§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, with the permission of the noble Marquess opposite I wish to ask him a Question of which I have given him private notice. It is whether he is able to give us any further information with regard to the progress of operations in the Dardanelles.
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (THE MARQUESS OF CREWE)My Lords, I am obliged to the noble Marquess for giving me notice of his intention to ask this Question, and I will give him what information I can although it is not very copious in amount. The noble Marquess will remember that a few days ago an official communiqué was issued, I think from the Admiralty, stating the general trend of the operations down to the time of its publication; and I am able to supplement that by some information received from the General in command, Sir 970 Ian Hamilton, stating what happened down to Thursday last.
On the night of May 2 there was a violent attack by the enemy all along the line held by us, and fighting went on from 8 p.m. to midnight. The attack was repulsed with, on that occasion, inconsiderable loss to us and heavy loss to the enemy. Their reserves came under the searchlight which was working with the French 75-millimetre guns, with the result that they suffered very heavily. On every succeeding night up to the 6th the enemy renewed the attacks, but they diminished in intensity and on each occasion were repulsed without difficulty and a certain advance was made by our troops. During the whole of this time the positions as we gained them were strengthened and consolidated and further supplies were brought up. It is reported that in front of the position occupied by the 29th Division a very large number of dead of the Turks were found, and some company states were picked up which showed that the losses of the enemy were very heavy indeed. The French on their side gained an important point on the left, and are stated to have inflicted with the bayonet very heavy losses on the enemy.
The operations all through have been supported by the Fleet, but there is no special information to give as yet from the naval point of view, although the Fleet has been rendering, as before, most valuable assistance to the land operations. The Australians and New Zealanders have also been engaged, and have fulfilled a most important function in containing powerful forces of the enemy towards the narrow neck of the Peninsula. That, I think, is all the information that I am in a position to give the noble Marquess. But if before we rise for the recess I am able to make a further statement, I shall be happy to do so.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEAm I right in understanding the noble Marquess to say that the information which he has just given carries us up to the night of the 5th instant?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEAnd that there is no later information?