The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-08-26
Balkan States Believe Allies Face
Impossible Task in Dardanelles;
Strength Of Turks Underes-
timated from Start
MAY TAKE CAPITAL
FROM LAND SIDE
But Only After Long Campaign Of
Fierce Fighting; Russia Has
Big Army Ready But
Needs Naval Aid
BY HENRY WOOD.

BY HENRY WOOD.
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
Sophia. Bulgaria, July 50.-tBy
mail )-Governmental, diplomatic and
military circles generally throughout
the Balkans have become pessimistic
TO an extreme degree regarding the
success ~ the allies campaign against
the Dardanelles. The almost unani-
nous verdict is that the action was
both ill-advised and ill-planned
In the first place. 1t is declared the
allies unquestionably underestimated
the strength of the Turks. They are
declared evidently to have taken into
consideration only the weakness shown
during the two Balkan wars and 20
have overlooked entirely the regener-
alton and reorganization which has
taken place In Turkey since the Young
Turks secured full control of the gov
ernment.
In the second place the lack of
quick. vigorous, effective action in the
execution Of the plan Of attack is
roundly criticised. II on the day the
allies bombarded the Dsrdanelles for
tifications for the first rime, the fleet
had been sent through the straits re.
gardless OF cost. 1t is the general i'm
preston here the Dardanelles would
have been forced.
Now the forcing the straits by the
fleet is regarded as an absolute inn
possibility. the Turks having had am
pie time TO prepare defenses of the
most modern and adequate kind.
Similar criticism is also levelled
against the land action on the PENN
sula Of Gallipoli Not only did the
allies underestimate greatly the
strength OF the Turks. but they allow
ed ample time for the latter to make
up all of the weaknesses and defects
in their defense that would have been
open 10 land attack made simulta-
neous with the first bombardment OF
the straits last February instead OF
two months later.
While II is not estimated here that
the final capture of Constantinople
by the land side of Gallipoli is utterly
impossible, Il is nevertheless the gen.
eral opinion that now that the attack
has been reduced to a basis OF trench
warfare and can only be accomplished
after a long campaign in which every
foot of ground will be fiercely con.
tested
No secret is made in the Balkans o.
the fact tha, the original plan OF action
by the allies called for the landing OF
a Russian army on the Black sea coast
north OF ConstantInople and the cap
ture of that city from the Chatalja line
in the rear. But here again the lack oi
quick. energetic action on the part oi
the allies defeated this plan.
With the arrival of German suhma
rlnes off Constantinople the Turkish
fleet is now almost equal to the nava
strength which Russia has at her dis
position in the Black sea.
II is know that for several months
Russia has ben holding an army var
iously estimated from 100000 to 400
600 at Odessa for this descent on th'
Black sea coast north of Constantine
pie. BY losing, however. the litti'
naval supremacy she at first had II
the Black sea this has now been ren
dered utterly impossible. While by
sudden move Il might be possible stil
10 effect the landing OF the troops, tn
general opinion here is that the Rus
stan fleet never could keep open tn
line OF communications, especial
against the submarines, necessary
insure the continuance of the oper'
tions. Only a preponderating navi
supremacy such as the allies have
The Mediterranean could do that
In general. England, and especiall
Churchill, are blamed here both K
the underestimation of the Turks
strength and for the lack OF effecti'
action.
rhe Balkans however. are unar