"Owing to the difficulty of carrying on a winter campaign, and the lateness of the season, these troops should be sent immediately. My British Divisions are at present 45,000 under establishment, exclusive of about 9,000 promised or on the way. If this deficit were made up, and new formations totalling 50,000 rifles sent out as well, these, with the 60,000 rifles which I estimate I shall have at the time of their arrival, should give me the necessary superiority, unless the absence of other enemies allows the Turks to bring up large additional reinforcements.
"I hope you will realize how nearly this operation was a success complete beyond anticipation. The surprise was complete, and the army was thrown ashore in record time, practically without loss, and a little more push on the part of the IXth Corps would have relieved the pressure on Anzac, facilitated the retention of Chunuk Bair, secured Suvla Bay as a port, and threatened the enemy's right in a way that should have enabled Anzac to turn a success into a great victory.
"We are up against the Turkish Army which is well commanded and fighting bravely."
After all's said and done the troops at Helles and Anzac are still perfectly game and we have got nearer our goal. We started forth to:—
(1) Seize Suvla Bay;
(2) Break out of Anzac and join on to Suvla;
(3) Seize Sari Bair crestline;
(4) Hold enough of the hinterland of Suvla Bay to make it a comfortable harbour.