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14
BRAW LADDIES AMIDST THE CLASH OF THE EMPIRES
Despite
the
arrival
of
further
reinforcements the deadlock could not
be broken and the men on the peninsula
were becoming increasingly weakened.
In August an amphibious landing at
Suvla Bay, further to the north, was
designed to support a major offensive
at Anzac, intended to cut across the
peninsula to the straits. TheTurks were
able to rush reinforcements into the
area to push the ANZACs off the ridge
at Chunuk Bair and also prevent the
creation of a bridgehead at Suvla. The
news of the failure was met with dismay
in London and compounded the idea
that 1915 had been a year of military
disasters with no change in the position
on the Western Front and stalemate in
Gallipoli.
In October Hamilton was sacked
and was replaced by General Sir Charles
Monro, a veteran of the fighting on the
Western Front. Having taken stock of
the
situation
he
recommended
evacuation, although this was not
accepted until the beginning of
November when Kitchener himself
visited the battle-front and agreed
that the difficulties were insuperable.A
heavy and unexpected winter storm also
helped to decide the issue.
DUG OUT, ANZAC, 1915
Disease and searing heat added to the difficulties
and inAugust alone over 40,000 soldiers had to be evacuated,the majority
suffering from dysentery.
S TA L E M AT E