MUDDLED WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23027, 3 May 1938, Page 11

MUDDLED WAR

GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN HIGH COMMAND ATTACKED GENERAL SIR lAN HAMILTON SPEECH AT ANZAC DINNER By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, April 25 Strong criticism of the Gallipoli campaign was voiced last night by General Sir lan Hamilton at a reunion dinner of Australian ex-service-men who are living in London. Sir Tan Hamilton, who was Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force during the Great War, said that the Australians at the Dardanelles were left without artillery, trench-mortars and munitions. "All that I urge," said Sir Tan Hamilton, "is that now, in peace time, we take to heart the lessons of a badly muddled war and the muddled peace into which it fittingly subsided. Tempo Speeded Up "Tn the Imperial conferences and consultations we should remember that the tempo of the Empire has been speeded up, and that some things that formerly were possible are now impossible. There is no better instance of this than Germany's demand for colonies. "When I inspected the old Australian Army in 1013 the troops committed every fault known to sergeant-majors, but they were fine troops, who showed surprising dash and individualism. "By 2000 A.D. it will be understood that in 1915 the directing minds of the British Empire had not grasped the fact that the whole tempo of life, of strategy and tactics, was already being marvellously speeded lip. "The Germans at Loos could not be turned out of their positions by a flanking movement, so, rather than do nothing, our generals must kill the Germans, even though they killed twice as many Soots and English in doing so. Left Without Munitions "They forgot that Australia at the Dardanelles was left without artillery, trench-mortars and munitions, because of protests by the French and British general headquarters in France. "A man like Marlborough would have seen that that was not the way to hold the Empire together. He would have realised that the Anzacs were just as much a part of the Imperial show as himself.

"Instead of cursing and grudging even the few rounds of ammunition that were sent, he would have understood that he could lend them arms, because, after a fortnight, when the Anzaes and the fleet and the rest of them had battered their way through the Straits, he could have brought the loaned material back to France. What Napoleon "Would Have Done "Had it been Napoleon, he would have given modern facilities for movement. After we had brought off the landing he would have kicked me out and taken command of the Dardanelles himself. "Then, indeed, a glorious page of history would have been unrolled —the storming of Constantinople and a march by the British on Vienna, with Australia in the van. "These are not wild fancies —but it is useless crying over spilt things—whether milk, blood or gold."