THE SUVLA FAILURE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 11 January 1916, Page 5

THE SUVLA FAILURE

.SIR lAN HAMILTON DEFENDED. LONDON/Jan, 10. Lord Sydenham, in a letter, disagrees from '\'Tixe Times' ''■ view that Sir lan Hamilton, being on the spot at Suvla on August Bth, meekly effaced nimself. at the most critical moment: Lord Sydenham points* out that Sir lan Hamilton's function* Avas to give the corps commanders general directions for thei attack. When he- visited General Stopford Sir lan Hamilton, appears to hive don© everything possible to secure the general advance which was plainly and immediately required. The l attempt failed because the two divisions were spread out on a .front of two milos with a .depth of a mile and a half, and. were not sufficiently in hand to undertake a might attack. Visions of Napoleon galloping about and toy a, few inspiring words galvanising the host into activity suggest themselves, but that was physically" impossible in the conditions of August Bth. The enterprise was lost before Sir lan Hamilton landed. Lord Sydenham does # not think Sir lan Hamilton can justly be blamed for this occasion, though his despatch as a whole must inevitably provoke criticism [of the conduct of an expedition always I associated, with a gallantry never sur'ipassed. J AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES. SYDNEY, Jan. 10. I Casualty list No. 131 contains the • names of the following New Zealanders: III: Sergeant S. A. Darby and Driver J.' T. Primmer (in hospital at Ghezireh); Privates A. Cameron and W. Kennedy (in hospital at Abbassia); J. William (Gibraltar), A. J. Higgs (Heliopolis). , Returned to duty: Corporal A. R I Trail, Lance-Corporal R. D. Chalmers. > Private C. Chamberlain. BIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. COMPLETE EVACUATION OF ' , GALLIPOLI. /,• , . London, Jan. 10, 2.55 a.rn General Monro reports that the com plete evacuation' of Gallipoli Peninsula has, .nqw been successfully carried out l All the guns and howitzers were .got i away excepting 17 worn-out guns, which, .were, blown -up ' by us 'before leaving. i-Our only casualtv'wae one British private wounded. There were no casualties amongst the French troops. General f'Monro attributes the successful accomplishment of this most difficult task to ■ Generals Birdwood and. Davies and the [invaluable assistance rendered in-opera-I tioris of the highest difficulty by AdI mH&rde'Robeek-and the Navy.