http://www.anzacsite.gov.au/1landing/bartlettbio.html

Ashmead-Bartlett's dispatches praised the prowess and bravery of the troops but became more and more critical of their leadership and what he believed was the futile sacrifice of so many men. On 10 May his dispatch in the Daily Telegraph in London warned readers of the strength of the Turkish troops. This differed from previous reports and was certainly a very different message from that in official GHQ communiques.

Despite the warning about censorship, Ashmead-Bartlett was nevertheless surprised when, in May, the British Admiralty confiscated a package of undeveloped films he had taken: he had been given permission to take his cinematograph and had taken many lantern slides of the operations. Then, on 27 May he lost all his notes and possessions with the sinking of HMS Majestic off the Gallipoli peninsula. Ashmead-Bartlett returned to England to replace his typewriter and wardrobe and while he was there he attempted to advise English politicians of his impressions of the problems in Gallipoli.

He continued to have problems with missing dispatches and censorship after he returned to Gallipoli. On 18 July he complained bitterly:

    I thought there were limits to human stupidity but now I know there are none. The censorship has now passed beyond all reason. They won't let you give expression to the mildest opinions on any subjects …There are now at least four censors all of whom cut up your stuff … All hold different views and feel it is their duty to take out scraps. Thus only a few dry crumbs are left for the wretched public. The articles resemble chicken out of which a thick nutritious broth has been extracted.

    [Ashmead-Bartlett, diary, 18 July 1915, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales]

In late August, Australian journalist, Keith Murdoch, received permission from General Birdwood to visit Anzac for four days. Despite having signed the official declaration regarding censorship, he agreed to carry a letter from Ashmead-Bartlett to the British Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith. A British army officer in Marseilles confiscated the letter. Before his ship had reached England Murdoch had composed an 8000-word letter to the Australian Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, which he sent on 23 September. His letter praised Australians lavishly but attacked the British army at all levels. It contained many errors and exaggerations but provided ammunition for the anti-Dardanelles faction in London. It contributed to Sir Ian Hamilton's recall on 17 October and to the eventual evacuation of the allied troops.