THE IMPERISHABLE STORY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19020, 16 November 1923, Page 6

THE IMPERISHABLE STORY.

LORD FISHER EAGER TO COMMAND. EVERYBODY’S BLOOD WAS UP!” THE SECOND VOLUME OF WINSTON CHURCHILL'S MEMOIRS. Copyright. Rights of Production Acquired by the Otago Daily 'limes. X. Had the 29th Division been sent as originally decided, from February 22 onwards, it would have reached the scene by the middle of March instead of nearly a month later—namely, about April 11. Had it h&en pack ©cl on th© transports iu order ot battle, it would have gone into action within a few days of its arrival. -Ml f* le other troops allocated to this theatre were either conveyed to Lemnos from England tar France, or were waiting with transports alongside at Alexandria by March 17 or 18 From the 20th onwards they were all available (so far as sea. transport was concerned) f or an operation upon the Gallipoli Peninsula. „ „ ~ , The concentration of all troops allotted, including the French division, was effected as promised by the Admiralty punctuall y to the date named —namely. March 17. it 0 naval attack reached its culminating point on the 18th. No large Turkish reinforcements had yet reached the Peninsula. Bu without the 29th Division the army could do nothing. This was the .vita key division, the solo regular whose movements and ar ? ,val c{ f,°' crn ®T everything. Therefore four-fifths ot the force assigned to this theatre were concentrated punctually as ar pY ge ’ th t the indispensable remaining fifth, without which they could not act, was three weeks behind them. Thus they were all renflßv'thTmiddle of March we had therefore reached a turning point not only m the naval operations but m the whole enterprise. Hitherto no serious risks have been run, no losses have been sustained, and no important forces deeply engaged, in® original Carden plan of gradual piecemeal reduction has been pursue . . < failed, but it has lagged, and it is now so feebly pressed as almost to be at a standstill Meanwhile, time is passing. - ■■ a month has gone since we opened fire. What are the Turks doing . Clearly J mmt be reinforcing, fortifying, laying new m es erecting new torpedo-tubes, mounthTnev, guns'"under the organising energy of their German instructors. the Germans themselves been doing. It Ivmikl probable take .bml • »».«. » ■“<' submarines from the Elbe to the Egean. TLive thev been sent? Are they on men Sy" How far off are they? Ihey may be'very near. This vas a rapidly growing anxiety. It was also a spur. Surely now the moment has been reached to re view the position and policy. Surely this is the very moment ore seen from the beginning when, if mattew did not go as we hoped, if the resistance of the forts proved too strong, we could, if we choose, break off the operation. Observe we could, m fact, do it in a moment. One gesture with the wand, and the whoL armada assembled at the Dardanelles, or moving thither —battleships, cruisers, degtroyers. trawlers, supply snips, transports •would melt and vanish away. Evening would close on a mighty navy engaged in a ■worldarresting attack: and the sun might rise on empty seas and silent shores. WHY NOT CRY QUITS? Further was not this the moment to consider alternatives? 'Hie prolonged bombardment of the Dardanelles had assuredly drawn continually increasing Turkish forces to the Gallipoli Peninsula and the Asiatic shore. Guns, ammunition, supplier of every kind with which the Turks wore bo ill-provided, bad been scraped and dragged from every other point, or were on the move. Moreover, the Russians had. by a brilliant effort, largely restored the situation in the Caucasus. 'lhe British and [French troops now on the sea might not be strong enough to land ami storm the plateaus and ridges of Gallipoli. But mi one could doubt their ability to take anti bold Alexandretta—thus cutting from the Turkish Empire one vast portion, severing the communications of their army threatening Egypt, and intercepting the stream of sorely-needed supplies and foodstuffs from the East. For such a descant the Dardanelles operations were the best of all preliminaries —a sincere feint. On me these considerations made no impression. I knew them all and I rejected them all. I was unswervingly set upon the main enterprise. I believed that if we tried hard enough we' could force the Dardanelles and that if we succeeded in this a truly decisive victory would have been gained. But where were the admirals, generals, and statesmen who did not sec these clear-cut conclusions, who had doubts had always had doubts—about the feasibility of the operation, about the margin of the Grand Fleet, about the utlity of operations in the Eastern theatre! Here surely was the time for them. Here surely was the time for Lord Fisher, He could say -with perfect propriety and consistency, “We have given the Carden plan a good trial. I never liked it much. It has not come off; but it has been' a very good demonstration; it has fooled the Turks; it has helped the Russians; it has cost us practically nothing —now let us break off altogether or turn to something else.” Later on in April, when wo were far more deeply committed, bad suffered palpable loss and rebuff, and could not withdraw without great injury to our war prestige, suggestions of this kind were indeed made. But now it was certainly an’ arguable policy to close the account, and in a naval sense it was the easiest thing in the world to do But what happened? So far from wishing lo break off the operation, the First tie* Lord was never at any time so resolute rn its support. He assented willingly and cordially to the new decision which was now taken to change the gradual tentative limited liability advance into a hard, determined, and necessarily hazardous attack. He approved the momentous Admiralty telegrams, which I now drafted after full discussion in our War Group, and, of course, with continuous reference to the Prime Minister. He even offered to go out and hoist bis flag and take command a c the Dardanelles himself, saying that the responsibility was so great that it could only be borne by the highest authority. Subsequently, "although it greatly complicated his position. Lord Fisher himself informed the Dardanelles Commissioners of this fact in a very trank and chivalrous manner. So far as the other responsible authorities cited in these pages were concerned, no sign of disagreement was manifested. Sir Arthur Wilson, Sir Henry Jackson, Admiral Oliver, Commodore de Bartolorne all were united and agreed to press on and to press hard. The Ministers seemed equally decided. War Office and Foreign Office were eager and hopeful. The Prime Minister did not even think it necessary to sumpion a council and put the point to them. I have never concealed my opinion. 3 rejoiced to find so much agreement and force gathering behind the enterprise. My only complaint has been that this high resolve was not carried through by all parties to a definite conclusion. "A MONTH TOO LATE I’’ What was the explanation of this unity anq resolution? The vision of victory hud lighted the mental scene. The immense significance of the Dardanelles and of the city which lay beyond had possessed all minds. The whole combination which had been dispersed by Russia on March 6 was still latent. The attitude of Italy, of Bulgaria, of Rcumania, of Greece absorbed attention. Everyone’s blood was up. There was a virile readiness to do and dare. All the will-power and cohesion necessary to mount anti launch a great operation by sea and land was now forthcoming. But, alas, a month too late! On the Admiralty War Group all were agreed upon the following telegram to Admiral Carden: Admiralty to Vice-admiral Carden. ” March 11, 1915, 1.35 p.m. 101. Your 194. Your original instruction® "laid Stress on caution and deliberate methods, and we approve highly the skill and patience with which you have advanced hitherto without loss. The results to be gained are, hpwever, great enough to justify loss of ships and men if success cannot be obtained without The turning of the corner at Cbanak may decide the whole operation and produce consequences of a decisive character upon the war, and we suggest for your consideration that a point has ha"- been reached when it is necessary.

