THE DARDANELLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16577, 28 December 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

MR ASHMEAD-BARTLETT'S CRITICISMS. WHY HE LEFT GALLIPOLI. LONDON, December 26. An article in the Sunday Times asserts that Mr Ashmead-Bartlett at the end of May sent home an outspoken despatch giving the real position at the Dardanelles, which, however, was not passed for publication. Mr Bartlett, when in England in September, saw several leading members of Cabinet, and gave them his views. He was requested to draw wp a memorandum, which he did, declaring the position to be a dangerous impasse, and stating that we could not succeed by a frontal attack, and that gas attacks might drive us into the sea. Mr Bartlett made alternative suggestions. These included securing the Bulgarians' co-operation and a Bulair landing. Mr Bartlett, after the Suvla failure, in defiance of the censorship, sent a strong letter to Mr Asquith by courier, denouncing the conduct of the .expedition. The British Consul at Marseilles seized this letter. Mr Bartlett's connection with the Dardanelles ceased a few days later, on the War Office's instructions. WITHDRAWAL FROM ANZAC. "A MILITARY MIRACLE." LONDON, December 26. The Spectator says: " The withdrawal from the Dardanelles was nothing less than a military miracle. Every Unit and every officer must have been carefully coached and the most minute time-table arrangements made. The Gallipoli Staff has shown that it can achieve the most difficult work with a precision which Germany might envy. "The hard task ahead is the smashing of the threatened attack on Egypt, where the enemy will fight at the greatest disadvantage." THE EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN. SWISS REPORTS. PARIS, December 26. Reports via Geneva confirm the seriousness of Germany's preparations for the expedition against the Suez Canal. Much rolling stock and railway material is being assembled at Rustchuk for despatch to Syria, where the Turkish army, under German officers and instructors, is mobilising, and heavy (artillery is being massed. PROJECTED RAID ON EGYPT. THE BRITISH READY. CAIRO, December 27. (Received Dec. 27, at 8.40 p.m.) General Maxwell, on behalf of the British, Australian, and New Zealand troops in Egypt, has sent a message to the King in response to his Majesty's greetings, containing the following : —" We are proud of the confidence placed l in us# and the share we are taking in the fight for victory." THE MIGHTY INVADING ARMY. DWINDLED TO EIGHT THOUSAND ' ARABS. | • CAIRO, December 27. (Received Dec. 27, at 11.30 p.m.) It is believed that 8000 Bedouins have concentrated at Solium with a view to an attack upon Egypt under German officers landed from a submarine. The British authorities are dealing with the problem j energetically.