The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1916. THE DARDANELLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 24, 4 January 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1916. THE DARDANELLES.

A good deal of criticism, some of it well deserved, has been levelled at Mr Asbmead Bartlett, but a Press writer I points out that it is only, fair to him I to state tbat'hir. view with regard to J the Dardanelles, operations is fully (confirmed by Captain Granville FortesI cue, formerly of the United States I Cavalry, and Aide-de-Camp to President Roosevelt, who was the only English-speaking correspondent who saw the (Jiltipoli campaign ironi the Turkish side. In a book which lie has just published, entitled ‘‘W hat of the Dardanelles ?” he holds that the operations on the British side have been a series of blunders. The first mistake was in attempting to force the passage with .ships, without the cooperation of a land force. Ai that time, lie declares, the few troops in the vicinity of Scdd-nl-Hahr and Kum Kale would have been a moutlihd lor a couple of resolute divisions. In spite of many difficulties under which Sir lan Hamilton' 1 s army operated early in June, he considers that he had “a gambler’s chance of success. ’1 bis chance was based upon possible exhaustion of flip Turkish ainiininition. At that time the Turkish Lanclstiirm forces were armed with old-iasnioiied Peiniiigton rifles, and he believes the amount of- ammunition was limited. But we “overlooked tiie German touch.’’ The train which carried Captain Fortescue to Constantinople bad all the seco:ul-d u s compartments Idled with Germans. They were trained ammunition workers on their way to take over the ammunition lat lories ol Turkey. Captain i'ort.vcne nn-

stinted in his aciniirat i«.n of die heroism of the Allied forces as. Mr Ashmead Bartlett liimsolf: “British history,” lu l says “has .no more.brilliant page than the story of the fighting in the Dardanelles. Thousands of men have

I touched tlie highest level of heroism in the battles that raged haek aild forth across the cliffy and gorges of 'Gallipoli. Bravery is a bye-word. ScßI sacrifice has become ah eagerly-sought privilege. No one can "rite ol tin unflinching courage, the uuwavci ing devotion to duty, the uncomplaining sufferings of tho Allied troops m the Dardanelles, without being fulsome.”