SWEEPING CONDEMNATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 22 July 1916, Page 5

SWEEPING CONDEMNATION.

NOTEWORTHY DEFENCE.

LONDON. July 20

In the House of Lords > Lord Wemyss raised the question of the ■Mesopotamia expedition, and moved that an inquiry into the whole campaign be held. Many believed that it was a gambling venture. The moment the Dardanelles effort failed, Mesopotamia ought to have been abandoned. A madder undertaking could not be imagined than for 12,000 troops to advance 500 miles against the full force of the Turkish army.

Earl Crewe said it was imperative in the critical moments of August '1914 to reassert our paramount position in the Persian Gulf to counteract the German campaign which was seeking to induce a holy war. It was necessary to support the faithful Arab chiefs. Our presence in the Gulf saved the Empire from the near approach of a great disaster. It was also necessary to consider the great Moslem people of Afi’ica, who might easily have been aroused against us. Lord Islington stated that all the troops in Mesopotamia were now fully rationed, except for a shortage of vegetables and milk. Political considerations would not allow the overruling advice of the military in connection with the campaign. The motion was carried