Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 5, 25 May - 10 June 1915, Part 11

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG0000589
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 5

916 15 SEORET ANLAC INTELLIGENCE BILLETIK. The following are extreets from Furrish Bvisionl Orers published May 27th. Ald theee who are not actuelly resting must be constntny et Fork with nck and shevel deevening the shelter trenohesand nts o tiet each sen aay hve some piace big enough to redt in in security. Sentinels and reconnoitring perties must he sent ir Past of the Hire trenches. These rust naze holes one shelters for their own protection. When setivi ty on the part of the enery is noticed, th Esvicionel Connender should be notified by teierhone. When it Ir evident the enecy is sdvancing to the atterr the first onty is to rtrengthen the firing line in the frent trencces and to defend then. The Lone supperts should be in light acreping orcer and should be collected in places rost faveir- able for making a counter atteer. 1f in eoite of all offerts it arpears necessary to let the enemy into the frent trenches, the troops should rege resisting stew by step into the support trenches and shonk there evait the arrivel of fresh troops and the sttpers of, our rnits on the flenks. our frent line vill rere its resition rnown to the art- Illery by asy by the triangular dises given then, one by night by the lanterns with three sides closes whien they qust reve with then. The folleving extr ets are fros Turkish instructions n the organisation of rositions by the consender of the seuth western Soctor- Pbresures ore Duilt too vide and must be nerrowed. Trenches will be dug narrew and in short lengths. The parerets gust invariably be strengthened. A renort vill be rendered every werning bated upon the recorts which have been received frow the Cosminder of the advances cosgenies regarding the danage sons to the berbed wire in frent of the trenches. Stees for getting eut vill be arde in the trenches. At cuitable picces in each lone direction boards vill be pisoee. At Right lanteres will be placed on thes. our sentries will light then and cover thes up, and then in erw to show our troops the limits of their arees, they cen open the covers and give them their bearings by the lignt. ink they have come near and are cless to the When they th trenches they vill rove the Innterns perpondicularly up and a down two or three times, The following is from a Turkian order dated 3rd. June, 1815- Attention is called to the expenditure of infentry arewnition suring the lest five deys by the eth, and 12th. divisions. It excunted to 3CP,CCC ronnes. Taie is not allmd In any Puroperr arwy curing a quite period. 1 vich Divizions? Coarrneers to pay particular attention to this (Signed) Feber, Ton-Cx. S.W. Lone Extracts from the diary of a Turkish officer- on our bost the enexy's shells froe SAROS BAY are fallimg. After sisesberking we recained in the olive greves one nigh and sarched one day helting several times. We esme to DoMU2 DeRo where we were to atteck and teok part in the attek. Wry 4th, We atteered by pight, and thabk God we were successful. After attecking, in the vorning, All Rira Bey, O/e. No. 1 conpery while going to the trenches with his cen- pany was rilled by our own fire. The attsex vas terrible
AUE 16/15 the covartly eneey retreated and res driven irte the see, bt our regirant suifored very heevily and one or tre regrettsble Incigents cocurred. In this eiteer py Certsir, suleman MTenai wee wounded. Baselet Rey, the o/c. Fegt, Pehset An MTemi. Ehe MTenci, Shervet Mfenei, were sil rounred. 1 ERerel, Vehid MLendi, Fervie HTersi wee Vilice (brethe ofricery). Tree munder ty a Threre bullet and cculd not 20 en. Fererve ofrleer Sexi 17s vith ir in this ttteet. after the sitrot Derverrt Esfor FriD of Eslit veaili, itaan Farhi Hrentl, Feria Mfensi and Ferri MTenti were pree rm. Igentenents. The rrexyes threme! fell 1irs Frin. Areh. Toy ess 1 esseribe that Fight. Testry the thesy fiiss 35 or 49 Pasvy thells into sex- Frali Teie. our vents persle wae ceryletely breren. Jure 5.