[169] Phillip Schuler definitely says: “Mistaking the target, the destroyers dropped 6-inch high-explosive shells amongst the Indian troops” (_Australia in Arms_, p. 261). But, accurate though he generally was, I believe he is here mistaken. I never heard the destroyers mentioned at the time, and I doubt if their guns could have shelled a _reverse_ slope. Further on (p. 263) he says that during the Turkish counter-attack next day the _Anzac_ guns shelled “the reverse slope.” If that was possible, another explanation besides the one I suggest above may be considered. [170] Apparently, it was mainly to this incident that Dr. Stürmer referred in the following passage: “In those September” (he means August) “days I had already had some experience of Turkish politics and their defiance of the laws of humanity, and my sympathies were all for those thousands of fine Colonial troops--such men as one seldom sees--sacrificing their lives in one last colossal attack, which if it had been prolonged even for another hour might have sealed the fate of the Straits and would have meant the first decisive step towards the overthrow of our forces; for the capture of Constantinople would have been the beginning of the end.”--_Two War Years in Constantinople_, p. 86. [171] Sir Ian’s dispatch. [172] _The Story of the Anzacs_ (Messrs. Ingram & Son, Melbourne), p. 87. [173] Sir Ian’s dispatch. [174] For a detailed account of the four battalions in the 29th Brigade during this action see _The Tenth (Irish) Division in Gallipoli_, pp. 62–120. Two companies of the 5th Connaught Rangers (Colonel Jourdain) went up to the Farm on the evening of the 10th after the other troops had been withdrawn, and brought in many wounded whom they found lying there in great need of water and attention. [175] Phillip Schuler put them at 18,000 (_Australia in Arms_, p. 270). [176] _Australia in Arms_, p. 271. [177] Sir Ian’s dispatch twice mentions these batteries as the sole land artillery. All three belonged to the 11th Division. Other batteries of field-guns and howitzers arrived later, but we are speaking of the Suvla first landing--the really critical time. [178] Sir Ian in his dispatch reckons twelve 18-pounder guns and eight mountain-guns as starting. Only the mountain-guns and four of the 18-pounders were in action by August 8, but the 59th Brigade, R.F.A., and the 4th Highland Mountain Brigade, R.G.A., were attached to the 11th Division. On the 9th, two field batteries were on Lala Baba. On August 13 to 15 the 58th Brigade also arrived at Suvla, and was attached to the 10th Division. On the 19th a battery of the 4th Howitzer Lowland Brigade, R.F.A., was placed in position on Lala Baba.