Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-20
Abandonment Of Great Prof.
ect on Gallipoli PENN
.sula a Question.
FORCES WITHDRAWN
London Tells Of Movement
of Anglo Soldiers From
Suvla and Anzac.

London, Dee. 20, $500 p. mJ-The
British troops at the Suyla and Anzac
districts Of GalHpoli peninsula have
been withdrawn.
The following official statement was
issued here today:
All the troops at Suvla and Anzac,
together with their guns and stores,
have been successfully transferred,
with insignificant casualties, to anoth-
er sphere Of operations"
The Suyla bay and Amaze cove posi-
tons are on the north coast of CALI
poll peninsula. Anzac cove is about
10 miles from the tip. Suvla bay is
FIVE miles further on
Intention Not Clear.
As no mention is mate in the British
announcement of the allied position in
the Scddul Bahr position, at the tip Of
the peninsula, it is not clear whether
the withdrawal OF troops indicates "a
decision to abandon the effort to force
The Dardauelles or means merely re-
adjustment of the allied forces.
There had been no previous hint of
such move although the question
bad been raised in England whether.
in view Of the fafTnre of the allies to
make appreciate Roadway at the
Dlrdanelles and the urgent need for
additional troops at Salouiki, the
DRrdauelles forces would be with
drawn. Two official Turkish commu-
uicat0us, received yesterday spoke OF
heavy firing from land and sea by the
allies, but mentioned no movements
out Of the ordinary. although this bonn
bardment may have been conducted to
cover the withdrawal.
There are two fields Of operation in
the near east to which British troops
withdrawn from the Gallipoli PENN
sula might he Observation-Disclosures
and Egypt
Anticipate Attack.
London looks for an attack on the
positions at Saloniki No official in
formation is available as to
the number of French and
British troops in Greece. which
has been estimated recently at about
100000 Germany, Austria, Bulgaria
and Turkey have at their disposal sew
eral times that number of men. al
though Greece is opposed to the use of
Bulgarian or Turkish troops for an adj
vance on Saloniki.
The allied troops at Salonih are be-
Ing reinforced steadily. This Greek
port is within easy sailing distance of
the GallipoIi peninsula.
II recent unofficial advices concern
ing the Egyptian situation are anthem
tic Great Britain may feel the neces-
sity Of Increasing her armed forces
there II has been reported that the
Germans and Turks are preparing a
formidable expedition to invade Egypt
capture the Suez canal and cut off
England from India. According to
one account. this enterprise has been
placed in the hands of Field Marshal
Fon Der Goltz, the German command
or Of the first Turkish army. The
Germans are reported to have con-
structed a double track railway to the
Egyptian border through southern
Syria.
Move II Good News.
Thank God, they are safely out OF
there without serious loss" is an ex-
preston frequently heard today In
connection with the transfer of the
troops from the Suyla and
Anzac zones to another sphere
Oh operation" although this Is
invariably coupled with regrets
mat it should have been regarded as
Necessary to evacuate the hard-won
iootholds on the peninsula, obtained
al such heavy cost in casualties.
The toe Of the GaIlipoli peninsula,
WITH Seddul Bahr, commanding the
entrance to the Dardanelles, Is appar-
entity still TO he held, as no mention
Is made Of the transfer of troops from
this region