- Tres the firirg ceeves ere the sruillery Rsed, end the sight of the shells friehmed the rix e good cesl. June 5th. (Trebstly & pistske in the rote). c to be Tritten is red letters. In the sersingsur guns frm Lires s Iis anots. Them ae enery beges vith pll pts ertitt ay pas pll hix foreet to attaes. CUF arD Satenoo thwealve 112s Liens, bat that was the goed of it. our forcee vere toe snell. Thet ery ay Cestsis, Ar FHdi and Ltent. Axib were toxen srinoners. by life is Fizishes, 1 hive bend takeh MKiseur. Shile texing & priase -or Eatun MTandi vis Eiliss. a a a a a a a s There ir he thense is the S-uthein Eeac. Tare hs tren & Erist try rnd Fight, escert taat the Heichtsartoes of LetselolhT Ferstelledres Sa Erlstie aat verly thie nerking. Hc Exuags of any conecuases is twvertee. Arry Gorrs Veetcuerters, Ftn. June 1p:5. 112 373
Pom Army Form C. 2121. MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message. Worte CITE PICKE Cate M. Reed. at This message is on a/c of: OREESSIE HSSMCe MSSOS Sent. Date Service. At m From To By By SONAMCA PrANE ORCCT 13 Rathation 0 amn ana 14 T0 indint FSenSK DAS Of MON LaTest BISe AAA Herewith a letter from A.D.M.S. & draft of proposed reply which has been compiled after an informal talk with the Medicedoffice & sartemantof the Brigade. Please peas wf w attach a mens lating whihd in the proposed reply, & of not on what point you dissent. Then pass to next C. in mmefical onde of Battalions C.016th Bt to return same to e kindly expedite the matter anenmn SChutonas Wa 116/15 + E (And Inf. Bde From Place Time The above may be forwarded as now corrected. 2) Signature of Addresser Or Person auihorized to teesraph in his hame. Conor This tine should be crased it not required.
2 FOrM. Army Form C. 2121. MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. 10. Of MCARE Mo CAISE Cote PIChE Recd. at M. This message is on a/c of: Oice S SISNE SeIE MSSEOS Sent. Date Service. 0 At. From To. By 8 SAITE N. FTMMS ORCC ine anintmn 04 T0 eotis A FSenteis Miner D LTesSt NI AAA Month /6/15 Re Working Parties- should be glad if the C.O.N. 4 Section upill kindly reconsily the question of the high proportion of offices asked fo to a company warking parties, as e.q. 3opers & some. The normal proporsion of officer in a battalion at full strength is only I officer per 40 men; but my battal wnd are very much befor thei normas shength in officer & also in proportion of officers. A bottalion which has only 15 offices in all, inclusing C.0. dagt, & 2.M. sould drroey exhannt all it officer at afove rate with the first 200 sent, & the remain da wrned be lefs without officers. On anive prounds, I repres that an unable on find more, at the atnost, that 1 office pet 50 men without dvoganging all sndeent wrothing parties It is bende, very little use to sent of oas with stange me who are uinknow to them. BON 4t D of. Hyte 6. Thuton Pace Resenve Gull id Time 850p.i 5 The above may be forwarded as now corrected. 2 mdmonntomuntin Sittite S ATIM A MIMMISN DISSSMNIDAON Conr This line should be crased if not required.
statement made by German Naval Prisoner, enployed in Kechine oun Soctien, Jure 4th. An independent section of German machine guns has 40 Lieut Poltz and 45 men, 6 N.C.O's and 2 officers. Cadet von Rabenau were seriously wounded yesterday. (Tne machine gun section on the Srd May was at Domuz Dere, where 8 were killed, several wounded and two machine guns lest) In yesterdys battle ene machine gun was put out of actien in The two machine guns on the the morning and abandoned. left of the Section fouled, and unfit for action were taken The two on the right were saved. by the English, Further statements of prisoners. A German prisoner states that various machine guns had been put out of action since May 2 and were taken yesterday. These machine guns eriginally came from the (June ath) Goeben and Breslau. An Armenian prisener says that the men are weary of the The German officers exercise war, Subalterns as well, rights of life and death ever the soldiers, and ever the officers up to and including the rank of Captain. 4000 further wounded are reported to have arrived at Constantineple in two steamships under the red flag. Army Corps Heauquarters, 10th June, 1915.

