I have the honour to submit my report on the operations in the
Gallipoli Peninsula up to and including May 5.
In accordance with your Lordship's instructions I left London on March
13 with my General Staff by special train to Marseilles, and thence in
H.M.S. _Phæton_ to the scene of the naval operations in the Eastern
Mediterranean, reaching Tenedos on March 17 shortly after noon.
Immediately on arrival I conferred with Vice-Admiral de Robeck,
Commanding the Eastern Mediterranean Fleet; Général d'Amade, Commanding
the French Corps Expéditionnaire; and Contre-Amiral Guepratte, in
command of the French Squadron. At this conference past difficulties
were explained to me, and the intention to make a fresh attack on the
morrow was announced. The amphibious battle between warships and land
fortresses took place next day, March 18. I witnessed these stupendous
events, and thereupon cabled your Lordship my reluctant deduction that
the co-operation of the whole of the force under my command would be
required to enable the Fleet effectively to force the Dardanelles.
By that time I had already carried out a preliminary reconnaissance of
the north-western shore of the Gallipoli Peninsula, from its isthmus,
where it is spanned by the Bulair fortified lines, to Cape Helles,
at its extremest point. From Bulair this singular feature runs in a
south-westerly direction for 52 miles, attaining near its centre a
breadth of 12 miles. The northern coast of the northern half of the
promontory slopes downwards steeply to the Gulf of Xeros, in a chain
of hills, which extend as far as Cape Sulva. The precipitous fall of
these hills precludes landing, except at a few narrow gullies, far too
restricted for any serious military movements. The southern half of
the peninsula is shaped like a badly-worn boot. The ankle lies between
Gaba Tepe and Kalkmaz Dagh; beneath the heel lie the cluster of forts
at Kilid Bahr; whilst the toe is that promontory, five miles in width,
stretching from Tekke Burnu to Sedd-el-Bahr.