New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-07
MUDDLING COST
STRAITS VICTORY,
SAYS HAMILTON
Fleet Commanders Delay
ed Aid-LOndon Failed
to Send Enough Men.

~ oNsi%A Liicd IL i'ANif'
London. Jan. 6-Genersl Sir Lar
Hamilton's report on the British oper-
ations on the Gallipoli Peninsula was
published in the Official Gazette to
night. II tells the story Of the fighting
on the peninsula from the beginning OF
May 70 the middle OF October.
= Probably no more important contrib
ution to the history Of the present war
has yet been made. The report throws
light on the great landing at AnEac
Cove and SIyla Bey on August 7, which
has been the subject Of strong attacks
on the military administration Of the
government, the whole operations re-
quirng the combined action Of the
army and the navy.
The handling OF the masses Of troops
within limited area probably was the
most complicated ever undertaken. and
military men are not surprised thai
some important details failed TO work
as planned.
The Suvls Bay landing failed to &C
comolish its object, the report shows
partly because the force consisted
largely Of untried troops under gem
erals inexperienced in the new warfare
and partly through the failure OF IN"
water supply. The sufferings OF the
troops for lack Of water make pain
ful reading.
Praises His Troops.
General Hamilton bestows he high
est possible praise on the bravery o.
the men. He believes that after the
middle OF August the Turks outnum-
bered tie British and had plenty o.
fresh soldiers and munitions. while the
British government was unable 70 fur
nish him with the reinforcements he
wanted. The general strongly opposed
the abandonment, Of any Of the oases
held By the British troops.
General Hamilton's report, which
was submitted to Field Mar'hal Ear
Kitchener. Secretary Of State for War.
carries the story ot the Dardar rclles
operations up 20 mid-October when he
relinquished his command. Concern
ing his retirement, General ila"ilton
reports:
"On the IIth Of October gour lord
ship cabled asking me for an estimate
Of the losses which would be involved
in the evacuation Of the peninsula. l
replied in terms showing that such a
step was TO be unthinkable. On the
l6th OF October / received cable re-
calling me to London for the reason,
as was informed by your lordship on
nv arrival. that his majesty's govern
ment desired fresh, unbiasei opinion
from a responsible commander upon the
question Of early evacuation.
The most stirring passages OF the
document describe the ill-fated land
ing at Suvla Bay and Anzac early IN
August for obtaining command OF the
heights on the middle OF the PENN
sula and cutting OF from their base
the Turkish forces at the lower ex-
tremity. where the Allied armies made
their first landing.
: Turks Swarm from West.
This operation began on August 8.
The climax was reached OF daybresk
on the 10th. when the Turks made a
grand attack from the summit Of Chu-
max Bahr hill on short front held by
tyyo battalions Of the 6th North Ian
cashire and the 5th Wiltshire regi-
ments, which General Hamilton de-
scribes as weakened IN numbers,
though not in spirit.
First our men were shelled by every
enemy gun" General Hamilton says
then assaulted BY a huge column con-
sisting Of no less than full division
plus three battalions. The North Ian
cashre men were simply overwhelmed ID
in their shallow trenches by sheer
weight Of numbers. while the Wilt
shires. who were caught out in the
open. were literally almost ami
hilated
The ponderous mass Of the enemy
swept over the crest and swarmed
round the Hampshires and General
Baldwin, brigade. which had 20 give
ground and we're only eXtricated with
great difficulty and very heavy losses.
Now II was our turn. The warships
and the New Zealand and Australian
artillery, an Indian mountain artillery
brigade and the 69th Brigade Royal
Field Artillery were getting the chance
OF lifetime. As successive solid lines
Of Turks topped the crest OF the ridge
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