SECRET  ANZAC INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN.  9/6/15

 

The following are extracts from Turkish Divisional Orders

published May 27th.-

 

All those who are not actually resting must be constantly

at work with pick and shovel deepening the shelter trenches and

pits so that each man may have some place big enough to rest

in in security. 

Sentinels and reconnoitring parties must be sent in front

of the fire trenches. These must make holes and shelters for

their own protection.

When activity on the part of the enemy is noticed, the

Divisional Commander should be notified by telephone. When it

is evident the enemy is advancing to the attack the first

duty is to strengthen the firing line in the front trenches

and to defend them. The Zone supports should be in light

marching order and should be collected in places most favourable

for making a counter attack.

If in spite of all efforts it appears necessary to

let the enemy into the front trenches, the troops should [[retire?]]

resisting step by step into the support trenches and should

there await the arrival of fresh troops and the attacks of 

our units on the flanks.

Our front line will make its position known to the artillery

by day by the triangular discs given them, and by

night by the lanterns with three sides closed which they

must have with them.

The following extracts are from Turkish instructions in

the organisation of positions by the commander of the south

western sector -

Fabrasures are built too wide and must be narrowed.

Trenches will be dug narrow and in short lengths.

The parapets must invariably be strengthened.

A report will be rendered every morning based upon the

reports which have been received from the Commander of the

advanced companies regarding the damage done to the barbed win

wire in front of the trenches.

Steps for getting out will be made in the trenches.

At suitable places in each Zone direction boards will be

placed.  At night lanterns will be placed on them. Our

sentries will light them and cover them up, and then in order

to show our troops the limits of their areas, they can

open the covers and give them their bearings by the light.

When they think they have come near and are close to the

trenches they will move the lanterns perpendicularly up and xxxxx

down two or three times,

The following is from a Turkish order dated 3rd. June. 1915 -

Attention is called to the expenditure of infantry

ammunition during the last five days by the 9th, and 13th.

divisions.  It amounted to 368,000 rounds. This is not allowed

in any European army during a quite period. I wish Divisional

Commanders to pay particular attention to this (Signed) Weber,

Commdg, S.W. Zone

 

Extracts from the diary of a Turkish officer -

On our boat the enemy's shells from SAROS BAY are falling.

After disembarking we remained in the olive groves one night

and marched one day halting several times. We came to

DOMUZ DORO where we were to attack and took part in the attack.

May 4th. We attacked by night, and thank God we were

successful. After attacking, in the morning, Ali Riza Bey,

O/c. No. 1 company while going to the trenches with his company

was killed by our own fire. The attack was terrible and 

 

9/6/15

the cowardly enemy retreated and was driven into the sea, but

our regiment suffered very heavily and one or two 'regrettable

incidents' occurred.   In this attack my Captain, Suleiman

Effendi was wounded. Baselet Bey, the O/c Regt, Mehmet Ali

Effendi, [[Asihe]] Effendi, Shekvet Effendi, were all wounded. Eqin
Effendi, Vehid Effendi, Nozvic Effendi were killed (brother
officers). I was wounded by a shrapnel bullet and could not
go on.   Reserve Officer Semi was with me in this attack.
After the attack Sergeant Major Akib of 'Zebit Vekili', [[Zizal,]]
Hakbi Effendi, Ferid Effendi and Reazi Effendi were made 2nd.
Lieutenants.
The enemy's shrapnel fell like rain. [[A?an]]   How can I
describe that night.
To-day the enemy fired 30 or 40 heavy shells into [[Seghanli]]
Dere. Our men's morale was completely broken.
June 3,    "        "            "           "         "              Then the firing ceased
and the artillery began, and the sight of the shells frightened

