Gallipoli Diary, Volume II | Page 5

take seven days.

"Please understand that this suggestion is only prompted for the
following reasons: (1) My growing belief that ample artillery might,
within a limited period, lead to quite a considerable success in this
theatre, and (2) because the reports which reach me seem to indicate
that an offensive is not likely to be undertaken elsewhere at present
(and I have mainly asked for offensive ammunition).
"The monthly supply above detailed I should not expect would be
required for more than two months."
If our Government really--whole-heartedly--will that there should be a
complete success in the East, they must, equally, with whole hearts and
braced-up will, resist (for a while) the idea of any offensive in the West.
In saying this I speak of the A.B.C. of war. The main theatre is where
the amphibious power wishes to make it so. This cable of mine sent to
a man like Lord K. is a very strong order. But now is the time to speak
up and let him realize that he must let the fields of France lie fallow for
the summer if he wishes to plough the Black Sea waves in autumn.
14th July, 1915. Imbros. Wrote letters in the morning, and in the
evening went for a ride to the Salt Lake and there inspected the new
aeroplane camp on the far side of the water.
Last night more counter-attacks, all driven off. The French right is now
actually on the mouth of the Kereves Dere where it runs into the sea.
We have made about 500 prisoners and have captured a machine gun.
Hunter-Weston had to transfer the command of the 52nd Division,
temporarily, to Shaw, the new Commander of the 13th Division.
Baikie is crying out to us for shells as if we were bottling them up!
There are none.
15th July, 1915. Imbros. The answer has come in from the War
Office:--the answer, I mean, to mine of the day before yesterday in
which it is suggested that if our rich brethren were off their feed for the
moment, some crumbs of high explosive might be spared:--
* * * * *

"We have great difficulty in sending you the amounts of ammunition
mentioned in our No. 5770, cipher, and even now the proportion of
18-pr. high explosive will be less than stated therein. In response,
however, to your No. M.F. 444, we are adding 1,000 rounds 4.5-inch,
500--5-inch, 500--6-inch and 75--9.2-inch. It will be quite impossible
to continue to send you ammunition at this rate, as we have reduced the
supply to France in order to send what we have to you, and the amounts
asked for in the second part of your telegram could not be spared
without stopping all operations in France. This, of course, is out of the
question."
"This, of course, is out of the question." "Stopping all operations in
France" is the very kernel of the question. If half the things we hear
about the Bosche forces and our own are half true, we have no prospect
of dealing any decisive blow in the West till next spring. And an
indecisive blow is worse than no blow. But we can hold on there till
all's blue. Now H.E. is offensive and shrapnel is defensive. I ought to
attack at once; French mustn't. Therefore, we should be given, now,
dollops of H.E.
This talk does not come through my hat. Some of the best brains on the
Western field are in touch with those of some of my following here.
The winning post stares us in the face; my old Chief gallops off the
course; how can I resist calling out? And then I get this "of course"
cable (not written by K. I feel sure) which shows, if it shows anything,
that "of course" we ought never to have come here at all! Simple, is it
not? In war all is simple--that's why it's so complex. Never mind; my
cable has not been wasted. We reckon the 1,100 extra rounds it has
produced may save us 100 British casualties.
Rode over to "K" Beach and inspected the 25th Casualty Clearing
Station, Commandant Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie. Walked through
the different hospital wards talking to some twenty officers and two
hundred men; mostly medical cases. Did not think things at all up to the
mark. Made special note of the lack of mosquito nets, beds, pyjamas
and other comforts. For weeks past Jean has been toiling to get
mosquito nets bought and made up, which was simple, and to get them

out to us, which seems impossible. Too bad when so much money is
being spent to see men lying on the ground in their thick cord breeches
in this sweltering heat, a prey to flies and mosquitoes.
Discussing the landing of the New