All arrived this morning and there is
nothing but confusion. The heat is terrific, and is intensified by the
large amount of bare rocks, which are so hot that it is impossible to
lay your hand on them. The surrounding hills, especially hill 972,
S.E. of the Salt Lake which glistens in the distance, are barren and
rugged, with no sign of cultivation, except about the foot of that
hill, where there is said to be a village, but it is invisible. Round
the Salt Lake a good many trees are dotted about, likely olives and
figs, and a good deal of bright green scrub exists on the lower hill
slopes. This scrub Ashmead-Bartlett calls furze in his articles, but I
have never seen furze in Gallipoli. This plant is generally 2 to 3
feet high, is in very solid bushes of a stiff, fibrey nature, with an
ovate, dark green glaucous leaf. Thyme and numerous other plants
abound. I have been interested in the weathering of the rocks beside
the sea, this reminding me of the Brig at Filey. This follows a most
peculiar pattern, like a number of leopard skins spread out on the
rocks.

I wish night was here, even though we are to go supperless to bed; one
would give anything for the cool air one can be sure of after sundown.

It was here that a landing was made by Kitchener's army ten days ago.
They are said to have put up a very poor fight. Trained and steady
troops, it is said, would have had practically a walk over, as the
opposition was slight, little more than a brigade of Turks having
checked two divisions of our men. A few shells fell on the top of a
ridge where they were advancing. This made a number of the men bolt,
others were seized with panic, and all seem to have got out of hand. A
splendid opportunity of turning the Turks' flank, joining up with the
Australians, and seizing Achi Baba from the north, has been lost, and
the difficulties in front of us are much increased. There is nothing
for it now but to land troops in such numbers that defeat is out of
the question, and it must be done quickly before the wet season sets
in. I am afraid we must be content to hold the Germans in check in
France, and withdraw the necessary troops from there.

_August 18th._--Yesterday and to-day have been the warmest days we
have experienced in Gallipoli. The reason that our present station is
warmer than the point (Helles) is the attraction and retention of heat
by the rocks, and our camp is on the south face of a high ridge, where
we have absolu