d an opposition did it offer
to the British troops that Colonel Koe soon decided it would be
impossible, with the two battalions at his disposal, to accomplish the
task assigned him.

Early in the afternoon the little British force was dismayed by the
approach on its left flank of a large force of Turks from Krithia,
which threatened to cut it off from the landing beach. Reluctantly
Colonel Koe, just before he received a fatal wound, gave the order to
intrench.

CHAPTER LXXIII

THE BRITISH IN DANGER--BITTER FIGHTING

The British troops were now in a critical position. There was a
peculiar spoonlike formation of the ground at the end of the Gallipoli
Peninsula. From the high cliffs along the shore the ground fell away.
Thus it was impossible for the supporting warships lying offshore to
give any effective aid to the little British force once it had left
the shore and the edge of the heights. The Turks realized to the full
their advantage and attacked the Borderers and the marines with fury.
Frequent attacks were launched against the dwindling line of the
British force. Guns of large caliber were rapidly brought up from
Krithia, while the Turks showed extraordinary daring and cleverness in
bomb attacks upon the hastily dug trenches of the enemy.

All night long the Turks attacked. By morning the remnants of the
British force were in desperate straits. Sir Ian Hamilton subsequently
declared that the losses at this time had been "deplorable." Many of
the officers, in addition to Lieutenant Colonel Koe, had been killed
or wounded, while 50 per cent of the Borderers had been put out of
action. They were no longer able to defend properly their trenches.
Food, water, and ammunition were running short. A consultation of the
remaining officers was held. The question of trying to hold out until
reenforcements arrived was considered, but ultimately it was decided
to retreat to the shore and to reembark.

At seven o'clock on Monday morning the order was given. The attending
fleet had been strengthened by the arrival of the cruisers _Talbot_
and _Dublin_, and, supported by the _Goliath_, the _Amethyst_, and the
_Sapphire_, they began a terrific bombardment of the tops of the
cliffs. Protected by this screen of fire, the few remaining British
troops were able to get away in their boats without molestation save
for a long distance bombardment by the Turkish artillery.

The landing at Beach X was more successful. The Ei