[232] That little animosity existed on the Turkish side either is shown by the following note which I made early in December, though I cannot date the incident precisely: “The community of human nature between men who are out to kill each other was lately shown here by an interval of friendliness, as often in France. It began with the wagging of a Turkish periscope over the sandbags. One of the Australians (it was at Anzac) wagged his periscope in answer. Then Turkish hands were held up, moving the fingers together in the Turkish sign of amity. Presently heads appeared on both sides, the few words that could be understood were said, cigarettes and fruit were thrown from one side to the other, and a note, written in bad French, was thrown to the Australians, saying, ‘We don’t want to fight you. We want to go home. But we are driven on by the people you know about.’ I presume that meant the Germans. Then signs were made that an officer was approaching. The heads disappeared, and bombs were thrown from trench to trench in place of fruit.” [233] The figures for Suvla, as given me by the Staff at the time, were 44,000 men; 90 guns of all calibre, including one anti-aircraft gun; 3000 mules; 400 horses; 30 donkeys; 1800 carts; 4000 to 5000 cartloads of stores. [234] The account of the Suvla evacuation is founded on notes I made at the time and on an article of mine which passed the Military Censor two days after the event, but was not published in full till I received General Birdwood’s permission in the following spring. It is perhaps worth while here contradicting the report that the Turks were bribed to allow the army to withdraw without opposition. That malignant depreciation of a most skilful enterprise was a libel both on the enemy and on our own officers and men. There was not a vestige of truth in it. [235] The following rough estimate of the Turkish forces was made by the General Staff about a week before the evacuation: