New-York tribune., 1915-10-31
political, Military and Bal
kan Aspects of the
Campaign at
the Straits.
Nv FRANK H. STMONDS,
Author of The Great War

Given the German fondness for the his
..r;,al parallel. It is odd that they have
-. insisted upon the striking resemblance
= ,bA great British adventure at the Oar
aonelles 10 that equally great and wholly
fo,.l Atheuiau expedition TO Syracuse,
,b;cb i'm the end, was the cause of the
,,,pfal of great sea power, at grips
.-,b Sparta. yet rislling all in campaign
hr away from the main field of opera
.,,. Like an parallels the Syracusan
i.us down when pushed too far, for while
G- Ian Hamilton makes fair Nicias'
w,-z.ou Churchill will hardly do for Alci-
bades. bu there must be mourniul like
ne.ses for every Briton.
r- reviewing the progress of this great
o.s-sess campaign of the British It Is
,,.ossarv TO examine it from three sepa-
.,.o s.andpoiuts- that of higher poll
f.. imperial and international from that
of thc local political situation i'll the Near
Past: finally. from that of the actual ope-
-stons on Gallipoh peninsula. Only thus Is
Il possible TO estimate the plus and minus
Of this tremendous venture.
The Imperial Aspect.
In going 10 the Dardaneles, first with
feet and then with an army, Great Britain
served Immediately her own imperial in
tsrosts. When the first operation began
Turkish army. Cfficered by Germans, had
been lately repelled from the shores OF
Sue. out was still threat TO Egypt.
The continued presence Of hostile army,
which lad penetrated the Egyptian from
tier but a relatively short distance from
the Nile contributed 10 unrest in Egypt,
compelled the British TO consider always
the possibility Of religious disturbances,
Of native risingS. of the double danger incl
dent 10 external attack and internal revolt.
Suez was and remains the cornerstone
Of the British Empire. Could the Turks
close this avenue of British imperial
power, India would i'll turn be partially
isolated, British communication with the
Australian colonies interrupted and de-
layed. the whole system of imperial rela
,ons disturbed Turkish success in Egypt
night light the flames of Moslem revolt
n India as well; prestige, which means
smuch all over the East. would be lost.
An attack at the Dardaneles. a thrust
directly at Constantinople. would infalhby
recall all Turkish troops from the Suez
region; IL would remove the battle line
from the marches Of Egypt and contribute
TO insuring the continuance of order and
peace in Cairo and Alexandria. If it did
no more, if only the field of strife were
transferred, the profit was plain. In addi
ton, al opportunity would come TO the
British at the foot Of the Persian Gulf TO
begin operations there against Mesopo-
tsnia, which is the land gateway TO India.
Plainly, then, the British had immediate
profits in view 20 themselves in trans
fsrring the operations from the Sinai to
The Galhpoh peninsula. Always, how
ever, there was the qualification that de-
feat disaster at the Straits, would destroy
their prestige in the Near East. but the
1me was true Of the Suez operation.
international Considerations.
Turning now 10 international consider
ATOMS it was necessary first of all in the
SITUATION last spring for Great Britain
give Russia an immediate evidence OF
Nyslty and of moral and material support.
No nation had made such sacrifices in
ren and resources 10 the Allied cause as
Russia, and the recent defeat at the Mazu-
nan Lakes was final evidence Of Russian
nrifce. What were her Allies doing
shle Russia was thus suffering and la
bring?
According TO the Germans, nothing. But
ne main object of Russian ambitions for
"oturies had been the possession of Con-
ssnhnople, and for more than a century
s main obstacle had been Britain.
aross the Continent after the Mazurian
'saster Sazonoff and Sir Edward Grey
Thanged words which meant nothing
II 80 NiSN meant lHdI oilta4h az '"0S
"reeded 70 Russia the right TO sit in
NFer in Pera and Galata and restore the
aos 70 Santa Sophia Words, such words,
Aaed the confirmation Of acts; thus the
*s Of the Allied nations at the sea gate
l : stmboul brought new enthusiasm 10
".sla new devotion.
addition, in the immediate military
''ston, they relieved the Russian armies
sue Caucasus of the strain incident 70
|" INVASION by several Turkish army
rps; they opened the way TO Russian
'nry as Russian invasion Of the Car
saaan' had paved the way for the Ser
Triumph at Valievo. Thus TO her nee
10y ally British effort at the Darda-
~ gave an assurance that was required
~ an cid that was instantly effective
= ~ COnfinnip eri,, f,,f q ct q