New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-20

General Sir Ian Han Itor has
been recalled from the Darddnelles
and London hints that the British
campaign to force the straits IS
failure. The folioicing letter de-
gc7-ibes the situation on the GGttipoh
front. Dated back seren Veeks, Il
q,ues an account Of conditions sub
stantialIy as they are today for
no changes Of great Importance hare
taken place since.
Constantnople, Sept. III am too
old 10 be an optimist, but | believe
am absolutely confdent-that unless
something extraordinary occurs we
shall hold the Allies where they are
So said Field Marshal Liman Won
Sanders, sixty-hve years old, the Ger
man commander Of the Turkish forces
guarding the Dardanelles.
The Allies position on the Gallipoh
Peninsula can hardly be described as
promising. Such, at least, was the I'm
preston gained during an elght-day
stay in the war areas.
Four major military actions occurred
while the correspondent was on the
Anafarta-Ari Burnu front. In each the
Allies were driven back with heavy
losses. No advantages were gained by
them. with the exception Of the tempo
rary occupation Of a Turkish trench
near Kutchuk, Anafarts, on August 70
The losses OF the Turks were by no
means light, but the Allies losses are
estimated at II 900 to $1,000 dead and
double that number wounded.
Thus far the Allies have landed in
the Anafarta region about 10000 men,
and large part already has been used
up. II is safe to say that they are to-
day opposed by about $4,000 Turks,
who are actually intrenched. with about
10000 electives In reserve.
Turks Hold Better Ground.
Every advantage Of terrain is held by
the Turks, whose trenches are located
on higher ground than those Of the
Allies. The Anafarta region may be
compared TO half Of huge saucer
which has been broken, the line OF
breaksge being formed by the shore
OF the Egean Sea and the bottom and
rim being in the hands of the Allies
and Turks. respectively.
Until August is. when the Turks, un-
der Lieutenant Colonel winners Bey,
German cavalry officer, retook Kiretch
Tepe, the position OF the Allies was
better, as they were masters OF at least
a part Of the Anafarta region. With
this advantage lost. the Allies to-day
hold themselves in the Anafarta region
solely by virtue Of an immense artil-
lery fire superiority. Without the sup
port of some forty line ships, cruisers
and torpedo boats they would be
thrown into the sea-" as Marshal Won
Sanders expressed 1t.
Water Is Very Scarce.
British prisoners assert that the posi-
ton of their forces is most trying. Wa
ter is extremely scarce in the Anafarta
region, and il is said that only one well
is in the hands Of the British. The re-
suit is that water must be brought
from the Island of Imbros and even
from Salonica. The men receive pint
of tea in the morning and another at
o'clock. One-half pint Of water at noon
is the only allowance.
Until a week ago the food of the
British soldiers consisted OF six army
biscuits and preserved meat ration.
some candy and jam being added. Poor
health is the result of this diet. The
correspondent talked 10 an English
prisoner of the Hants 9th Territorlals
who. unable 10 obtain medical assist
ance, had become so weak from dysen-
terry that his comrades had to abandon
him when the Turks took the trench IN
which he was stationed. The British
sanitary service is so overtaxed that 1t
cannot give attention to every case OF
sickness brought TO its notice.
To other handicaps of the Allied
troops must be added the great heat
and ever present dust. OF some 1870
prisoners the correspondent saw, fully
one-hslf suffered from Inflammation Of
the eyes.
It cannot be said that the troops re
Gently brought 20 the peninsula are
first class material Many Of the men
of such a climate. Trench digging I'M
der the prevailing conditions is tort
ure TO their still undeveloped bodies.
The exertions, the heat and the lack of
water have broken their spirit.
Troops Blame Officers.
The prisoners with whom the cor
respondent talked had been In the SER
vice from four 20 eleven months. Some
.. "a 81 bofr =
fcers.
The correspondent witnessed the to-
tai annihilation Of q company which
had penetrated Turkish trench, but
was destroyed because Its flank was left
uncovered. Whether this was due TO
the impulsiyeness OF the men or 10 the
neglgenc of others could not be
learned.
The Allied troops at Seddul Bahr. on
the tip Of the peninsula, had been in
active for more than three weeks. Their
position is no more favorable than that
Of their comrades in the Anafarta re-
gion.
The troops have found 1t next 70
impossible 20 advance, with operations
conducted within the range OF reason
able sacrifices. In other words, it is
still possible 10 dislodge the Turks.
but 20 do so would cost too much. On
that front, as at Anafarta, the Turks
have used every means 20 better their
positions. Though both fields of &C
ton are small. the Turks have dug hun
dreds of kilometres Of fire line and
communicating trenches.
The Turks in the Anafarta region, for
the greater part, are Anatolian peas
ants, sturdy, tough, Injured to every
hardship OF war, and not plagued by
the nerves Of their higher strung an
tagonists. Many are clad in rags, not