Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-03

states. and the government had to face
question which ssas not merely strats-
gle.
In great war like this you cannot
determine the policy entirely by naval
and military considerations. Some
times 1t IS not only expedient but ne
cessary to run risks which clear naval
or military considerations would have
warned you against. In January we
had not sufficient military forces avail
able IN the east to do more than cope
with the Turkish attack on Egypt,
which was defeated. The question of a
naval attack in the Dardanclles was
then considered and, after full consul
ration with naval experts, including
the admiral on the spot-notWithstand
ing some doubts in the mind of Baron
Fisher (then first sea lord)-the gov
eminent felt justified in sanctioning
that attack.
The proposed attack was carefully
considered. 1t was approved by the
french and enthusiastically received
by the Grand Duke. The matter came
again before the War Council. Before
a shot was fired it was communicated
to the cabinet. 1t was decided at first
to make the attempt with the navy
and the navy alone. | take my full
share of responsibility and deprecate
attempts to allot the responsibility to
one minister or another
Detailing the objects of the attack
on the Dardanelles, the premier re-
marked:
The view was that it would in
Huence the Balkan situation, would
open the way for supplies for the
Russians and strike a blow at the
heart Of the Turkish Empire.
Naval OPERATIONS continued sys-
tematically for month and until they
eliminated in the attack on the Mar
rows. which resulted in a setback. 1t
was then suggested that by aid of an
adequate military force the attack
could be driven home with success.
General Sir Ian Hamilton was sent
out, and reported he was in agree
ment with the suggestion that a Joint
naval and military attack was neces-
sary. In the whole course Of the war
| have never sustained a keener dis
appointment than in the failure Of
these operations.
They did not succeed" he contin-
ued, Notwithstanding the magnificent
exhibition and never surpassed gall
lantry of our troops." ss
The premier ,then! said that in the
Sea of MarmorR. Fap. to Oct a6. Brit
ish submarines had sunk or damaged
two battleships, five gunboats, one tor
pedo boat, eight transports and 1877
supply ships. He alluded to the SER
vices of the novel monitors, which he
said were largely the creation of Bar
on Fisher.
"The results Of the August at
tempt" continued the premier were
disappointing, but it must be. con-
sidered what would have happened if
it had not been taken. The Russians
might have had serious Turkish at
tack in the Caucasus, and we might
have had to face attacks in Egypt and
Mesopolamia. Our force on the, CAL
lipoli peninsula was holding up zoe, 600
Turks
THE situation in the DardaneHes s
receiving the most anxious considera-
ton of the government, not as an iso-
lated thing, but as a part Of the larger
strategical question raised by reason
of developments in the Balkans. There
is complete agreement between us
and France. both as to the end and the
means in the Balkans
The Premier travelled over old ground
in rehearsing the unsuccessful efforts
to promote Balkan community pointing