Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-08
Uses All Troops.

The communicative Chiefs dispatch
70 the war Office Is Of great length, but
most Of the events had already been
chronicled in other official dispatches
from him. Having reached the conciu-
sion, after witnessing the stipend
ous" battle between the warships and
the land fo-treSses. that IL would re-
ouire the whole OF his strength 10 en-
able the fleet effectively 10 force the
Dardanelles, Gen. Hamilton prepared
10 fling all his troops rapidly ashore.
in the full knowledge that an attempt 20
land on such a well defended theatre
OF cperation involved difficulties for
which there IS no precedent IN mill
tary history, except possibly in the
sinister legends OF Xerxes-" General
Hamilton admits Iii was touch and
CO. many times before the invaders
established a footing. In several in
stances, half Of the landing parties
were killed or wounded before they
could reach even the slight shelter az
forded by the sandy bank on the up
per part Of the beaches. 4 great ma
tority OF the senior officers were Ell
Their killed or wounded.
Death Traps.
The Turks had turned the landing
places into death traps. There were
wire enranglements the whole length
Of the shore, with q supplementary
barbed wire network concealed be-
meath the surface Of the sea. Land
mines and sea mines were everywhere.
and machine guns. cunningly tucked
away in holes in the cliffs were able
20 converge their fire on the wire en-
tangiements.
so strong, in fact were the defen-
ces," says the general that the Turks
may we'll have considered them i'm
pregna Bile, and it is my firm convic-
ton that no finer feat OF arms has ever
been achieved by the British soldier
or any other soldier than the storm
ing Of these trenches from open boats
on the morning of the 25th II April
General Hamilton speaks Of long
lines Of men being moved down as by
a scythe" OF the endless chains OF
wire entanglements. he writes, again
the heroic wire cutters came out
Through the glasses they could be seen
quietly shipping away under the hell
ism fire as II they were pruning a vine
yard.
Praises Australians.
OF the Australians. he says:
Like lightning they leaped ashore
and each man that did so went
straight as his bayonet at the enemy.
So vigorous was the onslaught the
Turks made no attempt 10 withstand
it, and fed from ridge 10 ridge, pur-
sued by the Australian infantry"
A shortage OF ammunition prevent
ed the Allies from gaining the hoped
for footing on Achi Bahia.
Had il been possible says Gen.
Hamilton. Ito push in reinforcements
Of men. artillery and munitions kri-
thia should have fallen and much sub
sequent fighting for its capture would
have been avoided"
up to May L. he continued, the net
result of the operations was the re-
pulse Of the Turks and the infection
upon them of very heavy losses At
first, we had them fairly on the run
and had it not been for these inven-
tons Of the devil-machine guns and
barbed wire which sui: the Turkish
character and tactics TO perfection we
should not have stopped short OF the
crest Of Achi Bahia"
Gen. Hamilton pays high tribute to
the French forces, who lost heavily,
He reports the British losses during
the period between April 25 and May
5 as IL officers and 1890 men killed:
Alp officers and 1901 men wounded, 10
officers and $3.50 men missing.