GALLIPOLI WITHDRAWAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 12 January 1916, Page 5

GALLIPOLI WITHDRAWAL

INSISTED ON BY GENERAL JOFFRE.

The following-. cable ' message, dated Paris, 23rd November, is published m the "New York Tribune":— _ • General Joff re's recent visit to, London changed the entire British! plan of campaign in the Near East. He insisted on the° practical abandonment of thevDar-danelles-expedition, and also on .fcrieat Britain's sending not only the" Gallrooh forces to Serbia, but every other man who could possibly be spared. . ■ > rf- Even before General Joff re went :to London the British had withdrawn-prac-tically three-quarters of their troops from Gallipoll. The remaining fourth were to hold the positions won as far as they were' able. ■lt already*had been realised that the 'weather I 'would prevent communication between the supply ship's and the shore for many days longer, and all agreed that any further attempts to pierce the Turkish positions would be sheer madness. It was never intended that Sir ! Charles C. Monro, the successor to Sir ! lan Hamilton, should make any more • .attacks.- He was merely sent to comI mand the retreat. •. . General Joffre spared no pains in. vigorously forcing his views on the British Cabinet aind t|he General} Staff. JHe told them plainly that the battle of Loos had had no practical value whatever. In his opinion the' result attained was in no way commensurable withthe expenditure of life and munitions. According -to .Joffre, the position on the left was a- stalemate, and hope of any real success was next to impossible. The only hope was to' make a great effort by way of the Balkans. Opposition to these views was exceedingly strong at first, but Joffre battered down all obstacles, and ultimately was allowed a free hand. Consequently, the British, troops on the way from Gallipoh were diverted to. Salonika, where they are now being landed. Moreover 80,000 men from England were immediately placed -under orders for Serbia, while all the men available from France will also be transhipped as soon as possible. It is more than likely that the great war will be decided in the Balkans after all. . The one factor that decided the British Cabinet on the point was the belief of the Foreign Office in London that Germany would never be able to form any alliance between the Balkan Powers. The view was strongly held thai Tuvkey would never allow Bulgaria to fight on her territory, and vice, versa although individually ■■ each was ready to aid Germany. On this account it was confidently believed that a .cleavage between the Turks and Bulgars might eventually be manoeuvred. I Most military authorities believe that ' the Balkan campaign will not be long, but at the same time they fully expect j it to be the most sanguinary of the en- ! tiro war.