LORD FRENCH’S WAR HISTORY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11850, 5 June 1919, Page 5

LORD FRENCH’S WAR HISTORY.

0 STRATEGY DISAPPROVED OF. HILIIRE AT THE DARDANELLES. Press Association—By Elec A trie Telegraph—Copyright. London, May 23. Tord French, in a further article ..the Daily Telegraph, states : “In Sntember i formed the opinion that was extremely desirable to push 'wards the coast and northward and Tive the Germans from the sea. f Churchill enthusiastically supJnrted and promised absolutely debating naval support Lord Sinch anticipated that Joffre and •u French Government would opfli the plan. Mr Churchill, on Member Bth, wrote stating that b Kitchener fully agreed with plan, promising to send the Twenty-Seventh Division. Cabinet day strongly urged the plan !mn the French Government, which referred the question to Iffre He rejected it as he had anL r ’ elsewhere, “which,” says Lii French, ‘ proved a very feeble destitute. ” Mr Churchill conjjnflcd to press the matter, u rging lard French again to put the Adblty’s views before Joffre. Lord litcbener, in a memorandum of 9th tonary, 1915, showed that the War Dooncil had abandoned the coast(ise advance on the grounds that it wnld be too costly, and would exLi the line too far. Heavy remanents could not be furnished Without disorganising general arwgemsnts and a sufficient supply sfammauiciou was not available to asare carrying the project through ## conclusion, though every effort ns being made in all parts of the mild in order to obtain an unlimitij supply- The War Council also uticipated a strong Greman attack jthe the near future which could ietter be resisted in the existing japared position. Lord French Agrees with those objections iristim and mentions that large sin loads of ammunition traversed fiance a few months later bound for je Dardanelles. He considers these •ssons for rejecting the plan for ae coastal attack illogical. Proibly the true explantaiou is to be ®diu the War Council’s memorial of January 9th in which the iemvas expressed that operations jthe west front would probably selop iuto stalemate and it would snecessary to find another theatre fwar where decisive resul ts would t obtainable. Lord French’s pion was invited on the matter, i French replied discussing all asible theories, including Gal■pli. He said the attack on Turkey wnld be devoid of decisive result, it only decisive theatre was Gerasyitself. Lord French added: ■lt is quite feasible to break the ■krmaii line with a sufficiency of Bm and high explosive shells. In Kjcaso it would be unsafe to with-B-w troops from the Western front, jßiich is vital, and where alone Hcisive results are obtainable, ifcre expressed his final opinion on ■■ly 11th, 1915, that it was neces|B.Tto be prepared for a German Hinsive in the near future. The Hit must be made absolutely Bara The Allies must be ready Bassume the offensive. Reserves »re absolutely necessar.y and all Bplary operations, including the Baders cast attack, must give way Bseto. Lord French concludes Hidi these views, and remains conBsed that ills plan should have Ba accepted and triei, whereas IBp actually employed only resultBli feeble unsuccessful attempts ißtieak tlie German line, and ab - SB::e fail rue at the Dardanelles.