Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2

First and foremost, in our "beetles" or barges, conveying 500 men under their own engines, we had an instrument which reduced the physical effort three quarters. This meant half the battle. When we made our original landing at Anzac we could only put 1, 500 men ashore, per trip, at a speed of 2½ miles per hour, in open cutters. Were a Commander to repeat that landing now, he would be able to run 5, 000 men ashore, per trip, at a speed of five miles per hour with no trouble about oars, tows, etc. , and with protection against shrapnel and rifle bullets.