ASHMEAD BARTLETT’S REVELATIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1467, 2 November 1915, Page 4

ASHMEAD BARTLETT’S REVELATIONS.

SOME HOME TRUTHS ABOUT THE DARDANELLES.

LONDON, Oct. 27. There wore 2500 present, in the Queens Hall at Mr Aslnneud Bartlett's lecture on the Dardanelles. He emphasised the necessity of saying nothing helpful to the enemy. Whatever criticism we indulge in regarding the after events, we must admit” that the scheme was a great conception. The importance of opening a passage to Russia's Black Sea ports must be obvious to everyone. Unfortunately Britain entered on the expedition without real knowledge of the Turkish strength. Turkey was thought to he on its last legs. It was believed that “the sick man of Bn rope" was sicker Ilian ever. They wore also led astray by reports of great Russian victories in (lie Caucasus, but, I hough the Russians smashed the 'Turks they were unable to follow up their victory. Mr Bartlett estimated that there were at" least. 800,000 Turks under anus, and this was a. big number for Britain to tackle in view of her commitments elsewhere. Mr Bartlett proceeded to detail tlie Australian landing by the help ol largo mavis. , . Referring to the-naval operations, he said it was quite impassible to justify the use of the large surplus pre-Dreadnought fleet to attempt to force the Dardanelles, rnforlnnatelv. there was little co-ordina-tion of the milifary and naval operations, not on I v at the Dardanelles, hut. throughout Hie war. After the outer cats were demolished on 251 h February the graver problem of the Narrows arose Here direct naval gunfire was of little use, aeainsi suns behind earthworks, nevertlie--1 ”s's tile 14-inch Kvttpp and roast batteries would not have stopped the fleet m the narrowest passage, which is 1400 yauls. Three lines of mines west, ol the Narrows made (be task impossible, despite the heroism of the trawlers and minesweepers. I he. a Hack which followed the Conned of Mar on 18lh March was H remarkable sea light sinee Trafalgar. After the naval battle Mr Bartlett dined with several of the Turkish Embassy at Rome, and officials showed linn reports from Constantinople disclosing that the , Turks were extremely I l ightened by the fearful noise ot the bombardment, but they firmly believed that Divine J’rovnlence was protecting them since (here was practically no damage, only 2b being killed and 40 wounded, and two gnus were destroyed. Mr Bartlett told Admiral de Rcheek this. The Admiral said lam surprised. I thought wo onlv destroyed one gun.” Mr Bartlett added, Iho diplomatists let ns down badly. After Hie Turks were given warning on 19th February we undertook (he landing with far too small a force. it- consumed of (1m 29th Division, a Naval Division, an Australian Division and two-tliinls ol u Division of mixed Australians and New Zealanders.- These started the desperate attack on tlie whole Turkish Empire, the history of the world contains no more remarkable episode than the way they got ashore and hold then; own Hie hist dav. \\ v a had tho most gallant troops. lm( \\< lacked preliminary ami other organisation that other nations consider essential to a landing. It enabled the. magnificent laxly of Australians ami New Zealanders to write one of Hie greatest (.ages of history. “I have never seen snob determination in anv body of men. The Australians and Now Zealanders were delighted at »>" entrusted with such a colossal task. .Attn tbeir initial success they pressed "diind. hut at Ihe end of Hie day we heard that things were not going well ami the(olihiials were likely to he driven hack to H e beach. 