Gallipoli Diary, Volume II | Page 3

depend upon the executive Commander; and here,
of course, I am referring to an enterprise, not to a huge, mechanically
organized dead-lock like the western front.
Stopford was away in G.H.Q. Staff tents all afternoon; afterwards both
he and Adderley, his A.D.C., dined. Stopford likes Reed who is, indeed,
a very pleasant fellow to work with. Still, I stick to what I wrote Wolfe
Murray:--the combination of Stopford and Reed is not good; not for
this sort of job.
12th July, 1915. Imbros. Had meant to start for Helles an hour before
daylight to witness the opening of the attack by the French Corps and
the Lowland Division. But am too bad with the universal complaint to
venture many yards from camp.
Stopford and Staff breakfasted. He has fallen in love with our ideas.
After lunch he and his party left for Mudros. Am forcing myself to
write so as to ease the strain of waiting: the battle is going on:
backwards and forwards--backwards and forwards--I travel between
my tent; the signal station, and the G.S. map tent.

A delightful message from K., thanking me for my letters: patting me
on the back; telling me that Altham is coming out to run the
communications, and Ellison to serve on my Staff.
Thank heavens we are at last to have a business man at the head of our
business! As to Ellison, K.'s conscience has for long been smiting him
for not having let me take my own C.G.S. with me in the first instance.
But Braithwaite has won his spurs now in many a hair-raising crisis, so
K. may let his mind rest at ease.
[Illustration: MAJ.-GEN. SIR G. F. ELLISON, K.C.M.G. F.A. Swaine
phot.]
Freddie Maitland and I dined with the Vice-Admiral who kept a
signaller on special watch for my messages from the shore--but nothing
came in. He, the Admiral, wants to take all the 600 stokers serving in
the Royal Naval Division back to the ships. This will be the last straw
to the Division. We had the treat of being taken off the Triad in the
Admiral's racing motor boat and when we got ashore found good news
which I have just cabled home:--
* * * * *
"In the southern section we attacked at daylight to-day with our right
and right centre. After heavy fighting lasting all day the troops engaged,
namely, the French Corps and the LIInd Lowland Division, have
succeeded in carrying the two strongly held and fortified lines of
Turkish trenches opposite to them. The ground covered by the advance
varies in depth from 200 to 400 yards, and if we can maintain our gains
against to-night's counter-attacks the effect of the action will be not
only to advance but greatly to strengthen our line. Full details
to-morrow."
13th July, 1915. Imbros. Still feeling very slack. Nothing clear from
Helles. My cable best explains:--
* * * * *

"Troops have been continuously engaged since my last cable, but
situation is still too confused to admit of definition, especially as
telephone wires all cut by shell or rifle fire.
"So far as can be gathered the sum total of the engagements taking
place in a labyrinth of trenches is satisfactory up to the hour of cabling
and we have taken some 200 prisoners. I hope I shall be able to send
definite news to-morrow morning."
Oh, energy, to what distant clime have you flown? I used to be
energetic; not perhaps according to Evelyn Wood's standards--but
still--energetic! Yet, see me to-day, when a poor cousin to the
cholera--this cursed enteritis--lays me by the heels; fills me with
desperate longing to lie down and do nothing but rest. More than half
my Staff and troops are in the same state of indescribable slackness and
this, I think, must be the reason the Greeks were ten long years taking
Troy.
Some newspaper correspondents have arrived. I have told them they
may do whatever they d--d well please. Ashmead-Bartlett is vexed at
his monopoly being spoiled. Charlie Burn, who came with the King's
bag, lunched. The Vice-Admiral, Roger Keyes, and Flag-Lieutenant
Bowlby dined; very good of them to leave their own perfectly
appointed table for our rough and ready fare. The A.D.C.s between
them managed to get some partridges, opulent birds which lent quite a
Ritzian tone to our banquet.
As was expected, the Turks counter-attacked heavily last night but were
unable to drive us out except in one small section on our right. To-day,
fighting is still going on and the Naval Division are in it now. We have
made a good gain and taken over 400 prisoners and a machine gun. We
are still on the rack, though, as there are a lot of Turks not yet cleared
out from holes and corners of