Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-01-08
DESCRIBES SEVERE
Fight At eALuPOu

Z y. = i
London. Jan. s.--Gen. Ian Hamil-
tons report on the British operations
on the Gallipoli peninsula was publish
ed in the onicial Gazette to night. 1t
tells OF the story Of the lighting on
the peninsula from the beginning Of
May to the middle Of October.
The Suvla Bay landing failed to ac-
complish its object, the report shows.
partly because the force consisted
largely OF untried troops under gener-
ais inexperienced in the new warfare.
and partly through the failure of the
water supply. The sufferings of the
troops for lack OF water makes pain
full reading
Probably no more important contri-
button to the history of the present
war has yet been made. The report
throws light on the great landing at
Anzac Cove and Suvla Bay August Z,
which has been the subject of strong
attacks upon the military administra-
ton of the government, the whole
operations requiring the combined ac-
ton of the army and the navy.
The handling of the masses of
troops within limited area probably
was the most complicated ever under
taken and the military men are sur
prised that some important details
failed to work out as planned.
General Hamilton bestows the high
est possible praise upon the bravery
of the men. He believes that after the
middle of August the Turks outnum-
bered the British and had plenty of
fresh soldiers and munitions, while the
British govrnment was unable to fur
nish him with the achievements he
wanted.
The general strongly opposed the
abandonment of any of the bases held
by the British troops.
General Hamilton's report, which
was submitted to Field Marshal Kitten
ener, secretary of state for war, car
ries the story of the Dardanelles OPP
erations up to mid-October, when he
relinquished his command. Concern.
ing his retirement, General Hamilton
reports:
"On the 18th of October your lord.
ship cabled asking me for an estimate
of the losses which would be involved
in the evacuation of the peninsula.
replied in terms showing that such a
step to me was unthinkatle. On the 16
of October / received a cable recalling
me to London for the reason as was
informed by your lordship on my ar
rival. that his majesty's government
desired fresh, unbiased opinion from
a responsible commander upon the
question of early evacuation"
4 DEScRIsEs ILL-FATED LANDING
The most stirring passages of the
4 document describe the Inflated land
ing at Suvla bay and Anzac early, In
& the month of August, for securing
command of the heights on the middle
4 of the peninsula and cutting off from
a their base the Turkish forces at the
allied armies made their first landing
4 This operation began on August 8
q The climax was reached at day breal
on the 10th when the Turks mad,
a grand attack from the summit o
Chunnuk Bair hill upon a short froi
9 held by two batalions of the Sixtl
q North Lancashire and the Fifth Wilt
shire regiments, which General Ham
ilton describes as weakened In mum
bers though not in spirit.
81 First, our men were shelled b.
. every enemy gum" he says, "thei
assaulted by huge column consisting
of no less than full division plu
s three battalions. The North Lancas
s hire men We're simply overwhelmed Il
their shallow trenches by sheer weigh
Of numbrs, while the Wiltshires. VIII
3 were caught out in the open. were Iii
e orally almost annihilated."