The Washington times., 1916-01-07
Tragedy Of GaILipoH
Narrated by Hamilton
Untried Men, Lack Of Water, and Failure of Com
manders in Initiative Snatched Cup of Victory
From British, Asserts Recalled Darda-
nelIes Commander

LONDON. Jan. THE majority or tire
newspapers this fnorning indOrsc Sir
Ian Hamilton's report that the tragedy
Of Gallipoli at Suvla Bay. when the cup
OF victory was snatched from the lips
, Of the Franco-British by the Turks. was
due to lack Of initiative and resolve
on tho part of General Stopford. tho
corps commander, ard the division
commanders. who, like the blun1erers
at Loos, failed to act decisively when
Constantinople was almost within their
grasp.
General Hamilton's report on the
British operations on the Gallipon PEN
zette last night. t II II lives @ the 'Glt., Account
Of the lighting On the peninsula from
the pesinning Of May to tho middle Of
Probably no more important contri-
button to the history of the present
war has been made. The report
throws light on the great landing at
Anzac Cove and Suvla Bay on Aug
ust Z, which has been the subject OF
strong attacks upon the military ad-
mintstration of the government, the
whole operations requiring the COM
bined action of the army and the
navy.
I The handling OF the masses of troops
within limited area probably was
the most complicated ever under
taken, and military men are not sur
prised that some important details
For Big Attack.
1t will be recalled that on Decem-
Der 21. after Premier Asquith had ex-
plained in the house of commons the
reasons for the WithdrawAy from part
Of Gallipoli, Sir Edward Carson and
John Redmond attacked the govern
ment, the Nationalist leader asking
the premier concerning "a mysterious
dispatch" from Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton
and asking why this dispatch had
never been made public, Mr.. Red
something of a scandal" The pre-
mier replied that the dispatch in
question bad been received by him
only recently
ON May 10, Sir Ian Hamilton says.
he asked for two fresh divisions to
enable the expedition to continue the
attack. On May II he again cabled,
stating that ne required two army
corps Cne division meanwhile had
been sent, and in June Lord Kitchener
promised three regular divisions and
in addition the infantry of two terri
toTial divisions.
August was the date fxed for the
big attack. which had for its objects:
Anzac and cut off the bulk Of the
Turkish army from land colnmunica-
tion with Constantinople: (2) to cut
off the bulk OF the Turkish army from
sea traffic, and i2) to secure Suvla
Ray as n winter base for the Anzacs
and the troops operating in the north
ern theater. Later II was found that
by a coincidence Turkish offensive
also had been planned to take effect
only an hour or two later.
| In the attack on Chunuk Bair
(Bahr?) on August 3 the plans mis-
carried somewhat, owing to the mis-
rival on time with support, as a re-
suit of his losing his way in the
darkness and because of the bad
country.
"Instead of General Baldwin's sup
port" the report says, came sudden
ly a salvo of heavy shells. These.
falling unexpectedly among the
stormers, threw them into terrible
confusion. The Turkish commander
saw his chance instantly and his
troops were rallied and brought back
| in a counter charge.
"The South Lancashires and Gurk-
has, who had seen the promised land
| and had seemed for a moment to hold
victory in their grasp. were forced
backward over the crest to the low
er slopes whence they first had
i started"
was intrusted with the conduct of the
Suvla Bay operations. They were not
successful.
Sir Ian Hamilton says:
| 1.-THE senior commander at Suvla Bay
had had no personal experience in the
new trench warfare, of the Turkish
methods. of the paramount Importance
of time. Strong, clear leadership had
not been promptly enough applied. These
were the reasons which induced me.
with your lordships approval, to ap-
point Maj. Gen. Henry de B. De Lisle
to take over the temporary command.
| Asked .Re-enfOrcements.
''I sent your lordship long cable in
which urged that If the campaign was
to he brought TO a quick and victorious
, decision. large re-enforcemerts must at
once be sent: that there was not a mo-
. ! nnent to be lost On AmRugt 70 nv BRIT