'This crisis was rMerred to ~ n lan Hamilton. No more diliicult problem was ever (.laced boforj a commander but he boldlv (ml his foot down and fold the colonials'to hold, on. (Great cheers.) .1 he colonials resisted every attack and by night were finally, able thoroughly to establish themselves." nil. Allies A popular query is, Why did Hi. Am s not persevere with the attack on the Asiatic side t” The fact was they had hardly enough troops to hold C ape l elles. and it was essential to bring back the I'reneh, when we extended our lines Anut hei possibility was a landing at Bidair, bn Hu.ie>)i the naval demonstration reveal'd no 'Turks, we landed no troops. Lape Holies WHS select oil lieeiinso the landing ( , im l,| he easily covered by Hie lire ol Hi. 1)1 Mr Bartlett considers the binding -H An/ae was unwise, as our bauds were fn 1 at t’ape Hellos withstanding the Turkish enim.er-attiicks. H the Australians had been put ashore at Cape Helles Hum would have been enough men to capline a" balm. U would not have been decisive hut useful in view ot future operate, us ' 'The task of the Australians was ?' U T i 'l. 1 TIS, 'jmiMm-' n. ™ -S'I nn ( ...ling to surrender the Dai n i im English divisions coni limed to dn ' n ,nd vMue used for various local ! 'u l rh’ to idle purpose. False optimism attacks to I I. IV oplo denied to think'V an accident that the Turks held f J lom hut in reality they were becoming more skilful ami i .:iv Tl.otr positions at Aclubaiia anu ' e were stronger Hum at, Plevna. A T ,lions on Callipob were severely 1 l’, ■ o.eil bv I’m- diflienlty of getting con- ' , d . i .l -.’iiilh-i’v (ire 11(1011 tile trenches, ‘ ‘ Ui'.i'm I the British Cabinet, in July do--7 ferric ?' ,r„t -astride Bnlair. and with on. .1v i r;;; t, 1 ;'ll;;. 'S.-'" 'j„r;S tr iii;r'in. 5 1“' ,,, 1. ''A „f Bulgaria's indewas sacrificed. In n'» , 1 ito rm - best course would bave men to dii^lengtia 1 o'i^ wliiclV invite alone, t)u- sea cornmm.u-ation was equalß lengthy, though Hie Navv umleitook ■ land troops anywhere. Ia- ' i no\%< al An/ac MicrccfUl M i Ji.ntl (, ■ com iiic.-d that- it did Mol J ll " 1 ;" }\°t ['.ft Const a lIS llir ‘ '"A" . nm | the channel beyond the NarioWs nn H - I , 1,, til. isea ol Marmora. I'.wn il a::. : e.l to ('edit in anv climate, ihe all.uh d.Lei-ve '.ill honour ami coiisidevaiion, Imt weve untrained and .dddiishio.'.-d, • I r es. the world, and it was impos '. nu'C mpplv’ihu tfnvlu ‘'-oops with water jiart ieiija rly T , i, l , ; kl^.l , |( j*”' 1 ' opcMdious'"at Suv u\ve.Vta,- .Uiflivult in lacy ot inmb or . rille lire. The Australians a - N Zealanders af Auzuc p.V.t- up a light, ami the great .tragedy »£- H . 1 - fc t l*, a , k not. SIKAH-'Clk’lL llll'V Ijopt 1 . " '■■■i ] * the position to gel. to ( onstaiitiiio .h . b it is useless to hide Hie lact that they had il “be^tbe'lVulga' rian aliacli.-s found Unit -WL 1,;.J iidlud they n»port«'tl that thou ( d<l the other side would win. . Now that, "the. Bulga/mms -amt 'Turks are (omed „p. and the Alisti'ifleriuaiis are eoi.uu-, south it- is too mill'll to J.one that, we will reach’ Constantinople. 1 (Wl .H/nik we advance any turtbev m the D,.rdaII Tho’pb'dge to help Serbia was made with .pi honourable iul.ent.on.s, and at would 1,.i i ii(., if wo were liljable to redeem itu, P L must not go under or ppiko terms. .Seibni m ■ . p, pour troops { \ U Tim aro ri.oimou '' in'* tho mountainous count ry. Ihe ’■dlwav cut no mad, .and it is equally unpossibie W •)," a (-ampaigu H Sblo, 0«r .nfctuW wash, nrrt going arc now able to send 1M«« to “'ly, l A fi„; North-Fast in three nr four • u,u t ~(-(> three or four weeks, ll.‘r troojis arrive'in the worst condition When WC direct our forces mto the nght channel the real e«d will begin.” Air’BartleH declared that what our submarines achieved /n tho h-ea «t Marmora was so marvellous that yJjeu the complete tulo is told it will aluios.t atnm> my 'lie other pubtakes iu the (aeuinsula*