World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula; World War, 1914-1918 -- New Zealand
In order to mystify the enemy and to encourage him to disperse his
forces, two subsidiary attacks were undertaken. Away up at Bulair
a fleet of empty transports, accompanied by a few men-of-war, were
to make a demonstration. Down on the Asiatic coast the French were
to land, reduce Kum Kale and the forts in the neighbourhood, and
then withdraw. The 29th and Royal Naval Divisions were to land on
several beaches at the extremity of the Peninsula and push on towards
Krithia and Achi Baba, being reinforced by the French Division after
its withdrawal from Kum Kale. The Australian and New Zealand Army
Corps was ordered to force a landing on the beach between Gaba Tepe
and Fishermen's Hut. Hill 971 itself was to be avoided, the troops
endeavouring to pass over its southern under-features to the road
running from Boghali and Maidos. Mai Tepe was a hill specifically
mentioned. "The capture of this position would threaten and perhaps cut
the line of retreat of the enemy's troops on Kilid Bahr plateau, and
have far-reaching results," said the operation order.
[Illustration: MAP OF GALLIPOLI PENINSULA.
Illustrating the projected landings at Cape Helles, Gaba Tepe, and Kum
Kale.]
Passing Cape Helles.
When morning fully broke the New Zealand transports were nearing Cape
Helles. The big guns of the fleet were pounding the forts until the
horizon seemed a mass of smoke and flame. Over against Kum Kale the
French ships were hotly engaged; off Cape Helles the British stood
close into the forts. Again we saw our old friend the "Askold"--now
christened the "Packet of Woodbines," because of her five long funnels.
The noise of the naval bombardment was truly extraordinary--the sharp
crack of the lighter guns; the ear-splitting roar of the 12-inchers;
and booming clearly above them all, the tremendous reports from the
15-inch guns of the "Queen Elizabeth." Watching from the rail, the
soldiers were very sorry for the Turk. It seemed impossible that
anything could live through such a bombardment. At the morning service,
with the reverberation of the incessant gunfire assailing our ears, we
found it difficult to hear the padre reading "In the midst of life we
are in death." From across the water the bark of the 6-inch guns struck
harshly on the singing of the soldiers' favourite hymns.
[Illustration:
[_Photo by Col. Hughes, C.M.G., D.S.O._
A BATTLESHIP COVERING THE TRANSPORTS.
The old "London" steaming towards Anzac Cove.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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