[231] See Australia in Arms, pp. 284, 285. The fate of those suffocated by fumes perhaps caused the rumour that the Turks used poison gas. I never heard an authentic case of this, though at one time we were all ordered to carry gas-masks.

[232] That little animosity existed on the Turkish side either is shown by the following note which I made early in December, though I cannot date the incident precisely: “The community of human nature between men who are out to kill each other was lately shown here by an interval of friendliness, as often in France. It began with the wagging of a Turkish periscope over the sandbags. One of the Australians (it was at Anzac) wagged his periscope in answer. Then Turkish hands were held up, moving the fingers together in the Turkish sign of amity. Presently heads appeared on both sides, the few words that could be understood were said, cigarettes and fruit were thrown from one side to the other, and a note, written in bad French, was thrown to the Australians, saying, ‘We don’t want to fight you. We want to go home. But we are driven on by the people you know about.’ I presume that meant the Germans. Then signs were made that an officer was approaching. The heads disappeared, and bombs were thrown from trench to trench in place of fruit.”

[233] The figures for Suvla, as given me by the Staff at the time, were 44,000 men; 90 guns of all calibre, including one anti-aircraft gun; 3000 mules; 400 horses; 30 donkeys; 1800 carts; 4000 to 5000 cartloads of stores.

[234] The account of the Suvla evacuation is founded on notes I made at the time and on an article of mine which passed the Military Censor two days after the event, but was not published in full till I received General Birdwood’s permission in the following spring. It is perhaps worth while here contradicting the report that the Turks were bribed to allow the army to withdraw without opposition. That malignant depreciation of a most skilful enterprise was a libel both on the enemy and on our own officers and men. There was not a vestige of truth in it.

[235] The following rough estimate of the Turkish forces was made by the General Staff about a week before the evacuation:

Place.Regiment. Number.
Suvla Lines—
Kiretch Tepe 126th 2100
At foot of Kiretch Tepe 127th 3000
Farther in plain 33rd 3000
Anafarta plain 79thUncertain
Farther south 35thUncertain
Still farther south 34th 1800
Near Scimitar Hill 66thUncertain
Foot of W Hill 25th 2400
Opposite Hetman Chair 66thUncertain
Anzac Lines—
Opposite Kabak Kuyu 17th 1600
Opposite Hill 60 16th 1200
Upper Asma Dere 20th 1800
Abdel Rahman Bair 19th 2300
Koja Chemen Tepe 24th 2000
The Farm 22nd 1800
Battleship Hill 48th 2000
Opposite Russell’s Top 72nd 2000
In reserve there 48thUncertain
Opposite Quinn’s 27th 2000
German Officers’ and Johnston’s Jolly 57th 2000
Lone Pine 125th 1600
South of Lone Pine 47th 1800
Leane’s Trench 36th 1000
Extreme south to Gaba Tepe 77th 2700

Three regiments were in reserve at Suvla, and three at Anzac. The Army Headquarters were just south of Koja Dere; Corps Headquarters in the north behind Anafarta Sagir; in the south at Koja Dere. There were large camps at Ejelmer Bay and Turchen Keui (a few miles inland from the bay) in the north, and at Koja Dere in the south.

At Helles the numbers were then uncertain or not available, but the following regiments were posted opposite our lines from our left to right:

Place.Regiment.
West of Gully Ravine 70th
East of Gully Ravine 71st
West of Krithia Nullah 124th
East of Krithia Nullah 38th
On Achi Baba Nullah 45th
Between that and Kerevez Dere 56th
In Kerevez Dere 55th
Opposite Fort Gouez 42nd
Overlooking the Strait 41st

Taking an average of 2000 per regiment, this gives a total of 18,000, apart from reserves; but it is a low estimate. The Headquarters were at Ali Bey Farm.