The Daily News. MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1916. A JAUNDICED CRITIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1916. A JAUNDICED CRITIC.

The publication of Oneral Sir lan Hamilton's dispatch relative tu tho operations at Sin la ami Au/ac in Angust Inst lias evoked from the London Daily Telegraph's military correspondent what practically amounts to a damning indictment against those highest in command as well as the subordinate generals. 'Hie fact that (his severe criticism has passed the censor places the views impressed by the military correspondent on :lic same plane as those advanced not long since by Mr. Ashmead Bartlclt. It was a matter of no little wonder that Mr. Dartlett's denunciation of the (jallipoli campaign was allowed to be published, and now we have a drastic criticism of the conduct of the chief in command - and of his subordinates. There are not wanting those who find it difficult to justify the parading of military shortcoming's at this critical period of the war, and it' is not easy to lind a sufficient reason for creating a feeling of distrust in those responsible for carrying out the operations decided upon by the supreme military authorities, and it becomes a matter of great gravity when military correspondents are permitted to infer that leading commanding officers have been guily of culpable negligence in the nonperformance of duties, thereby leading to the failure of important operations. Oeneral Hamilton and bis aubordinates are.in the awkward position that they cannot clear tlteniaelves of the

charges levelled against them, so that in the eyes of the .world they are branded with incompetence. The public should be very chary of passing judgment on the inculpated officers before hearing the other side of the cape. Ah ; the matter stands at present it would be just as reasonable to believe that the publication of the criticism was intended to screen the supreme authorities from all blame connected with the Gallipoli campaign, upon which Mr. Bartlett considers Britain should never have been entered. It must, however, be remembered that had the campaign succeeded it would have materially shortened the war, and great as is the

regret that so many heroes found a last resting place on the Peninsula, having fought and died in vain—so far as the actual goal was concerned —yet, beyond all question, the operations were entirely justified, and no good purpose can be served by besmirching the com-mander-in-chief and his subordinates. Like most of the military correspondents the Daily Telegraph's mouthpiece states what General Hamilton ought to have done, and blames him for not doing it, although: questioning whether an operation of such a delicate nature gav« sufficient promise of success to justify the attempt. Therein lies the whole secret of the tirade, and yet we have it on record that but for a most unfortunate accident the operations would have succeeded, and then the fall of Constantinople would speedily have fol lowed. It is somewhat surprising that this heaven-born military genius, who is earning his living as a newspaper correspondent, did not comment upon tlie one matter which has been puzzling most intelligent readers of the war news, namely, why General Hamilton considered the evacuation of Suvla and Anzac impossible after the way in which tho Turks had been hoodwinked, as described in General Hamilton's dispatch. To most people, after reading in that dispatch how cleverly the plans for the movements of the forces had been elaborated in connection with the landing movements, it would seem as a matter of course that the same skill and tactics would have enabled the retirement, to be carried out with equal success, and this contention is justified by the marvellous result achieved when the withdrawal actually took place later. The correspondent evidently has a very pcor opinion of the army chief*, both before and during the war, and he seems to be eager to embrace the opportunity 'of expressing his contempt for them. That fact alone should rob his outburst of its intended sting.