EARL KITCHENER'S REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16025, 17 September 1915, Page 7

EARL KITCHENER'S REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

EXTENSION OF THE BRITISH LINE IN FRANCE.

FAILURE OF GERMAN STRATEGY IN RUSSIA

DEMORALISATION OF .THE G ERMAN-DRIVEN TURKS.

GALLANTRY AND RESOURCEFULNESS OF NEWZEALANDERS.

Londox. September 15. A review of the military situation by Earl Kitchener was the feature of to-day's sitting of the House of Lords. Referring to the Gallipoli campaign, Earl Kitchener said that the gallantry and resourcefulness of the Australians and New Zea landers were frequently the subject of eulogy in Sir lan Hamilton's reports. General Birdwood and his staff had greatly distinguished themselves in planning and conducting the operations of the Australasian corps, whose activities were marked by constant success. Their determination overcame apparently-insuperable difficulties, and was no less admirable than their courage in hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy-

Our lines at Gallipoli have been appreciably advanced.- said Earl Kitchener. " Our positions were consolidated in June after considerable reinforcements had arrived. A surprise landing on a large scale was successfully accomplished at Suvla Bay on August 6 without serious opposition. Simultaneously, the Australians and New Zealanders launched an attack from Anzac Cove, and a strong offensive was delivered in the direction of Krith'ia, The French troops, who took a prominent part in the Krithia action, showed to high advantage with their usual gallantry and fine fighting qualities. The attack from Anzac Cove, after a series of hotly-contested actions, was carried to the summit of Sari Bair and Chanak Bair, which are dominating positions in the area. The arrival of transports and disembarkation of troops at Suvla Bay was designed to enable the troops to support the Anzac attack.

ADVANCE NOT DEVELOPED QUICKLY ENOUGH. " Unfortunately the Suvla advance did not develop quickly enough, and the forward movement was brought to a standstill after an advance of two and a-half miles. As a result, the Anzac troops were unable to retain the position on the crest of the hills, and, after being repeatedly counter-attacked, were ordered to withdraw to lower positions. These were effectively consolidated, and now adjoin the line occupied by the Suvla Bay force, forming a connected front of over 12 miles.

" A further attack from Suvla Bay on the Turkish entrenchments was delivered on August 21, but after several hours' sharp fighting it was found impossible to gain the summit of the enemy's hills. The intervening space being unsuitable for defence, the troops were withdrawn to their original positions. Comparative quiet has since prevailed, and the troops have been given a much-needed rest. " It is not easy to appreciate at their full value the enormous difficulties attending the operations in the Dardanelles, and the fine temper in which our troops met them. There is abundant evidence that a process of demoralisation has set in among the German-led, or rather German-driven, Turks, due doubtless to the extremely heavy losses and the progressive failure of their resources. It is only fair to acknowledge that, judged from a humane standpoint, the Turkish methods of warfare are vastly superior to those which disgraced their German masters.

Throughout, the co-operation of the fleet had been intensely valuable, and the concerted action of the sister services had been in the highest degree satisfactory."

ALLIES' IMPREGNABLE FORTIFICATIONS IN THE WEST.

Turning to the western front, Earl Kitchener said that reinforcements amounting to eleven divisions had enabled General Sir John French to extend his lines and take over 17 miles from General Joffre. The front held by the allies in the west had been practically unchanged for the last few months, but this did not mean relaxation of the activity of the forces in the field. Continuous local fighting all along the line called for incessant vigilance. Meanwhile, the positions had been much strengthened by careful elaboration of the trench fortifications and a large increase in the number of heavy guns. The Germans on several occasions recently used gas and liquid fire, and bombarded the lines with asphyxiating shells. These attacks