The Dardanelles

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 18, 24 December 1915, Page 5

The Dardanelles

TURKS’ CAPTURE OF ARI BURNU I BOMBARDMENT BY WARSHIPS, [United Press Association.] Amsterdam, December 22. A Turkish communique states that the booty at Ari Burnu included many mules. The enemy warships all day long bombarded the camps, endeavouring to destroy the booty. FLIGHT TO THE MOUNTAINS. It 1 ' 1 .,, ■ 'Geneva, December 23. British warships, unexpectedly bombarding, compelled the Turks at Ari Burnu to flee to the mountains. Eight hundred were killed or wounded. ASHMEAD BARTLETT INTERVIEWED, TRIBUTE TO AUSTRALASIANS. London, December 22.

In a special interview Mr Ashmead Bartlett said: “I am afraid the evacuation of Suvla and An/.ac pomes as' a bitter disappointment to ( Australia and New Zealand, but it has not surprised me, because I have long foreseen that the course was absolutely essential; in fact ( it was the only one adoptable, in my opinion., After the failure of the grand attack from August 6 to 10 we .stood no chance of advancing from the present positions. “Bulgaria’s interventions atc once changed the entire character *of the campaign, because it became impossible for ds to adopt the only sound strategic scheme by which we could achieve definite and decisive successes , namely,) the landing of an army north of the Bui air lines, thus severing the Turkish communications with Thrace and Constantinople.

“Since my return from the Dardanelles we have most reluctantly, both in the press and privately, advocated the withdrawal from these two positions. I think the Government acted courageously. It would have incurred terrible responsibility in keeping the troops there during the winter months.' i

“Nations have shown the highest qualities, not wlien they' were marching ■td uninterrupted success, -j but when facing trials, reverses, and dis■appointnifents] 1 The people of Austnili aand New Zealand .will meet the. crisis in .the ,same| jjpirlt*' s as the heroes of Anzac, faced thb grim hills,of'Gallipoli,. ;i M ,-i • ’ .mmio

“I .have, just Returned from a short tpuv, i'apd I: jfQinid ’ill eVery town in England, Scotland, and Ireland the same feeling of affection and gratitude towards the Australians and New Zealanders for the glorious services they have rendered the Empire. It was universally agreed that success counts littleHcompared with, the : wonderful page added to history by the courage, determination, and steadfast endurance shown by all our ttfdiiplS -bn the j 'peninsula' ! Whether from the Dominions or 'HoniA The l sanqe, .moral foijce will win the war rattier than decisive' ill the That is Kvhy we are on the high road to victory. ' The lasting unity of the Empire has been sealed with the. blood of Gaiii|oll. : “Let us not talk of loss of prestige, for the graves; at Anzac will ever keep our honor and reputation alive in the mind of Ottoman soldiers. If we failed to obtain our immediate objective we should not regard it as a tragedyj Rather let it be an incentive to find another way. ( • “Let us forget the errors of the past and start afresh, determined to complete the work of the heroes who lie buried but never forgotten amidst the grim hills of Anzac. Whether we lose or win at Gallipoli, Australia and New Zealand have written their names indelibly, not only there,'but also on the heart of every Englishman.” ' ' y '