SIR IAN HAMILTON'S REPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16121, 8 January 1916, Page 6

SIR IAN HAMILTON'S REPORT.

The publication of Sir lan Hamilton's final report on the Gallipoli operations closes the great story of Anzac. So much of the report as pictures the heroism and determination of the New Zealand troops is pleasant and inspiring reading; so much of it as deals with the military operations is a graphically worded record of the disappointments of this historic campaign. Sir lan Hamilton attributes the final failure of the brilliant attack in August to want of "nous" on the part- of commanders and men at Suvla. This quality the troops at Anzac never lacked. General Hamilton credits them with a full measure of it, as well as an ample share of the hardihood that endures fatigue, the patience that waits for success, and the valour that carries mountains. But when all is said that can be said of the failure at Suvla, it must be admitted that the mistakes of Gallipoli seem to go further back than this. From first to last there is the suggestion that the force was insufficient for the task ahead of it- Finally a request j for reinforcements brought the j answer, " impossible." These re- ■ ferences make it difficult to avoid the conclusion that the campaign was ' undertaken without due provision | being made to meet the calls it would entail on the Allied armies. The reasons for the attack on Gallipoli . are clear enough, the advantages ! that would have followed from the , forcing of the Dardanelles are mani- I fest, but there remains the feeling that the cost of the campaign was i either grossly under-estimated or that the Allies rashly entered upon | it trusting to an insecure promise ! of help. The failure of Greece upon the intervention of King Constantine, and the unexpected weakness of Russia on the Black Sea, may partly or wholly explain this. Final judgment can only be passed when all the facts are known. Meantime even the knowledge that the purpose of the expedition was not attained, does not cloud the ungrudging testimony of General Hamilton that the New Zealanders through all the weary months on the peninsula were reliable and heroic soldiers, that there were moments when they became supermen, and that no share of the blame for failure can be laid at their door.