_The British Press Bureau on June 30, 1915, issued the following:_
General Sir Ian Hamilton reports that the plan of operations on the
28th was to throw forward the left of his line southeast of Krithia,
pivoting on a point about one mile from the sea, and after advancing
on the extreme left for about half a mile to establish a new line
facing east on ground thus gained. This plan entailed the capture in
succession of two lines of the Turkish trenches east of the Saghir
Dere, and five lines of trenches west of it. The Australian Corps was
ordered to co-operate by making a vigorous demonstration.
The action opened at nine o'clock with a bombardment by heavy
artillery. The assistance rendered by the French in this bombardment
was most valuable.
At 10.20 the Field Artillery opened fire to cut wire in front of
Turkish trenches, and this was effectively done. The effect on the
enemy's trench near the sea was great. The very accurate fire of his
Majesty's ships Talbot, Scorpion and Wolverine succeeded in keeping
down his artillery fire from that quarter.
At 10.45 a small Turkish advanced work in the Saghir Dere known as the
Boomerang Redoubt was assaulted. This little fort, which was very
strongly sited and protected by extra strong wire entanglements, has
long been a source of trouble. After special bombardment by trench
mortar, and while bombardment of surrounding trenches was at its
height, part of the Border Regiment at the exact moment prescribed
leapt from their trenches as one man like a pack of hounds, and
pouring out of cover raced across, and took the work most brilliantly.
The artillery bombardment increased in intensity till 11 A.M., when
the range was lengthened, and infantry advanced. The infantry attack
was carried out with great dash along the whole line.
West of Saghir Dere three lines of trenches were captured with little
opposition. The trenches were full of dead Turks, many buried by the
bombardment, and one hundred prisoners were taken in them.
East of the Ravine the Royal Scots made a fine attack, capturing the
two lines of trenches assigned to their objective, but the remainder
of the Brigade on their right met with severe opposition and were
unable to get forward.
At 11.30 the Royal Fusiliers led its Brigade in the second phase of
the attack west of the Ravine. The Brigade advanced with great
steadiness and resolution through the trenches already captured, and
on across the open, and taking two more lines of trenches reached the
objective allotted to them, the Lancashire Fusiliers inclining
half-right and forming line to connect with our new position east of
the Ravine.
The northernmost objective had now been attained, but the Gurkhas
pressing on under the cliffs captured an important knoll still further
forward, actually due west of Krithia. This they fortified and held
during the night, making our total gain on the left precisely one
thousand yards.
During the afternoon the trenches, a small portion of which remained
uncaptured on the right, were attacked, but the enemy held on
stubbornly supported by machine-guns and artillery, and the attacks
did not succeed.
During the night the enemy counter-attacked the furthest trenches
gained, but was repulsed with heavy loss. A party of Turks, who
penetrated from the flank between two lines of captured trenches, was
subjected to machine-gun fire at daybreak, suffered very heavily, and
the survivors surrendered.
Except for a small portion of trench already mentioned, which is still
held by the enemy, all and more than was hoped for from operations has
been gained. On the extreme left the line has been pushed forward to a
specially strong point well beyond the limit of the advance originally
contemplated.
All engaged did well, but certainly the chief factor in the success
was the splendid attack carried out by the 29th Division, whose
conduct on this, as on previous occasions, was beyond praise.