The Delta independent., 1916-01-21
WHAT THE GALLIPoLI
DEFEAT MEANS

Die about the ultro-optimism of some
of those London dailies that find a
fcause of exultation, as over a
triumph, in the fact that the British
and French troops at the tip of the
Galiipoli peninsula were able to make
i clean getaway. 1t is easy to under
stand how sigh of relief might go
up both in England and in France over
the narrow escape from humiliation
of a large body of troops. But when
newspaper, acting as government ap-
] ologist sings out in joyous refrain that
the withdrawal was the most glorious
affair in history, it becomes difficult
to follow the mental processes of the
editor. He seems to be living
| beatific world of his own.
i What pitiful fiasco the Dardanelles
campaign was! Incompetency and
ill-fortune logged it from the day of
its inception. 1t was a mismanaged
as only British government at its
worst can mismanage an undertaking
and its failure was made to appear
| 49, 444c4 sioi III DCSduSc VI Tie COCh-
suredness of the early days when the
speedy reduction of the peninsula and
quick occupancy of Constantinople
were heralded as assured certainties
1t is bootless at this time to go over
the successive episodes of the allied
campaign. The results are more to
the point. Among them may be liste
the loss of some 100000 troops am
several battleships, the destruction Of
entente prestige in the near east, IL
positive detection of Bulgaria, the de-
clination of Greece and Rumania to
join the allies, the devastation of Ser
bia, the complete triumph of the leu
tons in the Balkan peninsula, the es-
Establishment of communications be
tween Berlin and Constantinople, the
| threat of German invasion of Egypt
and domestic dissension in Great Brit
ain. Add to this an utter want of
success in the effort to establish
much needed communication with
Russia. which was one of the primary
| objects of the Dardanelles enterprise.
and you have about as complete a re-
cord of disaster as one can easily find
in history.
| The Dardanelles campaign was very
much more than an ordinary fiasco Its
effects on the allied cause comprise by
far more than negative evil They
constitute for-reaching positive mis-.
| fortune no he
ses of the Russians.
On the other hand, the most solid
and significant victories of the Teu-
tons were gained as result of the
attack. Forced into a campaign into
which they might not have undertake
en- so soon if they had felt them
selves able to avoid it, the central
powers have, nthe opinion of a good
many people, practically equalized the
chances of final victory as between
themselves and the entente powers
Today what once seemed to be the
madness of Turkey in taking the Teu-
tonic side in the fight is indicated
as display of wise judgment
The whole face of the European war
has been changed because Great Brit.
ain began too confident in an enter
prise whose difficulties it did not take
the trouble to estimate in advance
1t is announced that 200 900 Turkish
troops are now released for service
elsewhere. Possibly so. Likewise q
considerable number of allied troops
are released and a great humble.
warships. The advantage to the Teu
tons in this direction is not without
counterbalance. Moreover, it is har,
to believe that the Gallipoli peninsula
will be left to the guardianship of /?
small body of soldiers. If the British
and French ever return to the attach
of the Dardanelles, they surely will g,
back in sufficient force to gain
they are after. for it is Uncomfortable
that they can have failed to learn
lesson. If they discover that tn
peninsula has been left unguardet
again, as it was when they made
first unmanaged assault, surely it vii
go hard. but they will take full ad
vantage of their enemy's negligence
/ So far as the release of troops is con
cerned, the advantage seems to be
with the allies. From which doubles
they will gather all possible solace.-
Detroit Free Press