From ‘Sir Ian Hamilton’s Despatch’, The Spectator, 10 July 1915:
THE despatch from Sir Ian Hamilton which was published in the papers of Wednesday leaves the reader in no doubt that the Dardanelles campaign is one of the most difficult operations of war ever undertaken by an army. We have tried, and are still trying, to take by assault positions which may be compared with Gibraltar, the fortified walls of Heligoland, the ancient Roman Capitol, or any other famous fortified place of which the very name stands for impregnability. Although Sir Ian Hamilton does not, of course, discuss the changing policy which has governed our adventure at the Dardanelles by sea and land, oven his despatch cannot avoid making us acutely conscious of the light-hearted, fumbling methods by which we gradually became engaged in a major campaign. The Dardanelles affair is a war in itself — much more exacting and complicated than many wars in the past which have made the names of British generals and regiments immortal. If the policy which has governed this war is not creditable to our foresight and sagacity, the tale of devoted bravery and unfailing resource which Sir Ian Hamilton unfolds makes us forget much that is disquieting in sheer wonder and admiration. Words of praise become almost impertinent before such deeds—deeds performed not by well-trained regiments, but for the most part by recently improvised troops, and by the splendid fellows from Australia and New Zealand, who proved that the free life of their countries makes men half soldiers by occupation even before they begin to form fours or learn how to sight a Service rifle. What conclusion can we come to except that, even if policy should again err— which we do not apprehend—the same gallantry and resource will pull our men through? There is now no possibility of looking back. We shall go ahead. We shall reach Constantinople.
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