ASHMEAD BARTLETT’S IMPRESSIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1928, Page 3

ASHMEAD BARTLETT’S IMPRESSIONS

OF G Af-1-11’OI.I CAMPAIGN. (Australian A* N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Jan. 53. Mr Ashmead Bartlett, in the Daily Telegraph, has commenced a series of “War .Memories of the Dardanelles,” which will lie a frank comment upon the strategy anil conduct of the campaign. A preliminary article, entitled “Clearing for Action,” describes the coining of Sir lan Hamilton aboard the Arcadian on May 4th. 1915. Sir fan Hamilton informed Air Bartlett that lie was entirely in favour of war correspondents being with the army, and although their despatches would lie censored, he personally would take care that nothing was taken out except category military sectors. William .Maxwell, a former war correspondent on Sir Jan Hamilton’s staff, had been appointed censor. Afr Bartlett pays a tribute to Maxwell's impartiality and effort to smooth difficulties which, arose between war correspondents and the General Staff, as events went from had to worse.

Meanwhile about 70.000 troop* assembled aboard a battleship at London. were kept busy rehearsing the landing of the Eleventh Australian Battalion, under Colonel Johnston, who were to go ashore from our ship to facilitate disembarkation. Simultaneously a great number of wide wooden ladders were made up oil hoard down which two fully equipped men could climb at the same time. These ladders with shins gangways enabled live hundred to six hundred to embark in a few minutes. The crews of the boats were bu-y all day landing Iroops on the shores of the Bay and bringing them off at night. All the ships carried out similar rehearsals. This was the first time I was in contact with the Australians, and they certainly created a fine impression with their physique and general hearing. They were a truly magnificent body, but tlieir ideas of discipline were very different from those of our old Regulars. The men seemed to discipline themselves. Their officers bad very little authority, owing to their ranks and personality playing a more important role. This is easy to understand because the officers lacked experience and authority which comes from years of service. Nevertheless, they struck me as an efficient body of men, who could be relied upon in an emergency, and whatever lliey lacked in discipline and experience. Would lie compensated by native intelligence and initiative.