New-York tribune., 1915-12-09
British Failure and Allied Nerves.

.erpret the apparent difference that mas
arisen between the British and their Allies
yer the Balkan campaign as due solely
} varying opinions about the wisdom OF
ursung operations in Macedonia. On
contrary there is sound reason for
Heving that the long series Of British
unders and failures has begun to get
the nerves of both the French and the
tssians and that there is a distinct pur-
e in Paris and Petrogad to question
,ish leadership in the Allied camp
aafter.
to the Serbian question, 1t is PLAIN
complete as has been the failure to
oelp the Serbs. continued pressure upon
bulgaria in Macedonia will compel con-
tinuing sacrifices on the part of the Bull
gars. thus conceivably opening way to
an ultimate change in Bulgarian sym
pathy. and it will keep alive Serbian and
Montenegrin resistance.
On the other hand, if the Allies leave
Macedonia. Rumania and Greece will read
in an abandonment of Serbia the peril
for them of any alliance with the enemies
OF Germany. The loss of prestige will be
enormous; it might even lead Rumanla
tc enlist on the Teutonic side, and it would
at the very least terminate all Allied hope
in the Near East for the period Of the war
It would. in addition, release Austrian and
German troops for service against Russia
or Italy.
IS 20 the British case: 1t is manifest
hat if a campaign is to be made in Mace
Gonia. Great Britain must supply the
troops. France has sent some 10000 SOL
die ;. commanded by Sarrail, who saved
Verdun last year, but this is but hand
rul. AnC no. less than 100000 will be
needeG. To hno these troops while de-
rcndiJg Egypt, maintaining million SOL
diers lin France and Belgium and garri-
soninI / India is a stiff job. To this must
be ad\ded the army at Gallipoli, if the cam
naign) at the Straits is to continue.
Thd Dardanelles operation has cost
Great Britain at least 125 900 men in cas-
.alt.els and an enormous temporary loss,
5Ge t. sickness. The campaign has been
an utter and dismal failure and seems
now hopeless So also is the Mace
donian operation, as a campaign to relieve
Serbia or interrupt German communica-
tion with Constantinople. British desire
tc pull out of two hopeless ventures, which
will call for large forces, is plain.
On the other hand Russia's wishes are
unmistakable. Her Balkan influence has
been shattered, she is powerless now to
aid Serbia, to exert pressure on Bulgaria,
and she is faced with the possibility that
Il the army in Macedonia is withdrawn
Rumania may enlist with the Central
Powers and Turkey may direct a huge
army against the Caucasus front.
So much for the military aspect, but
the other side must be considered by all
who are desirous of estimating correctly
the present status of Allied relations.
There can be no mistake as to the present
restlessness and resentment in France
among the people and even in the high
command, at the apparent inability Of the
British TO get their military establishment
into shape.
In the French opinion these things
weigh heavily: The British failure at
Neuve Chapelle was due TO the inability
of the reserves TO get up in time to carry
On the work done In the first attack. Pre-
cious hours were lost at time when the
fate of Lille seemed decided and the Ger
man line actually pierced. Then came the
reverse In the Second Battle Of Ypres.
Then the complete breakdown of the Brit
ism portion Of the offensive in Artois,
which robbed Foch Of the fruits Of his
great effort.
This was in the spring and, with the
British failure, It became clear that no
drive was possible on the Western front,
and Germany was able TO go east and
defeat Russia and drive the Slavs out of
Galicia. Poland and Lithuania. Mean
time the British operation on the CALI
poll Peninsula ended in complete dead
lcck, despite tho opportunity TO win,
which came when Saribahr was occupied.
Again the failure Of the support TO get
up was the decisive factor.
>'' Finally IN the last days of September
le offensive about Loos ended in minor
cal success because the British troops.
aving taken Hill No. 70 and pushed over
10 the east until Lens was almost within
ieir grasp, were left unsupported and the
ermans were able 20 organize counter
tack and re-occupy the summit of Hill
10. 20. In the end Sir John French was
I 1mpelled 10 ask General Foch for French
roops 10 support his own, and two French
Y ,orps were drawn out Of the field where
4 the French were pressing the Germans
back from Souchez, and the French opera
ton halted.
Such, then, is the record Of British oper
.tion. In thu I'D Yor soune raaGon still