THE DARDANELLES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8303, 23 November 1915, Page 6

THE DARDANELLES.

RUSSIAN CRITIC'S VIEW.

FAVOURS WITHDRAWAL

(SONCEfaTRATION. 3N BALKAfiS.

TO CONSTANTINOPLE THROUGH

MACEDONIA

PETROGRAD, November 21. General Shumsky, reviewing tho Dardanelles operations in the "Bourse -iSS-azette;" assumes that General Monro's report favours the withdrawal from the standpoint of strategy. The original landing on Gallipoli was open to fserious objection na it was clear that the ultimate fate of the Dardanelles would be decided in Berlin. Nevertheless the landing attracted the main body of the Turks and relieved the pressure on Egypt and the Caucasus. The capture of Constantinople was not feasible, as it would have demanded a larger force than could have been safely spared. The first attack on the Straits proved that no fleet in the world could overcome coastal fortifications, however weakly defended. It was now clear that the Anglo-French forces are divided into three partswhile the enemy is in a single compact mass. He-nco General Mqnro's report urges the necessity of leaving Gallipoli.

General Shumaky states, thab it would he more than inexpedient to leave the Balkans. The- Austro-Germans cannot be permitted to strengthen their hr.ro.-iu resources by Balkan contmgouts, or to,

use- <i free passage to Asia Minor and Egypt. General Monro evidently recommends the concentration of' tho throe groups of Allied armies in the Balkans, which is imperatively demanded by the principles of strategy. Victory in Macedonia would open the road to Constantinople more speedily than the slow siege operations oil Gallipoli.