YESTERDAYS WAR NEWS

Grey River Argus, 12 April 1916, Page 7

YESTERDAYS WAR NEWS

GALLIPOLI EVAGUATION. CENEARL MONRO'S DESPATCH. RECORD OF A GHASTLY FAILURE. ETERY POSSIBLE MILITARY DEFECT. LONDON, April 10. General Monro's despatch dealing 1 with the evacuation of Gallipoli has been published. General Monro was instructed on October 20th to report on the military situation and advise whether to evacuate or persevere ; also the number of troops required to carry the Peninsula and take Constantinople. General Monro found the position of the troops unique in history, possessing every possible l military defect. They were completely subjected -to Turkish artillery fire. The nosition w^is without depth with" communication insecure, depending on the weather. There were no means of concealing or deploying fresh troops for an offensive. Further, the Turks possessed full powers of observation and supplemented the natural advantages pf the position by all the devices of the field engineer. General Monro found the troops suffering from various causes. There was the strain of continuous exposure to shell fire, wherefrom it was impossible to withdraw. Then every corner on the Peninsula was exposed to hostile fire. The troops were also much enervated by an epidemic of summer diseases. They were gravely uuder-officred owing to losses in the earlier batttles ; also through the makeshift 'mingling of jtoot and. mounted lnen neces-< sary for holding- the front. This | did not tend to efficiency. The other irrefutable arguments which convinced him that complete evacuation was the only course were : The Turks were able to hold Gallipoli with a small force and to prosecute designs on Egypt and Baghdad; also a British advance from the present positions was 1 improbable, and an advance on Constantinople quite out of the suestion. The troops could in any case be more usefully employed elsewhere. General Monro assumed suinreme command of the Mediterranean armies, appointing Sir Charles Bird wood to command the Dardanelles. He ordered the evacuation on December Bth, and General Bird wood proceeded with skill and promptitude, which qualities are characteristic of all he. undertakes. It had been previously decided to make a feint attack, which the text books regarded « s essential to cover evacuation. This would be worse than useless and would certainly arouse. Turkish suspicions. General Monro decided that normal life on, land and sea should proceed as long as possible. The despatch then deals briefly with Anzac and Suvla. Several fresh facts concerning Helles are noted. It mentions that the evacuation was retar/led by the loss of a large horse ship which was accidentally sunk by a French battleship. Everything depended on the weather. When all was ready on the night of January a a storm unexpectedly worked up, washing away the piers. A submarine reported in the evening that when quitting the Straits the battleship Prince George, with 2000 men, while sailing towards Mudros, was torpedoed at midnight. The torpedo did not explode. The expedition left 500 animals at Helles, most of which were destroyed at, tire last moment. General Moivro recognises that the quantities oi: stores destroyed or abandoned was considerable, but the great aim was to save the men and guns and ammunition. They could not take risks. Thus if the evacuation were to be completed it demanded good luck and skilled organisation. These were forthcoming in a marked degreo at the hour needed. General Birdwood and the Corps' Commanders' arrangements could not Ibe surpassed for skill, competence and courage. General Monro mentions that is a. result of a rain blizzard on November 21st there were 200 deaths from exposure, while 10,000 were sick, chiefly at Suvla. General Monro. shortly furnishes a distinguished conduct list. • The despatch covers the Serbian expedition to the withdrawal to Salonika. It shows that the 10th Division from Suvla was sent to support the Frer.ch. - When the French effort to link up the Serbians failed withdrawal was ordered in accordance with previous arrangements between the Alli'.ed Governments.