Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-07-08
PRESS CR|T|C|SES
TURKISH 'BLUNDER'
British Newspapers Laud Hero
ism of Army, But Call Dar-
daneIIes Strategy Unfor-
givabIe BungIe.

Paris. July S.-The French war
department this afternoon gave out
the following statement on recent
operations in the Dardaneles:
In the Dardanelles on the fifth
of July, the Turks delivered a gem
eral attack, the most important
they have undertaken since their
efforts in the early days of May.
Their purpose was to drive us into
the sea.
very intense artillery fire was
opened on our first lines as we'll
as on the zone occupied by French
and British troops. The enemy
subsequently, attempted to deliver
several infantry attacks. but was
successful in coming as far as our
trenches. Decimated by our ar
tillery fire and moved down by our
rifles and machine guns most OF
our assailants never left the bat
tlefield. During this action bat
teries of the enemy on the Asiatic
coast fired without interruption. A
Turkish cruiser also took part in
the engagement. Aviators of the
enemy bombarded our lines.
At the end of the day a group
of about 15 British and French
aviators flew over the Turkish
aerodrome at Chanak threw down
several bombs and struck the prin-
CIpdl IldIlSdT WIl1 d DIS
London. July 7.-Gen. Sir Ian Hamil.
tons report of the British landing at
The Dardanelles has caused much COM
ment in the British press. which shows
great pride in the achievement of the
allied troops. This is not unmiXed with
criticism. however, of the strategy
which dictated the campaign. Lord
Northcliffe's newspapers are particu-
Iary strong in denunciation of the at
tacks which led to such fearful slaught-
er. The Times describing the naval
dash which preceded the land opera
tions says it was a naval Balaklava and
denounces the whole operations char
ncterizing them as "unforgtNable
lbungling."
The commander in chiefs dispatch to
the war office is of great length but
most Of the events had already been
from him. Having reached the con-
clusion after witnessing the battle be-
tween the warships and the land fort
ressss that it would require the whole
of his strength to enable the fleet
effectively to force the Dardanelles:
General Hamilton prepared to fling all
his troops rapidly ashore.
"Touch and Co."
General Hamilton admits. ut. was
toach ssarla 4ge;. snsea, times before tAo
invaders established roofing. In seE-
eral instances half of the landing
parties We're killed or wounded before
they could reach even the slight
shelter afforded by the Sandy bank Of
the upper part of the beaches A great
majority of the senior officers either
We're killed or wounded
The Turks had turned the landing
places into death traps There We're
wire entanglements the whole length of
the shore with it's supplementary
barbed Wire net work concealed
beneath the surface of the sea. Land
| mines and sea mines We're everywhere
and machine guns, tucked away in
| holes in the cliffs. We're able to cons
| verge their fire on the wire entangle-
ments.
$50 strong. in fact were the defenses'
says the report that the Turks well
/, may have considered them impregnable
and it is my firm conviction that nc
| finer feat of arms has ever beer
achieved by British soldiers or any
| other soldiers than the storming ol
| these trenches from open boats on the
| morning of the 25th OF April.
! General Hamilton speaks of lines o
! men being moved down as by {
| scythe" while destroying wire en-.
4 tanglementS.