THE DARDANELLES

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

HAVE WE FAILED? SIR A. CGNAN DOYLE'S OPINION. IT B-TOO EARLY TO SAY. __ A STRIKING ARTICLE. Received Oat 26, &6 P-»». London, Out. 25. "Have we failed at the Dardanelles!" is a question Sir A. Conan Doyle undertakes to answer in a striking artiele in the Daily Chronicle. In a plea for optimism, and the cessation of unreasonable pessimistic criticism, he writes: "There is great contrast between the German and British press during the last few months, yet in our heart of hearts we are as certain of victory as that tomorrow's sun will shine. Look ion the work for the past fourteen months. We have annexed the German colonies, swept the German ilags (Imperial and commercial) from the ocean, repelled the submarines, conquered southern Mesopotamia, and, greatest of all, raised an enormous voluntary army. The severest critic in the whole world could only point to one place where we had failed, namely, the Dardanelles. ■ißut has there been a failure there?I (believe, if we never force the Straits, that tho enterprise was nevertheless worth the undertaking. We held up a great body of the best troops, who otherwise would foe operating against us or the Russians. General Hamilton had taken off the pressure from General Maxwell on the one side and from General Nixon on the other. But the greatest result was that it thoroughly united us with Russia, who knows that we have spent blood and ships trying to force the gates enclosing her. "Again, we have drawn the Central Powers on to a southern advance, the immediate result being to bring in the Serbians, who for nearly a year have been practically neutral. Could the Central Powers advance to Constantinople, with the Allies entrenched on their flank; or would the Turks welcome the army of the Bulgars and others of their hereditary enemies? And if we even assume theße armies to reach Constantinople, how would they cross the Egyptian desert? It is too early to say that we have failed at the Dardanelles. "Mr. Churchill has beeu criticised for saying we were only a 'ew roiicti from victory, yet that was obviously true. Had he said 'a few months from victory' the criticism would have been intelligible. What he meant was that if we had a victory the prize would be immediately in our hands. "Mr. Churchill did not underrate the formidable task, and it is surely too early to write off the Dardanelles on the debit side of the account." A CANDID CRITIC. REASON FOR SUVLA FAILURE. THE LANDING AT CAPE HELLES. Received Oct. 26, 12,5 a.m. London, Oct. 25. Mr. Nevinson, a war correspondent, iu a lecture on the war at Gallipoli, said the men were shot down so quickly in the landing at Cape Helles that the spectators aboard tile ships inquired why our men were resting, not realising that their fighting days were over. The landing "was one of the most terrible in our history of this war. The French beat us in laying out stores for tren<ihes and encampments, everything being beautifully engineered, and also beat our organisation. The sight of the Australians and New Zealanders filled him with new hope for the race the world over. One of the reasons for the Sutla Bay failure was that of the staff work, though he was inclined to attribute it to the use of new troops who were unaccustomed to the country. They were hurriedly landed and rushed into a tremendous battle, not knowing what hardships meant or anything about bloodshed, wounds, and death. Water was scarce and men almost died from thirst, but they behaved with gallantry on the first night and the next morning, and then suddenly failed, A TURKISH HIT. DAMAGES A TORPEDO BOAT. Received Oct. 28, 12.5 ajn. Amsterdam, Oct. 25. A Turkish communique says: Our gunners damaged an enemy torpedo boat off DJilg Bair, and she was towed to Irnhros. OF GERMAN MANUFACTURE. i 'MORE TURKISH SUCCESSES. London, Oct. 24. The Associated Press correspondent further states that the Turks retook Kiritch Tepe under a German, Lieut.Colonel Wilmers Bey. The position of the Turks is better. They are masters of part of the Anafarta region which they lost, also of a Turkish fortress, and under German commanders cleared the Allies from an important crest west of the Biyuk-Anafarta cemetery. In consequence of losing these positions the Allies to-day have retained themselves in the Anafarta region only. Because of the Turks' immense artillery superiority it is impossible for the Allies to advance at Seddul Bahr by operations conducted within range with reasonable and permissible sacrifices. From a strictly military point of view the Allies' position on the peninsula is more unfavorable to-day than it was on April 2§,

Constantinople, Oct. 24. A communique states: We bombarded a barricade at Anafarta, destroying three machine-guns. We also silenced the artillery fire by land and v sea at Ari Burnn (near Anzac). The enemy at Seddul Bahr fired some thousands of shells on onr left wing without doing damage. DON'T WAIT TILL TO-MORROW' It's little colds that grow into big colds, the big oolds that end in consumption and death. Don't wait till to-mor-row to treat the little colds, for one dose of Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery for Coughs aed Colds will break up a cold if taken at the beginning. Dr. Sheldon's New Discovery is a safe and a Dever-failing remedy. Price. 1/8 and 3/-. Obtainable everywhere

SIR lAN HAMILTON. ON THE HEROES OP ANZAC. London, Oct 64. Sir lan Hamilton reported at the War Office and bad two hours' conference with Lord Kitchener to-day. Sfir. Balfour, Lord Derby and others worn present. Speaking to friends, Sir lan Hamilton was full of praise {or all ranks of Australians and Kew Zealanders. He was deeply touched by his magniflcentj sendoff at Anzac, when bidding farewell to the men. He said that no worldly honors could give him satisfaction equal to the goodwill of the heroes of Anzac. Interviewed in Paris by Lo Journal, Sir lan said he had no knowledge where he would be sent now, but trusted his period of inactivity would be very short. He paid a tribute to the dash and gallantry of the French troops, especially the Algerians. He added that the British troops are alike splendid, from the Cockney to the Australian and New Zeaiander. *

GENERAL BIBDWQOD'S MESSAGE. Received Oct. 25, 0.35 p.m. London, Oct. 25. General Hamilton's references to the Australians and New Zealanders was in reply to General Birdwood's telegram, aa follows:—"Anzac. We greatly regret lyour departure, and in wishing you goodbye all ranks offer 70U, personally, their wry best wishes."