THE DARDANELLES

Southland Times, Issue 20663, 19 April 1929, Page 7

THE DARDANELLES

Y BEACH LANDING CHAPTER FROM OFFICIAL HISTORY LOST OPPORTUNITY 7, (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, April 18. The Daily Telegraph publishes a chapter from the Official History of the Gallipoli Campaign, describing the landing of English troops at Y Beach tinder Colonel Matthews, and the subsequent withdrawal. It tells how Sir lan Hamilton’s signal to General Hunter-Weston, asking whether he wanted more men at Y Beach remained unanswered. Repetition brought a reply to the effect that Admiral Wemyss advised that any alteration to the arrangements would delay a landing, and nothing was done; therefore a golden opportunity was missed. Had Sir lan Hamilton seen fit to issue definite orders the whole story of Gallipoli might have been different. It. proceeds to describe how a series of Turkish attacks developed with new reinforcements “to drive the English into the sea” even before the Y Beach detachment had begun to dig. Subsequent losses on both sides were of the heaviest. Despite attacks the British restored their position, but panic infected a large proportion of the Y Beach forces.

The chapter proceeds: "So many versions as to the origin of the unfortunate withdrawals are given credence that it is important to remember that Colonel Matthews accepted full responsibility at the Dardanelles Commission, arguing that the absence of reinforcements left him without option. Throughout the 29 hours of British tenure of the beach no word reached him from Divisional Headquarters. Urgent appeals for reinforcements were not replied to, and no officer of the divisional staff had been sent to gain a personal knowledge of the position. To all intents and purposes Colonel Matthews had been forgotten. Cleverly conceived, happily opened, and miserably ended, is the story of Y’ Beach.”— Australian Press Association.