choosing favouable weather conditions to overwhelm the forts of the Narrows at'decisive range by the fire of the largest number of guns, great and small, that can be brought to bear upon them, coyer cf this fire the guns at the forts might be, destroyed by landing parties and as much a s possible of the minefield swept up. Ihis operation might have to be repeated until nil the forts at the Narrows had been destroyed and the approaches cleared of mines. We do not wish to hurry you or urge you beyond your judgment, but we recognise clearly that at a certain period in your operations you will have to press hard for a decision, and we desire to know whether you consider that point has now been reached. We shall support you in well-conceived action for forcing a decision, even if regrettable losses are entailed. We wish to hear your views before you take any decisive departure from the present policy. Vice-admiral C'arden to Admiralty. March 14, 1915, noon. Fully concur with the view of Admiralty telegram 101. It is considered stage is reached when vigorous sustained action is necessarv for success. In my opinion military operations on largo scale should be commenced immediately in order to ensure my communication line immediately fleet enters Sea of Marmora. GOODYEAR TYRE PRICES. LOWEST IN HISTORY. Extraordinary economics now await buyers of Goodyear Fabric Tyres. Limited supplies of these are offered at 33 1-3 per cent, less than usual price. Read here the tyre saving for your Car:— £ s. d. 32 x3i ■-... 3 10 6 32 x 4 4 3 0 33 x 4 4 6 0 34 x 4 4 8 0 33 x 44 5 10 6 34 x 4i 5 13 6 35 x 4i 6 3 0 710 x 90 2 10 0 760 x 90 2 14 0 875 x 105 4 4 0 815 x 120 4 13 0 820 x 120 4 19 0 880 x 120 5 8 0 920 x 120 517 0 820 x 135 6 6 0 895 x 135 7 10 935 x 135 7 4 0 935 x 150 9 6 0 Goodyear Fabric Tyres guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship. Should a tyre in distributors' opinion prove faulty, satisfactory adjustment, will be made. Obtainable at all garages. —Advt.