A HUGE MISTAKE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2606, 30 October 1915, Page 5

A HUGE MISTAKE

GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN LORD BRASSEY'S VIEWS By Telegraph-Press Aseociation-iJopyTigM London, October 28. Lord Brassey, interviewed by tho Australian Press Association on his return from a visit in liis yacht Sunbeam to the Mediterranean and tho Dardanelles region, gives striking comments ou the campaign. Ho said: "1 never mot any officer, naval or military, who was not of tho opinion that the operation contemplated in tlio Dardanelles, from every viewpoint, was a huge mistake. Wo were forced to undertake the Dardanelles Expedition' on account of pressure by Russia, who 6aid, 'wo are fighting very hard, you must try and open tlio Dardanelles.' The Foreign Office felt the justice of the Russian representations, and no doubt urged tho Admiralty to act. Mr. Churchill is a dashing administrator, but ho did not know" how difficult the operation would be/ Orders wero accordingly given to the fleet to undertake tho task. "Having failed in tho first attempt by naval means alono, it was decided late in tho day that there should be a combined naval and military operation. It took considerable time to preparei both forces, and under German officers tho Turks had full timo to prepare. When tho 6econd attempt was ready. Gallipoli was a fortress of first-class magIt was absolutely impregnable. V«o tried to land men at the three least-prepared places, with fearful sacrifices. Sir lan Hamilton, who has a high reputation, was exceedingly anxious to carry out the _ utterly impossible task placed upon him by tho Government. Ho appealed for reinforcements, and Egypt was depleted of Australians and New Zealandprs. He tried to penetrate tho Peninsula of Gallipoli, which pro./ Bented insurmountable obstacles to the moving of artillery. "I say that it was perfectly impossible to get guns into positions for a' bombardment. Attack after attack was made, hoping against hope. One doctor told me lie saw men climb a difficult 6lope. • Invisible gunners wero lat the top waiting till they were in view, when they mowed the men down. All this happened again and again. I consider tho Government should have mucli earlier realised tho futility of tho at' tack, and stopped the useless slaughter.

"When I was at Lemnos a ship sent there by tho Red Cross Society was full of supplies, but there was no person in authority to distribute. In that oxtremity the captain asked me to help with clothes for tho Australians, many of whom needed them sorely. We gottogether pyjamas and such other things we coiild provide, and temporarily ro' lieved tjiem." SOME FURTHER OPINIONS. BY JIR. ASHMEAD BARTLEW. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)' (Recj October 29, 5.15 p.m.) London, October 28.

Mr. Ashmead Bartlott, in a spocial interview with the Sydney "Sun" London correspondent, stated that it was impossible for tho Fleot alone to pierce the Dardanelles, and the attempt was 8%. . The original Expeditionary Force also was far too small, the troops were insufficeint for anything further than, landing on the nilla. It would have been wiser never to have landed at Aiizac. After the failure, at Achi Baba, and tho final attack on May 8 the whole expedition should have been seriously reconsidered, having learnt the fighting strength of the Turks, but tho Staff seemed to have a desiro to avoid facing facts. ■ The subsequent attacks on Aclu Baba, involving, as they did, a tremendous loss, should never have been inade. Wo advanced from June 4 to 28, and" from July 12 to 13, and then, having lost 30,000 to 40,000 men, tho attacks .were suddenly abandoned. Even if wo had taken Achi Baba wo would have been faced with even a stronger position in the Kilid Bahr salient.

Of all the troops engaged he specially praised the Australasians. Bulgaria has entirely changed tho situation, and it is futile to try and save Serbia b ya few scratch divisions from Salonika. The great danger in these Balkan adventures is tho huge distances to the bases, whereas our enemies have the advantage of interior lines. A FAREWELL ORDER. (Rec. October 29, 11.5 p.m.) London, October 29. Sir lan Hamilton, in his farewell order, thanked all ranks at the Dardanelles for the wonderful way they had seconded his efforts to lead them towards a decisive victory which ho had implicit confidence they would achieve! under Sir Charles Monro..