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

LONDON. Jan. The ma jority OF tire
newspapers this morning 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 the part of General Stopford. tho
corps commander, ard the division
commanders. who, like the b(unjercrs
at Loos, failed to act decisively when
Constantinople was almost within their
grasp.
General Hamilton's report on the
British operations on the GallpoN PEN
insula was published in the Official Ca
or the lighting On the peninsula from
the BEGINNING of May to the middle of
Probably no more important contri-
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
ministration OF the government, the
whole operations requiring the COM
biped action of the army and the
navy.
The handling of the. masses of troops
within a limited area probably was
the most complicated ever under
taken. and military men are not sur
prised that some important details
failed to work as intended.
For Big Attack.
1t will be recalled that on Decem-
ber 21. after Premier Asquith had ex-
planned in the house of commons the
reasons for the Withdraway from part
of GaIlipoli, Sir Edward Carson and
John Redmond attacked the govern
ment. the Nationalist leader ask king
the premier concerning "a mysterious
| n (.an
and asking why this dispatch had
never been made public. Mr.. Red
mond referred to the dispatch as
something of scandal. The pre-
question had been received by him
only recently.
on May II, Sir Ian Hamilton says
he asked for two fresh divisions 10
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
torial divisions.
August was the dat" fiyed for the
! big attack. which had for its objects
% To break out with rush from
| Anzac and cut off the bulk Of The
tinn with Constantincple: t2) to cut
Off the bulk OF the Turkish army from
sea traffic, and i2) to secure Suvla
! Pay as n winter base for the Anzacs
and the troops operating in the north
ern theater. Later it was found that
I by a coincidence Turkish offensive
also had been planned to take effect
only an hour or two later.
In the attack on Chunuk Batr
| (Bahr?) on August . the plans mis-
! carried somewhat, owing to the mis-
! chance Of General Baldwin's non-ar-
! 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 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 counter charge.
| "The South Lancashires and Gurk-
has, who had seen the promised land
and had seemed for moment to holl
victory in their grasp. were forced
| backward over the crest to the low
er slopes whence they first had
| started"
was intrusted with the conduct Of the
Suvla Bay operations. They were no,
| successful.
Sir Ian Hamilton says:
! "The senior commander at Suvla Ba!
had had no personal experience in tho
new trench warfare. of the Turkish
methods, of the paramount Importance
of time. Strong. clear leadership hsc
not been promptly enough applied. These
| were the reasons which induced me
with your lordship's approval. to ap
point Maj. Gen. Henry de B. De Lisl'
to take over the temporary command.
Asked .Re-enfOrcements.
'I sent your lOrdship II long cable ir