Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 6, 10 June - 12 July 1915, Part 4

INFORMATION.

1. A reliable authority has been informed from Constantinople that the
action which took place on June 4th and 5th in the Sedd-el-Bahr area
resulted in favour of the Allies and in the despatch of 5,000 Turkish
wounded to Constantinople. It is now reliably reported that there are 
70,000 wounded in Constantinople. This figure appears to be excessive,
as taking the proportion of killed according to the statistics it would
bring the total casualties to close on 100,000. All facts however
increasingly show the very heavy number of the Turkish losses.
2. The amount of coal in store in Turkish houses is now stated to be 
registered. The Dercos Water Company, which is responsible for the supply
of water to Constantinople, have informed the Turkish Government that the
coal will be exhausted on June 15th. It is stated that the schemes are being
discussed for utilising timber from the forests for fuel.
3. The price of rice in Constantinople has risen over 200% since the
commencement of the war, and is still rising rapidly, thus showing that the 
efforts made by the Allies to isolate Turkey from certain food supplies
is beginning to have satisfactory results. It is added however that 
there is no guarantee that cargoes of rice arriving at Dedeagatch will
not reach Constantinople.
The arrival of a Zeppelin and two aeroplanes at Constantinople 
is rumoured.
4.The following is reported from Mesopotamia - "Ships and launches
proceeded up the ^river to Amara on June 3rd. The leading party arrived at 8.30 
p.m. Over 1000 Turks surrendered to Naval force in armed launches,
whose approximate strength was 88 officers and men of Royal Navy and
Royal Indian Marine, and one N.C.O. and 12 privates of Army.
2nd Bn. Norfolk Regiment reached Amara on board first transport
at 10 a.m. on 4th June. Commandant of Turkish troops and crew of
"Marmoris" were taken prisoners.
Tugs, lighters, ammunition, several steamers and equipment were
also captured."

SECRET.       ANZAC INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN.
——————————
A quiet day and night is reported from the Southern theatre
of operations.
No Bulgarian mobolisation is reported as yet.
Two British residents who recently left Constantinople
report that Turkish Officers and populace are very
confident regarding the impregnability of the Dardinelles.
They appear apprehensive however that Bulgaria may go against them.
German residents are sending away their women and children.
It is reported by reliable authority that in the
fighting in the Southern Sphere on the 4th inst., the
Turkish losses amounted to 5,000.

Army Corps Headquarters,
15th June 1915.

Ig/394. 

Owing to the large number of punctured
barrel casings of Machine Guns that
have occured during this campain it
is suggested that each Gun be provided
with a couple of clamps as illustrated
with which to clamp a pad of rubber ^(or asbestos)
over the puncture thus rendering the 
gun temporarily fit for use.
Chas M M Dare
15 6/15 Major
a/Adjt 14^th Bn  A.I.F.

15/6/15 

16
16/6/15
H.Q, N.Z & A. Div.

The work of reorganising this Brigade continues to be
much hampered by the considerable delay which is being
experienced in the return to duty of personnel lightly wounded
or temporarily invalided, particularly as regards Officers &
N.C.O's. - Evidence is accumulating that not sufficient 
energy is shown at the Bases to expedite the return of persons
 ite fit to rejoin:- It is not easy to cite instances
by name, because the sources of my information on these
matters are the narratives of convalescent men who have
already rejoined, & who were not sufficiently interested at
the time to make precise enquiries as to the names and units
of the men concerned. -
Undernoted are a few instances, partly based on such
reports, upon which is founded a strong presumption of
laxity in above matters. -
 early all returned men agree that they have met with
real difficulty in accomplishing their desire to get back.
In some cases they have had to press most vigorously for
permission to do. - It is said that some men actually
had to stow away on transports,  in order to secure a
passage.
2. Many of them state that "Alexandria & Cairo have 
hundreds of Australians walking about the streets, apparently
quite fit to rejoin.
3. Several men relate that they were actively discouraged

