OUR FAILURE IN THE DARDANELLES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2632, 30 November 1915, Page 8

OUR FAILURE IN THE DARDANELLES

IBEpVALOUROP IGNORANCE

' LORD 7 SYDENHAM ON REGENT - CRITICISM

St Telegraph-Press Associa,t!on-Oopyriiht ( and Sydney "Sun""Services.) (Sec.'- November 29, 6.25 p.m.) . .London, November 28. .j. Lord:; Sydenham, in a', letter.-to the ■■•"Times," commenting on-Mr. Ashmead Bajtlett's opinions, say's /that "the information, available, -does not-indicate ■ that any except naval opinion had.'been ;sought , in; connection' with.'the ' opera:,tions prior to'the landing on Gfillipoli, •yet the fateful decision of February .was. one-equally for the artilleryman ■and the . engineer. "There was ample information to Isave U3 from a blunder of the first.'magnitudes but apparently there was one'set of'expert opinions; others had never been consulted." He recalls looking at'the old forts at-Seddul Balir and Kum Kale, and thinking them excellent targets, "but the real defences of the Narrows are absolutelyimpregnable to a naval attack, and a conscientious study of the chart should hffive \ rendered that fact obvious. Extensive mine-sweeping was impossible because of the 'conoealed Turkish guns. The attack on March 18' was a gallant 'enterprise, >but ; it should never have been attempted." ' •V- Cabinet, he added', needed the aissistTtncp .of a Counoil or Imperial Defence, which he. (Lord Sydenham) had advocated twenty-four, years ago. If that had now been existing it would have saved us from these Dardanelles enterprises, with -their heavy sacrifices and : great anxiety; - The idea of sanding » fleet to the, Sea-of Marmora was an excellent one, and it could have- been ' earned out successfully if the attempt mado had been based on the expeinence •of war. ■■ 1

FATAL BREAKING OF THE ICE

SIX GIRLS DROWNED. (E.V Teleuraph.—Press Asnooiatlon.)' \ . (Roc. November 29, 0.50 p.m.) London,-November 29. Owing to the breaking of the ico -at Eallamarahl", ji'ear (six" •'girls ■were drowned.