DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 116, 14 February 1928, Page 9

DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN

BRITISH WITHIN AN ACE OF SUCCESS “DECISION OFTEN HUNG ON KNIFE EDGE” INTERESTING REVELATION BY VON SANDERS By Telegraph—Press- Association.—Copyright. (Rec. February 13, 8.15 p.m.) London, February 13. Marshal Liman von Sanders’s book, “Five Years in Turkey,”' which has just been translated into English, ’contains the interesting revelation that in the Dardanelles crises the decision often hung on a knife-edge. Marshal von Sanders adds: “Had the British succeeded, the fortress of the Straits'would have been quickly silenced, as it had little ammunition, and thus there would have been no further difficulties in the way to Constantinople. After the failure of the naval attack it was clear to me that Britain would not relinquish such an obvious prize. Fortunately, a full month elapsed, enabling us to complete the most ’ indispensable arrangements. Though the British underestimated the powers of the Turks, it was most fortunate for us that the British attacks did not last more than a day. There were punctual pauses for several days.” Marshal von Sanders says the British, had they but known it, were within an ace of success. [Marshal Liman von Sanders was head of the German military mission in Turkey, and was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish forces.]