f arms entrusted to us.

"(Signed) IAN HAMILTON, _General_."

_April 23rd._--Spent most of the forenoon on the "Caledonia" (B. iii),
which is lashed to our port side. Agassiz and Thomson arrived there
yesterday with nineteen men, forming one tent-subdivision, and go with
us.

A different atmosphere pervades our ship to-day, a feeling of strain
and anxiety is more or less on every mind, not that it would be
apparent to an outsider except in a case or two. Bad news has leaked
in all the time from the navy and our airmen, all the time this
getting worse, such as the account that Gallipoli swarms with
well-armed Turks, wire entanglements of great breadth and height
everywhere, and, of course, trenches. We have plans of their trenches
and gun emplacements, but these can only be roughly correct. Then
yesterday the airmen made another reconnaissance, and they say they
have found a great increase of guns. We may be outnumbered ten or
twelve to one, and our having to face their well-defended positions in
open boats is not altogether comforting, and naturally all feel a bit
anxious. General Hare, our Brigadier, spoke to me on the "Caledonia,"
and I thought he looked worried, and is thinner than when I saw him
last at Coventry. Col. Rooth of the Dublins does not look over happy.
He came down to lunch, had a look at the table, and went up to deck
with a cigarette, and at the present moment he stands near where I am
writing with both hands in his pockets, peering straight down the side
of the ship into the waters. Those of us with less responsibility are
certainly less troubled; all are prepared for great sacrifices, and
every one is ready to play his part in what will certainly be a great
tragedy.

The particular part of the coast on which I land with the 89th Field
Ambulance is a short way west of Sedd-el-Bahr, landing in the collier
"River Clyde," on which there will be a force of 2100. I have already
spoken about this boat. From what is going on I will be surprised if
we do not leave Lemnos to-night.

8.30 p.m. Off! We set sail from Lemnos at 4.57, two boats of the A.
class going out before us, but these two anchored outside while we led
straight on. On coming on deck after dinner we found three warships on
our starboard side, said to be the "Swiftsure," "Dublin," and
"Euryalus," all in line, no lights on them or us. Our port-holes are
covered first with cardboard and the iron shutters are down o