17
from going back, being told that "they might as well
take another week or two off." -
3. In one Battalion alone , the Medical Officer reports that out
of 6 officers & 132 other ranks ( of which 120 at least were
trivial cases of sickness) only 20 have so far reported
back, & out of 12 officers & 414 other ranks wounded (a
large proportion only slightly) only 25 have returned to 
the Battalion. -
4. In the case of another Battalion it has been definitely
stated that several Sergeants, having recovered from their
wounds, are being employed in Egypt as instructors to
reinforcements. - It has also been freely stated that 
convalescent men are being employed at Mudros &
in Egypt as orderlies & on camp fatigues. -
5. As specific instances (in the 15^th Battalion) I cite the following:-
Lieut Svenson slightly wounded 10/5/15
N^o 344 Corporal Sparkes do 5/5/15
N^o 1559 Private Shaw, W.E do 16/5/15  in all of
which case the Medical Officer reports that these men should have been
able to return before now. -
——————————
All the above points to the desirability of considering a
suggestion I have already put forward (but which was not
approved) that a capable officer, seized of all the facts, should
be sent to the several bases, to expediate the return of all
convalescents. /
John Monash
Col.
C.O 4^th (Aust) Inf. Bde

Reserve Gully
16 6/15.

Brigadier
4th Inf Bde.

Herewith I forward a suggestion
for the temporary repair of Machine Gun
barrel casings which I hope may prove of
use.

Chas M M Dare
Major
a/ Adjt 14^th Bn
A.I.F.

Not Drawn To Scale

Owing to the large number of punctured barrel casings of Machine
Guns during this campain. The above rough sketch suggests
a method of temporarily mending same. It consists of
a steel clamp to be clamped round the casing to
hold in position a pad of rubber, asbestos or other material
which will render the puncture waterproof. The
only materials required are (a) two bolts (b) two pieces
of metal about 3/8" sq and from two to three inches long
according to with of clamps (c) a piece of steel about
3/16" thick and long enough to encircle the barrel and
leave a flange at each end through each of which
two holes are drilled for the bolts mentioned.
The two pieces of iron (b) are to take the direct strain
of the bolts and thus prevent the clamp breaking
at the bend.
I would suggest that two to three of
these clamps be available for each Machine Gun.

Reserve Gully
17/6/15.
From Capt C E Connelly OC D Coy 14^th Bⁿ
To Adjt 14^th Batⁿ

Sir/ In accordance with instructions received
I have to make the following report
(a) The present strength of D coy is 183 officers
and other ranks
(b) The total number of original officers &
other ranks of the D coy is 121
(c) The number of 2^nd & 3^rd reinforcements
posted to D coy is and now
remaining is 24
(d) The number of 4^th & 5^th reinforcements
posted to D Coy and now remaining
is 38
(e) The number of original officers now serving
with D Coy is 1 viz Capt C E Connelly
The number of new officers ^(promoted) now serving
with D Coy is 1 viz Lieut S. Hansen
The number of attached officers now
serving with D Coy is 1 viz Lieut L J Moorehouse
(f) The number of original N C O s now serving
with D Coy is 4 viz 4 corporals

(g) The present position of the Coy is that there
are 120 well trained men and 60
partially trained men serving, but a
it is short of 4 officers, but it is expected
that at least 3 offciers will rejoin the
Coy with the course of a month or so.
The Coy is very unfortunately situated
with regard to N.C.Os in so far as a large
number of the Senior N C O s are away wounded
and sick, with the result that junior
ranks mostly Lance Corpls are acting as
Sg^ts and Corpls. These men are doing
good work under the circumstances, but badly
need an opportunity to themselves learn and and
to handle their sections, which is practically
impossible under present cramped conditions
Their difficulties have been increased & the
addition of more or less trained reinforcements
to their sections, whom they have no opportunity
of getting to know as they should. There are
120 trained men now serving with the Coy,
and 60 reinforcemnets. The standard of training
of the reinforcements is very unequal a few are
fairly well trained but the great majority are
distinctly weak particularly with regard to
musketry C E Connelly Capt OC D Coy