New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-09
British Commissioners Re-
port War Council Blund-
cred; Asquith Censured
K. Of K. Dominated
Ruled Army and Consulted No
One; Russia Urged Con-
stantinople Drive

London, March "a majority report
OF the commission appointed last July
20 investigate the Dardanelles disaster
sharply censures Lord Kitchener, Lord
Fisher and Winston Spencer Churchill.
Blame is placed on Churchill. as the
originator Of the idea and the chief
proponent Of naval attack; on Lord
Fisher for not pressing the objections
which he admits holding against the
plan of campaign, and on Lord Kitch-
ener not only for assuming an author
ity in the undertaking too great for
him to carry, but also as the source OF
a delay Of three weeks in the coordna-
ton Of land and sea forces.
The report, made public to-day, deals
only with the inception of the plan and
preparation for attack Passages deal
ing with allied countries admittedly
had been expunged, but the report
frankly reveals n Generalization and
disorganizstion in high places which
will be a shock TO the British public.
Even the Premier, then Mr. Asquith,
il censured by implication for delegat-
ing TO subordinstes what should have
been n matter for the Cabinet. IL Is
said that the General staff was so little
consulted by Kitchener that 1t practi-
cally ceased to exist.
kitchener's Opinions Final
The death Of Lord Kitchener and his
secretary, Major Fitzgerald, is referred
to, but, adds the report, at is necessary
to DO justice to the living as well as to
the dead" Colonel Churchill testified
that Lord Kitchener's personal quail
ties played a great part in all decisions.
"He was the sole mouthpiece of War
Office opinion IN the war council says
the report. "Wnen ne gave an opinion
it was invariably accepted as final. He
was never Overruled by the Cabinet in
any matter, great q small. Scarcely
any one ever ventured to argue with
him"
Lord Fisher is criticised because he
did not voice his known dislike Of the
proposed operations. However, a mi
nority report submitted by Walter F..
Roch. of the commission, says that the
First Sea Lord privately threatened TO
resign. and adds: Lord Kitchener took
Lord Fisher aside and urged him that
his duty TO his country was TO continue
in office Lord Fisher reluctantly
yielded and returned TO his seat"
Idea Was Churchi!rs
Looking to the position which ex-
isted on January 10, 1915" declares
the report. "the commissioners do not
think the War Council were Justiiied IN
coming TO the decision without much
fuller investigation OF the proposition
The commissioners hold that the pos
sibilty Of making a surprise land and
water attack on Gallipoli offered such
great military and political advantage
that il was mistaken and Ill advised TO
sacrifice this possibility by deciding 70
undertake a purely naval attack, which,
from its nature, could not obtain com
pletely the objects set out in the terms
Of the decision
Discussing the inception and prog
ress of plans for the campaign, the
report asserts:
"The question Of attacking the Oar
danelles was. on the initiative of Mr..
Churchill. brought under the consid-
Grafton of the War Council on Novem
Der %. 1914. as the ideal method of de-
Tending Egypt. II may reasonably be
oe9,,,,oJ +bot ina euluch as all tho an.
thorities concerned were prima facie
in favor OF a joint military attack,
such an attack would have been made
had not other circumstances led TO a
modification Of the programme.
Russia Urged Action
"A communication from the Russian
government of January 2 introduced a
fresh element. The British govern
ment considered that something must
be done in response 10 1t, and the ques-
ton Of attacking the Dardanelles was
again raised.
Lord Kitchener declared that there
were no troops Immediately available,
and his statement was accepted by the
War Council, who took no steps 20 sat
isfy themselves OF what troops were
available then or in the near future.
Had this been done the cOmmissi toner's
think it would have been ascertained
that sufficient troops would De avail
able at an earlier date than supposed.
Churchill for Naval Attack
political arguments, adduced in
favor Of prompt action, were valid and