FIRST NIGHT AT ANZAC

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1920, Page 3

FIRST NIGHT AT ANZAC

j QUESTION OF RETIREMENT. ! ~ Only officers in high commands knew that the expediency of abandoning the position at Anzac was seriously discussed on the night after it had been seized ; Vague stories about that crisis have been in circulation among Australian : troops, but now fresh light has , been thrown upon the incident by the publi- I j cation of Sir lan Hamiliton’s diary of • the official messages that passed between him and General Birdwood. General Hamilton explains that at i I 12.5 a.m. on April 26th he was awalceni ed by his chief of staff (General Braitlii unite), who said, “ Sir Inn, you’ve, got to come right along—a question of life and death—you must settle it!” The Conimander-in-Ghief found Admiral Robeck, Rear-Admiral Thursby (in charge of the landing of the Australian and New "Zealand Army Corps), Briga-dier-General Carruthers (D.A.Q.M.G. of > the Australian and N.Z. Army Corps), j and General Cunliffe Owen( commanding ; the artillery) waiting for him. He was handed a. message from General Birdwood, in General Godley’s writing, ' , which read as follows: Both my divisional generals and brigadiers have represented to me that" they | fear their men arc AFi«—-i'iß»ly demoral- J ised by shrapnel v fire, to which they j hnvc been subjected all day after ex- j hnustion and gallant work in morniiifc. j Numbers have dribbled hack from tlir firing line, and cannot be collected Jn j this difficult country. Even New Zea- j land Brigade, which has been only re- , eeutly engaged, lost heavily, and is to some extent demoralised. If troops are subjected to shell fire again tomorrow morning there is likely to be a fiasco, as I have no fresh troops with which to replace those in firing line. I know my representation js most serious, but if we are to re-embark 't must • be at onr«.—Birdwood.” There was only a short discussion, in the course of which 'Rear-Admiral Tliursby said, “I think myself they will stick it out if only it is put to them that they must.” Without -another word General Hamilton, all keeping' silence, wrote to General Birdwood : “ You news is indeed serious. But there is nothing for it but to dig yourselves right In, and stick it out. It would take at least two days to reembark you, as Admiral Thursby will explain to you. Meanwhile, the Australian submarine has got up''through the Narrows, and has torpedoed a gunboat at Chan ok. Hunter-Weston, despite his heavy losses, will he advancing to-morrow, which should divert pressure from you. Make a. personal appeal to your men and Godley’s to make a supreme effort to hold their ground.—lAN HAMILTON.” ’PIS.—You have got through the difficult business; now you have only to dig, dig, dig, until you are safe.— lan. H.” From that time until December the question of evacuation was never again discussed.