The Dardanelles

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 44, 21 October 1915, Page 5

The Dardanelles

A TURKISH COMMUNIQUE.

ALLEGED OTTOMAN SUCCESS.

United Press AssoorATioN (Eeceived 8.30 a.m.)

Constantinople, October 20

A communique says: There were artillery duels and skirmishes at Anafiirta. Our coast batteries at Araburnu silenced hostile torpedo boats who were unsuccessfully bombarding our position. The enemy on Sunday fired over 1000 shells at Seddul Bahr resultjessly.

THE NEW COMMANDER. London, October 29. The Daily Chronicle says that General Monro's appointment is a striking instance of the emergence of Scottish leadership. Since the war began he has shown all the characteristics of first-rate generalship—instant judgment, unlimited receptiveness of ideas, imperturbability, unflinching courage, the capacity of winning popularity and of inspiring confidence. He went to France to command the second division of the London Territorials, and was given command of the second regular division before Mons. He so distinguished himself in the retreat from the Marne and in the fighting at the Aisne that he was given an Army

Corps. Newspapers interpret General Sir la}i Hamilton's recall a s 'a determination to instil new vigor .'and purpose into the campaign. \ , The Evening News says:—"There is some news that even a icensor cannot suppress. General Monro's appointment comes into this category, and it means that the General ion whom the whole responsibility of | the Gallipoli campaign rested has been (superseded. Despite this fact, we are'still .officially only a few miles from an epoch-making victory, but Lord Milner's doubts are still fresh in the memory. One of | General Monro's first duties will be to determine the grave problem of ; whe-j ther it is expedient to persist in the present plan of the campaign or not. The Evening Standard says that General recall.was not altogether unexpected. General Hamilton's 6 months' command had resulted in many Inriuiant actions, butihad'riofr achieved the purpose the, publip .had. been prepared jfqiv public' fere prepared (; for, f }WWf i I • lf ■ \\\f? w - ere not deceived by politicians, and were told ifmre ctejgfyj .what was -liappemng at th<| Dardanelles. It may safely, be presumed that General Hamilton's report will not be published for years, if ever. His was an extremely difficult task, after the Turks had been given two months in which to prepare their fortifications. The Pall Mall Gazette says that the change in command is not a surprise, but there is danger of overstating rts significance. General Hamilton was con fronted., with. ..stupendous d i fficulties, And neither he nor his heroic troops' have deprecated in public estimation by the failure W yet. obtain a decisive victory, •'.' '.»; <■] ■' < . Lord Robert Cecil, in reply to Mr Outhwaite, said the'.'statement of Sir G. Wl Buchanan, Ambassador at St. Petersburg, must not be':regarded as covering all considerations involved. Lord Cecil added that it would be improper for him to make a statement in regard to the importance attached to the Dardanelles, or any other theatre of war, by any of the Allies. Questions on the notice paper, by Mr Jovnson Hicks, include one asking whether supplies of timber and iron have been disembarked at the Dardanelles to enable winter shelters to be erected for the troops; if not, what steps will be taken to ensure the health of the troops during the winter Other questions are: What number of cases of sickness have been removed from the Dardanelles? Is the proportion of sick and wounded reasonable?