Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-01-12
ALLIES EyACUATE GALLIPOLI.
The "Great Outstanding Blundcr of
War" Finally Abandoned.

London, Jan. 9.-The remaining
positions on Gallipoli peninsula held
by the allies have been abandoned
with the wounding Of only one man
among the British and French. ac-
cording to British official statement
issued tonight.
This news has been expected for
several days, for the retirement Of
the troops from Anzac and Suvla Bay
three weeks ago left no strategic ad-
vantage to the retention Of the top OF
the peninsula.
Nevertheless, the news will be re-
ceived with pang Of regret by the
people of the british Isles, as we'll rs
the colonies.
Renewed activity OF various kinds
noted by the Turkish official commu-
nications in the past few days has
presumably been in the nature Of
preparations for the final act OF the
Dardanelles tragedy To-night's
Turkish official statement covering
the period from Thursday to Satur-
day, records increasing effectiveness
Of The reinforced Turkish batteries,
which have been drawing in and con-
centrating on the allies remaining
position.
Battleslip Blown Up.
Another pang to the British public
will be caused by the announcement
tonight Of the loss of the battleship
King Edward VII, which has been
blown up by mine. The brief off,
c'al statement on the incident does
not reveal the scene of the accident
and merely says that the disaster oc-
Cured in heavy sea, despite which
the entire crew was saved before the
ship went down.
The King Edward VII represented
an investment of nearly G1,600.O .O0N,
and was one Of the finest Of the last
class Of pre-dreadnaughts, CORES
ponding in general to the American
ships Of the New Jersey and Nebraska
type, and was only slightly older
than the Natal. which was sunk by an
internal explosion about week ago.
A Great Disappointment.
With the withdrawal Of the British
and French forces from the southern
tip of the Gallipoli peninsula after the
evacuation OF the Anzac Cove and
Suvla Bay position on the western
coast in the middle Of December there
has come to al end a movement be-
gun with expectations Of achieve
ments which would have a great bear
ing on the outcome Of the war Thou
sands upon thousands of men lost
their lives in effecting landings on the
Turkish coast, and in the fighting in
progress since. In addition number
Of battleships and smaller war craft
Of the entente allies have been sunk
or damaged.
The chief military purpose of the
Dardanelles campaign, which was be-
gun in February, 1915, with the bom-
bardment of Turkish forts at the en-
trance to the straits by entente allied
warships, was the capture Of Constan-
tinople, and the opening OF the
Bosphorus so that Russia might have
an avenue for the receipt Of arms
and ammunition, and also for the ex-
portation Of grain. For England sue
cess meant the prevention of another
Turkish invasion of Egypt, and the
permanent safety Of the Suez Canal
and England's communication with
India.
Politically a victory was expected
to have a powerful effect upon the
then neutral Balkan States, Greece,
Bulgaria and Roumania There was
cited the possibility. now realized by
Bulgaria's entrance into the war, OF
preventing the establishment Of q
Balkan link between the Central pow
ers and Turkey and also Of the possi-
Bile opening OF land route to India.
Good Guns Saved.
London, Jan. 9.--It is officially an
nounced that the complete evacuation
Of the Gallipoi peninsula has been
successfully carried out.
The official communication issued
this evening says:
Gen. Sir Charles Monro reports
the complete evacuation OF Gallipoli
has been successfully carried out.
"All the guns and howitzers were
taken away with the exception NJ II