DARDANELLES AND MESOPOTAMIA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2828, 20 July 1916, Page 5

DARDANELLES AND MESOPOTAMIA

THE PROMISED PAPERS FULL DETAILS WITHHELD STATEMENT BY MR. ASQUITH (Hcutcr'a Teleeram.) ■ London, July 18. Speaking in lie House of Commons, . . Mr. Asquith (the Prime Minister) said that the papers regarding the Dnrdan- ■ olios operations could not be published at present except in an incomplete fornix The War Council was unanimously of opiniou that their publication' would assist the enemy. The Army Council was strongly opposed to the publication of the Mesopotamia papers, as they would furnish the, enemy, with' most valuable information. The General Staff was of opinion that their publication would prejudice the success of the operations. Every step in Mesopotamia had been taken by the advice of the military authorities. In regard to the conduct of the campaign, there were undoubtedly " incidents which had aroused ' anxiety and doubt ;is to whether the best means had been adopted to sceure the end in view. A Commission of Inquiry upon tho medical arrangements in Mesopotamia reported that when they left, everything possible was being done. The Government was satisfied that the imper- : fections of tho transport system were . being" romedied.. Eeplying to a suggestion .that the Bar- ■ dauollcs and Mesopotamia question should be discussed at a secret session, Mr. Asquith said we had had one such . .experiment, and it was no great siic. cess. (K-ec. ,Tuly 19, 7.25 p.m.) London, July IS. Mr. Asquith added that the transport difficulties in connection with tho operations in Mesopotamia arose from the ne- ■ cessity of sending seven divisions instead of two. These seven divisions pushed on in advanco of the transport in the hope of effecting tho relief of General Townshond at Kut-el-Amara. Sir Edward Carson said that thousands of people thought that tho whole s>f the Mesopotamian campaign had been con-; ducted with criminal negligence, and asked for-an opportunity to debate tho matter, including tho allegation that our troops had been askod to fight with obsolete guns. _ ; Mr. Asquith promised to afford the House an opportunity on Thursday. . .MEMBERS DISSATISFIED; DEMAND FOB A STRICT INVESTIGATION. Cl!ec. July 19, 8.35 p.m.) London, July 19. ' The Unionist War Committee, dissatis - fied with. Mr. Asquith's atfcitudo regarding . Mesopotamia, and tho Dardanelles, has requested Sir Edward Carson to move for a Select Committee to inquire into the 1 conduct of tho operations in Gallipoli, the- Dardanelles, and Mesopotamia, in-' eluding the requirements for troops, pro- • vision for the sick and wounded, and so fix the responsibility -upon the Departments whose duty it was >to attend to .. these matters. • The Liberal War Committee has tabled a motion, in Sir 3?. Cawley's ; name,; calling for tho produotion of medical reports and other papers. Colonel Churchill has joined this committee, and attended the meeting.