The total number of the force was under 70,000; of these certainly not more than 60,000 could be used for action, even including the necessary reserves.
SIR IAN’S ADDRESS
Landing was intended on April 23, but on the 20th a heavy wind arose, and blew for forty-eight hours, rendering the movement of small boats difficult even in Mudros harbour. On the 21st the Commander-in-Chief issued the following address to his forces:
“Soldiers of France and of the King:
“Before us lies an adventure unprecedented in modern war. Together with our comrades of the Fleet, we are about to force a landing upon an open beach in face of positions which have been vaunted by our enemies as impregnable.
“The landing will be made good, by the help of God and the Navy; the positions will be stormed, and the War brought one step nearer to a glorious close.
“‘Remember,’ said Lord Kitchener, when bidding adieu to your Commander, ‘Remember, once you set foot upon the Gallipoli Peninsula, you must fight the thing through to a finish.’
“The whole world will be watching your progress. Let us prove ourselves worthy of the great feat of arms entrusted to us.
“Ian Hamilton,
General.”
A few further points remain to be mentioned. On April 17, one of our submarines, E15, ran aground off Kephez Point, and by a very gallant action was destroyed by the two picket-boats of the Triumph and Majestic (ships afterwards sent to the bottom by submarines). Lieut.-Commander Eric Robinson was in command, and, though coming under heavy fire, he succeeded in torpedoing the submarine and rendering it useless to the enemy.