"August 9. 5.35. Suvla Bay.
"Dear Braithwaite,
"I have had a talk with Hammersley and he tells me that his troops are much exhausted, have had very heavy fighting, severe losses and have felt the want of water very much. He does not consider that they are fit to make a fresh attack to-morrow.
"I have decided after consultation with him to make an attempt on the ridge about Abrikja with three fresh Territorial Battalions and six which have been used to-day. I am afraid from what I hear that the Naval guns do not have much effect on account of difficulty of accurate observation but I will arrange a programme, to be carefully timed, with Brigadier-General Smith, my Brigadier R.A., and of course all the field guns will also help. I must see Smith so please ask the V. Admiral to place a boat at Smith's disposal to bring him here to see me and then to see Generals Hammersley and Lindley. General Lindley will be in immediate command of the operations as all troops engaged in the attack will be Territorials.
"I trust the attack will succeed though to-day's did not, but in view of the urgency of the matter I feel the attempt ought to be made.
"It is absolutely necessary that I should see Smith.
"Yours sincerely,
(Sd.) "Fred W. Stopford."
At mid-day, got a cable from the 9th Corps saying that Lindley's Division had duly gone at Hill 70, a key feature on the ridge, about 1,500 yards North-east of Yilghin Burnu—and had failed!
In giving me this news, Stopford proposes to make a second attack this afternoon with the same Division. Have caused Braithwaite to cable: