2. Early Causalities and Loss of Momentum
The battleships that were supposed to clear the area before the landing lost the opportunity when the command hesitated after 5 out of 10 were out of commission. Before the ships were even able to touch the ground, the rapid fire of the Turkish guns killed dozens in the boats. Other soldiers drowned before arriving at land, while the barbed wires caught many others on the beach. Alone in the first ten days, the Allied forces had lost more than 10,000 men. In August, surprise landings were to take place at Sulva Bay, which progressed with little resistance by the Turks. However, indecision by the command and delay halted advance in all locations, granting reinforcements the opportunity to arrive and fortify their defenses.