THE DARDANELLES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11509, 4 October 1915, Page 4

THE DARDANELLES.

A I'-RKXCH VIEW. PARIS, August L'-l. Jean Cruppi, in one of his articles on Great Britain'and-tho War. published ir. " Le Matin," states that the official utterances which have been made by tho British Government as to the determination of the military authorities to carry through the Dardanelles expedition are certainly significant ot the Cabinet's firm intention. Th<> failure to take Constantinople, continues M. Cruppi, would have serious consequentes throughout the whole of the Mohammaclen world, and nobody is better aware of this than Lord Kitchener. '" Victory, on the other hand, will have va'liable results, for is not Constantinople the true capital of panGermanism, aud in German hands, would it not become the key to_ that coloss«'il Empire of which Berlin is the commercial mart. Doubtless the Dardanelles expedition has suffered from | the mistakes made at the start, and tho plan of action may yet need some revision; the English, who like plain speaking, admit this themselves. They also say that Winston Churchill's words to the effect that only a few miles lie between them and a great success mustbe accepted with reserve. No one, cither in Loudon or in Paris, is ignorant of the fact that the Dardanelles operations present great difficulties. Time is doubtless on our side, but success depends also on our efforts, and we must impress on our English Allies the fact that the speedy taking of Constantinople depends on I their putting forward an effort coVh-1 mensurate with tho considerable forces j which, thoy cow have at th"ir disjxjsaL"'