The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1915. THE DARDANELLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 71, 23 November 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1915. THE DARDANELLES.

It is almost beyond our conception in this far-off dependency, that British statesmen should expose the contents of a confidential report on a military situation which it seems highly desirable the enemy should be kept in ignorance of until definite action is taken, in mere political discussion. Freedom of speech is a very fine thing, but it certainly seems that Lord Ribblesdale reached the limit in his pressure on the Government for information regarding Lord Kitchener's mission to the East and what was going to be done in the Dardanelles. Mr Thomas, M.P.j describes Lord Ribblesdale's outburst as "frankly treasonable," and if it proves on investigation that he had nothing better than mere curiosity or the desire for the limelight to urge him to the course he took, he ought certainly to be indicted. Another view has, however, been put forth by the Auckland Star in possible explanation of Lord Ribblesdale's astonishing questions, and that is that light may be thrown upon the matter from a consideration of the fact that Lord Ribblesdale is Mv Asquith's lirother-in-iaw, and a peer who is very ' unlikely to ask indiscreet and undesirable questions. Therefore 'it may pretty well be inferred that the enemy will gain very little serviceable information regarding the truth to the •'common report" about General Monro's opinion in favor of abandoning Gallipoli from the interchange of confidences between the gentlemen who have thus surprised the world with this sudden manifestation of frankness. The successful resumption of the offensive by our forces on the Peninsula does not look much like abandonment, but on this matter it may be concluded that the public are not much wiser than the enemy regarding the intentions of the Government with respect to military operations in the Near East. We certainly prefer this explanation to the thought that a member of the House of Lords could bo so amazingly indiscreet as kord Itibbiesdale appears, on the surface, to-ha\e been in his utterances.