GALLIPOLI.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 586, 27 December 1915, Page 7

GALLIPOLI.

AN OUTSPOKEN JOURNALIST.

ASHMEAD BARTLETT AND THE WAR OFFICE.

',B<-eeived .December 27, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, December 26.

An article in the "Sunday Times" asserts that Mr Ash mead Bartlett, at the end of May, sent home an outspoken dispatch, giving the real position at the Dardanelles, which was not passed for publication.

Mr Bartlett, when in England in September, saw several of the leading Cabinet Ministers, and gave his views. Be was requested to draw up a memorandum, which lie did, declaring that the position was dangerous, and that they could not succeed frontally, while gas attacks might drive us into the sea. Mr Bartlett made alternative suggestions, which included the securing of Bulgaria's co-operation and a Bulair landing. Mr Bartlett, after the Suvla Bay failure, in defiance of the censorship, sent a strong letter to Mr Asquith by a courier, denouncing the conduct of the expedition. The British Consul at Marseilles seized the letter, and Mr Bartlett's connection with the Dardanelles ceased a few days later, on instructions from the War Office.