Topic: BatzG - Gallipoli
Gallipoli Campaign - 1915
Questions to the Turkish General Staff, Part 7
During 1919, after the defeat of Turkey, a unique opportunity was opened up for CEW Bean to question the members of the Turkish General Staff about the Gallipoli Campaign. Bean presented a list of 111 questions. In June 1919, he received the answers. In the following transcription, the answers given by the Turkish General Staff will be qualified by the questions asked by Bean.
Questions 103 - 106
103. What big guns were there at ANZAC (ARI BURNU) before October?
104. What heavy German and Austrian batteries were placed in position before December?
105. In what position were they placed?
106. What was the object of placing them there?
At Ari Burnu before October the largest calibre gun was the old pattern 21 cm mortar. There was very little ammunition. In November an Austrian 24 cm mortar battery arrived at Suvla and took up a position in Manik Dere. The maximum range of the mortar was 6,000 metres.
Questions 107 - 111
106. What was the object of placing them there?
107. Which of the battles did the Turks consider the most severe?
108. Which of our attacks did they consider the most brilliant? And theirs?
109. What was the Turkish estimate of our generals?
110. What German forces were present?
111. What German Commanders were present?
The fighting in the Dardanelles campaign from beginning to end was very difficult and severe. The performance of both sides were brilliant.
From the Turkish point of view the best British operations were:1. The larding and establishing positions on the Peninsula.
2. The brilliant attack on Chunuk Barir on 6th August.
3. The attack on Kanlisirt.
4. The evacuation.
The Anzac Commander {General Birdwood) was recognised as a very active commander.
There were no German units during the campaign except:Machine Gun Detachment off the Goeben.Personnel of 3 Batteries.A weak Engineer Company.
In the early days at Anafarta and Suvla there were two German officers commanding Divisions, and 1 officer commanding a Regiment. Later there were:1 Army Corps Commander;1 Divisional Commander; and,Some Artillery officers.
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Citation: Gallipoli Campaign - 1915, Questions to the Turkish General Staff, Part 7
