The initial attack on Gallipoli has turned into a siege — live through the days to come with #AnzacLive

IT’S A stunning landscape — until you notice the details and hear the rumours of prisoners being shot as the enemy launch a suicidal defence.

GALLIPOLI, APRIL 25th, 1915: Australian forces pushing up into the hills from the Gallipoli beach landing zone look like “ants” from a distance.

But close at hand the reality is grim and monstrous, as the soldiers face an enemy increasingly determined to make a stand having initially fallen back.

After six hours of desperate struggle, the attack is stalling into a siege.

Turkish commander Mustafa Kemal has arrived with overwhelming reinforcements, exhorting them: “I don’t order you to attack, I order you to die. In the time it takes us to die, other troops and commanders can come and take our places.”

Ants? No, men ... with the fallen amongst them. Australian soldiers pushing up the slopes, painted by war artist George Lambert.

And the confused terror of war is plain to see. Reports cited below by official correspondent Charles Bean say Australians are shooting Turks who are trying to surrender — and cut-off Aussies further inland are suffering the same fate.

To general Sir Ian Hamilton, who described them as looking like “waves of little ants” from his naval command ship, the men are “in it up to their necks” but would not wish to be anywhere else.

Their opinions may prove different.

Read how their fight unfolded in AnzacLive’sRolling News blog below, covering the initial events of April 25, 1915 as they happened at land and at sea, where Australia’s only submarine is on a Mission Impossible.

Then join the characters of AnzacLive to travel with them through the days and weeks ahead. It’s not over yet — not by a long shot.

Originally published as The initial attack on Gallipoli has turned into a siege — live through the days to come with #AnzacLive