THE GALLIPOLI FIASCO

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 52, 25 November 1919, Page 7

THE GALLIPOLI FIASCO

COLONEL REPIXGTON'S VIEWS. London, November 21. Colonel Repinglon, writing in tho "Morning Post," says: "It was obvious that the seizure of tho Dardanelles was an object of first-class importance, but it was also obvious that the enemv would defend it in (he Inst. Wo should Jiiivo carefully studied tho operations, which we did not. We knocked hard flt tho Turkish door to warn them of our coming, and sent General lan Hamilton after an hour's vague talk with Lord Kitchener. General Hamilton .must often have made longer or better preparation for a week's covert shooting than he was «nabod to make for the Dardauellcs. To attempt such a great adventure while wo were outmatched Franco. wis an'act of supremo folly.

"It was- reallv' a rank injustice to attribute the failure at (lie Dardanelles to the individual faults of officers, when Hie original fault was perpetrated in London. Tlic new divisions sent to Knvl.'t were considered magnificent material, but were totally lacking in war experience, and were commanded by genorals who, with one or two exceptions, bad passed llioir prime. The Commission had done its work fearlessly nnd lionosHy according to its lights; l>ut it cannot claim professional authority to adjudicate upon battles."—Ansi-Jf.Z. Cable Assn.