Gallipoli Diary, Volume II | Page 4

our new holding, and ammunition is
running very short. If our ammunition does not run out altogether and
we can hold what we have, our total gain will be 500 yards depth.
Since June 4th, when we had to whang off the whole of our priceless
600 rounds of H.E., we have had none for 18-prs. on the Peninsula--not

one solitary demnition round; nor do we seem in the least likely to get
one solitary demnition round. Hunter-Weston and his C.R.A. explain
forcibly, not to say explosively, that on the 28th June the right attack
would have scored a success equally brilliant to that achieved by the
29th Division on our left, had we been able to allot as many shell to the
Turkish trenches assaulted by the 156th Brigade--Lowland Division--as
we did to the sector by the sea. But we could not, because, once we had
given a fair quota to the left, there was not enough stuff in our lockers
for the right. Such is war! No use splitting the difference and trying to
win everywhere like high brows halting between Flanders and Gallipoli.
But I am sick at heart, I must say, to think my brother Scots should
have had to catch hold of the hot end of the poker. Also to think that,
with another couple of hundred rounds, we should have got and held H.
12. H. 12 which dominates--so prisoners say--the wells whence the
enemy draws water for the whole of his right wing.
To-day the old trouble is a-foot once again. Hunter-Weston tells us the
Turkish counter-attacks are being pressed with utmost fury and are
beginning to look ugly, as we can give our infantry no support from our
guns although the enemy offer excellent artillery targets. When K. is
extra accommodating it is doubly hard to be importunate, but it's got to
be done:--
* * * * *
General Sir Ian Hamilton to Earl Kitchener.
"With reference to my telegrams No. M.F. 328 of 13th June and No.
M.F. 381 of 28th June. Each successive fight shows more clearly than
the last how much may hang on an ample supply of ammunition, more
especially high explosive howitzer ammunition. In my telegram No.
M.F. 381 I said that I hoped we might be able to achieve success with
the ammunition already promised, and I adhere to that opinion; but
every additional 100 rounds means some reduction of risks and greater
assurance of success. I raise this question again because I gather from
what I hear that matters in the other theatre of operations may possibly
be at a standstill without much prospect of any vital alteration before
the autumn fairly sets in. If this should be the case it is for you to

consider whether a larger and more regular supply of ammunition
should be sent to me in order to give this force the utmost chance of
gaining an early success. Judging from the increased effect of the
bombardments before the last two attacks on facilitating the Infantry
advance I am led to hope that this success would not be long delayed
under the cumulative effect of unremitting bombardment. If, therefore,
any change in the general situation should make it possible to allow me
temporary preferential claim to all the ammunition I should like, I
would ask for the following amounts to be here by 1st August, in
addition to those accompanying the troops and already promised,
namely, 4.5-inch howitzer, 3,000 rounds; 5-inch howitzer, 7,000 rounds;
6-inch howitzer, 5,000, and 9.3-inch howitzer, 500 rounds, all high
explosive. I should also ask for a monthly supply on the following scale,
first consignment to arrive before 15th August:--
"18-pr. 300,000 "4.5-inch howitzer 30,000 "5-inch howitzer 30,000
"6-inch howitzer 24,000 "60-pr. 15,000 "9.2-inch howitzer 6,000
"The howitzer ammunition to be all high explosive, the 60-pr. to be
one-third shrapnel and two-thirds high explosive, and the 18-pr. to be
half of each.
"The above monthly scale includes ammunition for the following
additional ordnance which I should like to get, namely, two batteries of
4.5-inch howitzers for each of the Xth and XIth Divisions (since 5-inch
howitzers are found to be too inaccurate to bombard the enemy
trenches even in close proximity to our own), one battery of 6-inch
howitzers and four 9.2-inch howitzers.
"On the assumption already made it might be possible for you to
arrange to forward to Ordnance Stores, Marseilles, the ammunition
asked for to be here by 1st August. Time would thus be gained to
accumulate the supply required, and I could arrange with the
Vice-Admiral to send a fast steamer of 1,000 tons hold capacity to
bring the consignment of high explosives from Marseilles. To get the
steamer coaled, to arrive at Marseilles, coal again and be ready to
receive the ammunition, would