A long despatch from Sir Ian Hamilton describing the Gallipoli
operations in May and June was published in the papers of Tuesday. This spirited narrative tells how in the early days of May it was still hoped that a comparatively rapid advance could be made, though the Turks were daily being reinforced and strengthening their positions. But it could not be; the British force gained room, but did not cover distances. During the period two serious counter-attacks were delivered by the Turks, one directed by General Liman von Sanders and the other by Enver Pasha. The Turks have since then been purely on the defensive, and they now have to defend themselves against a considerably longer line than in May and June. The gallant episodes described by Sir Ian Hamilton are much too numerous to mention. As he himself says, incidents which in his early and middle life would have been honoured with long despatches, now have to be passed over in silence. We will only say that the more we hear of the performances of the overseas troops the more our wonder and respect grow.
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