southward became moonshine. While in Egypt Sir lan Hamilton saw General Birdwood's thirty thousand, "a crowd," he says, "that would straighten tho back of a pacifists. There is bravery in their air, a keenness upon their clean-cut features. They are spoiling for a scrap. The spirit, of war has breathed its fires into their hearts." Appeals for Men and Ammunition. Sir Jan Hamilton displayed intense loyalty to Lord Kitchener. Ho determined that he would not write to any public personago except Lord Kitchener, as in war no man could serve two masters, yet all through he regretted his inability to communicate' with Mr. Churchill personally, as he could have relied on his kicking red tape into the waste-paper basket. Several "powers that be" told him to keep them fully posted, but there had been so much stiletto work in this war that he refrained from writing. Sir lan Hamilton throughout tho campaign sent hundreds of cables appealing firstly for men. Mien for more and more ammunition. Kitchener told him General Maxwell would give him any support he wanted from Egypt. "Maxwell would not do anything, becnuse he had his own 6how to run. Kitchener gave mo fair warning that I must not embroil him with French, France, or British politicians by squeezing him for more troops. I took the iob on these terms, hoping for help from Egyot, but got the chilliest of refusals. The quid mines in London said with complacency that my sixty thousand bayonets were enough to _ overturn the Turkish Empire. So they would, but I did not have tho number for the battle lino. Exactly half my bayonets spent the whole night carrying water, ammunition, and supplies. Tho other half were up all night in the firingline, armed mostly with spndes, digging desperately. Now and then thero was a hell of a fight, but that was incidental, and a relief. Civilinns at homo think wo woro like those in Franco, with motor transport at. our backs. My troops aro bocoming thoroughly worn out, and our regiments won't be their superb selves ■until the terrible losses aro made good." A Correspondent's Criticisms, Sir lan Hamilton refers to tho visit of Mr. —, a certain, journalist. Ho con 7 fesses that iu his anxiety to oblige ho exceeded his powers in permitting tho visit, "but signed a declaration solemnly undertaking to observe the censorship rules. He admitted that his mind was a blank about soldiers and soldiering, and made me uncomfortable by.au elaborate explanation why his duly could bo better dono by a. pen than a rille. 1 ' Gcnoral Hamilton received from (lie Secretary of War a copy of —'s criticisms font to Mr. Asquitft, whereupon he says: "I cnrofully rend this Guy Fnwkea Epistle, but should not have worried over the outpourings of my Me guest, but for Mr. Aflcjuith clothing them in a State papor. Hero wo see irresponsible statements by an ignorant man, and I feel it

is being used as one more weapon to force Mr. Asqiiith's liancl to ruin our Inst chance. Mr. Asq'uith may havo believed -—'s statement' that Maxwell had a poor brain for a big position or that Birdwontl had not the fighting quality or the big brain of a great general." Sir lan Hamilton retorts: " — saw nothing of tkio Turks. These reckless scraps of hearsay would have been worthless if they had not been endorsed with the stamp of Ministerial Holy of Holies." Young, Energetic Officers Wanted. ■ Sir lan Hamilton states that the Turks pot wind of the first date of the landing from London, via Vienna, and ho comments:' "The least said to the Cabinet the least leakage." When the new Territorial Divisions wero coming prior to Suvla, General Hamilton impressed on the War Office to send young, energetic officers, and adds: "I kneir *he hopes of Kitchener wero built on these magnificent divisions. I knew he was also capable of understanding how ho cut his own throat, Hie men's throats, and mino I)s''not sending young, up-to-date generals." The Suvla Failure. General Hamilton then deals lengthily with General Stopford's failure at Suvla. Here was a division which Imd landed victoriously, been rested and watered, which its commanders said could not bestir itself even feebly for twelve hours. "I told Hammersley the brigade must advance at once and dig in (.n the crestline, but I did not learn until two years later that the brigade was not ..concentrated. If even one convnany had been well entrenched on the- TeklceTope height ; we should have had the whip hand for the next manoeuvre, but on August 9 the Turks rolled up our line. The misery of the scene well nighi broke my heart. Our occupation of the key positions had como too late. Had Stop'ford taken up any point of the watershed on the eighth the whole Turkish position on the Peninsula would have become critical. Stopford said he was sure the- Territorials could nonsecure tho hills, as the attacking spirit was absent owing to the want of leadership by tho officers. Yet at Anzac these Territorials under Godley • fought like lions."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.