the men a good deal.
June 5th. (probably a mistake in the date). A day
to be written in red letters.  In the morning our guns firi
fired a few shots. then the enemy began with all his artillery 
and all his forces to attack. Our men defended themselves
like lions, but what was the good of it.
Our forces were too small. That day my Captain, Ahmed
Effendi and Lieut. Akib were taken prisoners. My life is
finished, I have been taken prisoner. While taking a prisoner
[[Ea??]] Efendi was killed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - 
There is no change in the Southern Zone. There has
been a quiet day and night, except that the neighbourhood of
[[See-el-Zahr]] was shelled from the Adriatic shore early this
morning. No damage of any consequence is reported.

Army Corps Headquarters.
8th. June 1915.
[[I?]]/M 372

 

"A" Form                                 Army Form C. 2121.

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.   No. of Message...

 

 

TO    C.O.    13 Battalion

                      14        "

                       15        "

                       16        "

 

Sender's          Day of        In reply

Number           Month       to Number

                                                                             AAA

Herewith a letter from A.D.M.S., & draft of proposed reply which has been compiled after an informal talk with the Medical Officer & Quartermaster of the Brigade. - Please peruse these ∧alternative papers, & attach a memo. stating which HYDRAULIC  {{cut?}} in the proposed reply, & if not on what points you dissent. - Then pass to next C.O. in numerical order of Battalions - C.O. 16th Bn. to return same to me. 

Kindly expedite the matter. 

 

                            John Monash

                                                   Col.

                        C.O. 4th (Aust/Inf. Bde.

 

10 a.m.

9/6/15

 

 

 

"A" Form                                Army Form C. 2121.

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.   No. of Message...

 

 

TO          No.   4  Section

 

Sender's          Day of          In reply

Number           Month         to Number

                        Ninth/6/15                                  AAA

 

Re Working Parties - I should be glad if the C.O. No. 4 Section would kindly reconsider the question of this high proportion of officers asked for to accompany working parties, as e.g. 3 officers & 50 men.

The  normal proportion of officers in a battalion at full strength is only 1 officer per 40 men;  but my battalions are very much below their normal strengths in officers & also in proportion of officers. - A battalion which has only 15 officers in all, inclusive  of C.O., Adjt., & 2.M. could obviously exhaust all its officers at above rate with the first 200 sent, & the remainder would be left without officers. - On above grounds, I regret that I am unable to find more, at the utmost, that 1 officer per 50 men without disorganizing all subsequent working parties.   It is, besides, very little use to send officers with strange men who are unknown to them.

 

From         4th   Inf.   Bgde

Place         Reserve   Gully

Time          8.50 p.m.

 

                                  John Monash

                                                       Col. 

 

 

Statement made by German Naval Prisoner, employed in Machine Gun Section,  June 4th.

 

An independent section of German machine guns has 40 to 45 men, 6 N.C.O's and 2 officers.   Lieut Peltz and Cadet von Rabenau were seriously wounded yesterday.   (The machine gun section on the 3rd May was at Demuz Dere, where 8 were killed, several wounded and two machine guns lost)

In yesterdays battle one machine gun was put out of action in the  morning and abandoned.   The two machine guns on the left of the section fouled, and unfit for action were taken by the English.   The two on the right were saved.

 

Further statements of prisoners.

 

A German prisoner states that various machine guns had been put out of action since May 2 and were taken yesterday.  (June 8th)   These machine guns originally came from the Goeben and Breslau.

 

An Armenian prisoner says that the men are weary of the war, subalterns as well.   The German officers exercise rights of life and death over the soldiers, and over the officers up to and including the rank of Captain.

 

4000 further wounded are reported to have arrived at Constantinople in two steamships under the red flag.

 

Army  Corps  Headquarters,

       10th   June,    1915.

 

   

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