DESPATCH FROM GENERAL HAMILTON.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6493, 21 September 1915, Page 3

DESPATCH FROM GENERAL HAMILTON.

Our Troops Severely Tried.

Rec Sept 21, 12.20 a.m

London, Sept 20. General lan Hamilton's despatch, in continuance of that cabled on July, says:— I determined on May 5 to continue our advance. The many urgent calls for reinforcements made during the previous critical fighting forced me to disorganise and mix together several formations in the southern group to the extent even cf the French on our right, thus saving the British battalion who were landing on their most extreme right. It became necessary to form temporarily. This formation compqsed a Brigade consisting of the Second Australians and New Zealnnders, and Brigades withdrawn • fur the purpose from the northern section and the naval brigade. -

During three days, from May 6th to Bth, our troop 3 were destined to be severely tried. We were about to attack a series of positions selected in advance, which although not joined yet into one line of the entrenchments, were already strengthened by works on more important tactical features. Strong attacks by the Anglo-French on the 6th and 7th had gained from two hundred to three hundred yards. Reinforcements for Turks. We occupied or passed over the first line of 'iurkish trenches, but the new line needed consolidating. It was certain that fresh reinforcements were reaching the Turks and I decided to call for men once more and push before the new enemy forces could get in touch with the surroundings. My plan for the fresh attack was for the New Zealand Brigade to advance through the line we held during the night of the 7th and press on towards Krithia. Simultaneously the 87th Brigade was to threaten to work west of the ravine and steal patches of ground from areas dominated by German machina guns. Whole Front on the Move. On the Bth, after heavy fire from tha ships' batteries, the whole front of the New Zealand Brigade began to move at 10.30 in the morning, meeting with strenuous opposition from the reinforced enemy. The New Zealandera pushed forward on the right and advanced to the centre, gaining about two hundred yard?, but could make little further progress. At 5.36 in the afternoon I ordered the line to be reinforced by the Australian Brigade and advance after a heavy artillery bombardment. Some companies of New Zealanders did not receive the orders in time, but acting on their own initiative pushed on, making the whole advance simultaneous. The British, who were ready to advance, could be followed by the sparkle of their bayonets till the long lines were entirely in smoke clouds.