Here they dug themselves in; a lull of exhaustion fell over the contending armies, and the British profited by the interval to consolidate their greatly extended lines and secure their communications.
The original purpose of the Suvla Bay landing had been to strike right across the Peninsula at that point, cut the Turks off from their supplies, so that they would be compelled to abandon or weaken the defences of Achi Baba and thus make it possible for the British and French at Helles to drive a path over that impregnable mountain and sweep up the length of Gallipoli and crush the enemy between our northern and southern forces. The scheme is said to have failed through the blundering of one officer at Suvla, who should have rushed his corps promptly and straightway through and seized certain dominating heights before the Turks were aware of the surprise attack and could rally to make any effective resistance.
We are still very much in the dark about the details of this enterprise. All we know is that whatever blundering there may have been in the higher command, the men of all ranks and all regiments met every demand that was made upon them with the most unflinching steadiness and acquitted themselves with a valour and efficiency that no troops in the world could excel. "The Anzac Corps fought like lions," says Mr. Ashmead Bartlett, "and accomplished a feat of arms, in climbing those heights, almost without a parallel.... It was a combat of giants in a giant country, and if one point stands out more than another it is the marvellous hardihood, tenacity, and reckless courage shown by the Australians and New Zealanders."
This magnificent tribute is amply confirmed by the special order that was issued by Sir Ian Hamilton whilst the great battle was still unfinished:
"The Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, desires formally to record the fine feat of arms achieved by the troops under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir W. R. Birdwood during the battle of Sari Bair. The fervent desire of all ranks to close with the enemy, the impetuosity of their onset, and the steadfast valour with which they maintained the long struggle, these will surely make appeal to their fellow-countrymen all over the world. The gallant capture of the almost impregnable Lone Pine trenches by the Australian Division, and the equally gallant defence of the position against repeated counter-attacks, are exploits which will live in history. The determined assaults carried out from other parts of the Australian Division's line were also of inestimable service to the whole force, preventing as they did the movement of large bodies of reinforcements to the northern flank.
"The troops under the command of Major-General Sir A. J. Godley, and particularly the New Zealand and Australian Division, were called upon to carry out one of the most difficult military operations that have ever been attempted–a night march and assault by several columns in intricate mountainous country, strongly entrenched, and held by a numerous and determined enemy. Their brilliant conduct during this operation and the success they achieved have won for them a reputation as soldiers of whom any country must be proud. To the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, therefore, and to those who were associated with that famous corps in the battle of Sari Bair–the Maoris, Sikhs, Gurkhas, and the new troops of the Divisions from the Old Country–Sir Ian Hamilton tenders his appreciation of their efforts, his admiration of their gallantry, and his thanks for their achievements. It is an honour to command a force which numbers such men as these in its ranks, and it is the Commander-in-Chief's high privilege to acknowledge that honour."
There was memorable fighting again above Helles on the 21st August, when a Yeomanry corps, in action for the first time, delivered a determined assault on the hill known as Hill 70, charging right up to the summit without a halt, and chasing the Turks down the other side. But the enemy clung on to one strongly fortified knoll, and in the night enfiladed the victors with such a deadly fire from artillery and machine guns that they were forced to abandon their hard-won position, and by daylight had withdrawn to their own lines.
Since then, there, as on the seven-mile front from Anzac to Suvla Bay, the war has resolved itself again into steady trench fighting and a state of siege. Since then, too, there has been a change in the command, and General Sir C. C. Monro has succeeded Sir Ian Hamilton, who has returned home, honoured with the goodwill and admiration of troops whose confidence in him is unshakable; and in these latter days of October the next step in the Dardanelles expedition is still a matter of rumour and conjecture.
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