Until the end of August, the
Allies did not realise their objectives nor in Ariburnu or in Helles. At last, they have
decided to capture the Dardanelles by surrounding the back of the Peninsula. Hamilton's
primary target was to surround the Turks from the back and destroy them. Secondly, he was
planning an advance on the Suvla shores for the opening of the third front.
On this purpose, in the night of 6 August, he landed 9th British division on that
region. His aim was to make a surprise attack by the daylight. However, Liman von Sanders
had leant secret enterprise and ordered the commander of the Saros group to go to Suvla
and attack the British on the early morning of 8 August. In addition, he ordered
Lieutenant Colonel Wilmer to prevent the British progress until the arrival of the
reinforcements.
Thereupon, Liman von Sanders had appointed Colonel Mustafa Kemal to command the Anafartalar (Suvla)
Forces. On the morning of 9 August, Mustafa Kemal had
attacked 9th British Army Corps with his 12th Division. In addition, to cut their
co-operation with the Anzacs he made another attack towards Damakcilik direction. The
British was confused with these unexpected attacks. |
Mustafa Kemal, Commander of the Suvla Group with
his staff.
|
This operation was named as the First Suvla
War. Mustafa Kemal's interpretation was as follows:
"In fact, I have defeated the enemy with my weak forces between Kirectepe and Azmak
and I have followed them all the way to the Salt Lake."
Thus, as it was in the other fronts, Suvla front had turned out to be a positional war
until the evacuation.
On the other hand, 9th
British Army Corps was reinforced by new landings, but still failed to succeed the
operations, which were tried on Suvla direction. However, for the Turks the situation was
desperate and Liman von Sanders reinforced 8th
Division with two regiments and gave Mustafa Kemal. In the night of 9th August Mustafa Kemal made an attack by bayonets and this attack had
coasted the British many casualities. After Mustafa Kemal has secured a defence line, he
made necessary reinforcements, and began an expanded defence. |
Colonel Mustafa Kemal is in a trench (1915)
|
During all the landings on the Gallipoli
Peninsula, the Turks had revealed their bravery, honesty and their strong characters. In
both Helles and Suvla, this was the same. For example, they have never shot the Red Cross
tents, stretchers or the hospital ships. Although the Turks dominated the hills, they have
never used gas or never poisoned the fountains. They never tortured or misbehaved the
prisoners of war. At first, the Anzacs were confused by these behaviours, the reality was
completely opposite of what they had heard in Egypt. They were very prejudiced about the
Turkish Soldier whom they named as "Abdul". |
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