line is
really shoved back, as it were, and here and there, at these places,
flat semicircles of sand lie between the water and the base of the
cliffs. It was on half a dozen of these small beaches that the troops
were to be landed under the cover of the bombardment by the Fleet. The
Dublins and the Munsters were to land at "Beach V" immediately below
the castle and village of Sedd-el-Bahr, strongest of the Turkish
positions.

In this particular landing very remarkable use was made of a steamer
called the _River Clyde_, turned into a troopship. She had about 2,500
troops on board, all Munsters and Dublins, save two companies of the
Hampshire Regiment, who formed part of the same brigade, the 86th. So
closely packed were the men that they could scarcely move. The plan
was to run her ashore, full steam ahead, and when she was beached the
troops were to emerge through openings cut in her sides, on the lower
deck, and passing down narrow gangways make a dash for the shore over
a bridge to be formed of some lighters which accompanied her. The
_River Clyde_ was beached about 400 yards from the castle of
Sedd-el-Bahr, which rose above the high ground to the right; and the
bridge of lighters was also successfully run in towards the shore from
the gangways jutting from the improvised doors in the port and
starboard bow of the vessel.

While the preparations were in progress three companies of the Dublins
were being brought ashore in open boats drawn by steam pinnaces, five
or six boats in each tow, and over thirty men in every boat. No sign
had yet been given that any of the enemy were about on the cliffs and
hills, shrouded by the dust and smoke caused by the shells of the
Fleet; and it looked almost as if the landing would be unopposed. But
the enemy were there in their thousands, lying low with rifles and
machine-guns. The Turks have shown on many a field of old their fine
fighting qualities. They had been trained in all the newest tricks of
warfare by German officers. They were animated also by two of the most
powerful emotions--defence of their native land against unbelieving
dogs of Christians; and the firm conviction that death in such a cause
was but the opening of the gates to the sensuous delights of
Paradise. So they were biding their time, and the hour for action
struck when the boats crowded with the Dublins were about twenty yards
from the shore. The furious reception they gave to the landing parties
was astound