CAMPAIGN AT GALLIPOLI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20228, 12 April 1929, Page 11

CAMPAIGN AT GALLIPOLI.

THE OFFICIAL HISTORY.

PREFACE TO FIRST VOLUME.

HEROISM OF THE ANZACS.

FEAT OF A SUBMARINE.

(Received April 11, S.CS p.m.) United Service. LONDON, April 10. Tho first volume of the Official History of tho Gallipoli Campaign, with an admirablo preface written by BrigadierGeneral C. l'\ Aspinall Oglander, gives full credit to tho Anzacs for their superb co-operation with tho British troops. The composition of tho Australian and Now Zealand units and their. Slates of origin are fully detailed. Tho prefaco stales that tho lark of success in the campaign was due greatly to tho neglect of the age-old principles of war. All tho belligerents displayed heroism and self-sacrifico and reached the topmost pinnacle of human endeavour.

It, is contended that a wiser policy in 1915 would have been to have regarded tho importance of tho Western front as latent and lo have cancelled tho spring offensive in Franco in favour of a temporary defensive while a strong, sudden blow was struck at tho Near Last, in order to destroy Turkey, succour Russia and rally tho Balkans to tho Entente. When tho crucial decision had lo be made tho British Government lacked an authoritative General Staff at tho ar Oflice to supply a broad, general view of tho military situation. For that reason, with barely enough munitions for one theatre, offensives were simultaneously undertaken in two theatres of war and neither attained success. It is doubtful, says tho preface, whether ■any army ever operated under more demoralising conditions than those which faced lan Hamilton s forces at tho Dardanelles.

The problem of 1915 was not incapable, of solution. Three times the issue hung in the balance. A combined naval and military attack, carefully planned before tho embarkation and carried out under surprise conditions, could scarcely have failed.

The Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Gallipoli, with a smaller casualty list than was incurred on the first day of tho Battle, of the Somino in 1916, destroyed the flower of the lurkish army, safeguarded tho Suez Canal and laid the foundation of Turkey's final defeat. It. is stated that the first estimate of the Turkish forces opposing the 15,000 Anzacs on April 25 was 20,000 men. Later statistics placed that number at 13,000.

Something not previously disclosed is (he service rendered in tho nick of time by the Australian submarine AE2 during tho landing of the main Anzac body. A Turkish battleship intermittently shelled the anchorage and compelled the. transports to change positions, but to the amazement of the watchers it ceased its fire when it was causing most annoyance.

Later it was ascertained that tins was directly due to the AE2's passage up the Narrows. The Turkish battleship sighted her periscope near Chanak and incontinently ran for safety. Thus the submarine directly assisted in tho Anzac landing.