The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-28

men had done their duty, and had fought like heroes on the Jordan. There were, however, limits to our strength, and we could only keep the Turkish army together for time.
 CONSTANTINOPLE MUST FALL
 The English were gaining ground rapidly northwards along the coast and along the railway to Damascus. This, it is true, did not amount to threat to Constantinopfe, but it had grave effects on the Turks power to resist. Having regard to the loyalty of En- yer and Talaat this would not have had any decisive effect by itself on the attitude of Turkey; but the entente had now substantial free forces in Syria, and was also, as result of the Bulgarian collapse, able at any time to march on Constantinople across the Maritza.
 There were only very weak Turkish forces here, the task of protecting this line having been hitherto left to the Bulgarian army on the Struma. It was, of course, possible to bring reinforce ments from the Caucasus, and perhaps also from the Ukraine, but we had never succeeded in arranging transport of troops on any large scale across the Black sea. the available shipping being insufficient.
 were. however, moved at once, some battalions rom the Ukraine being sent to Constant nople It was not possible, however 10 achieve any permanent result.
 CopstnutinopIe was bound to faii' ana whether if fell in November or Decem- her. made very little difference to the situation as whole. Once the town fell it was to be expected that the en-
 .nte fleets would establish communicn- fin, with Rumania through the binck sea. and send troops through b"S"" fo the Danube. We could not nope '" keen Rumania neutral. Sooner or iater, the arrival of enemy troops in thn' country was certain.
 HAD TO DEFEND HUNGARY
 It was obvious that the entente would attempt to recover Serbia, and to make an attack from there on Hungary ana Austria, thus giving the coupe de grace to the double monarchy. Our Balkan front was unstable, and it was quite uncertain whether we would be able to reconstruct it in Serbia and Bulgaria or even on the Danube,
 The position in Sofia at first was far from clear. We could not even tell whether the whole Bulgar army was really demoralized The Serbian army had fought for years outside its own country, and had shown a fine example of true patriotism. The Bull gars could well have done the same. Of old Bulgaria, too, not a foot was in enemy occupation.
 If the Bulgar army fell out altogeth- CT, then it would certainly be the time for German and Austria Hugary to send substantial forces to the Balkans,
 In the then situation it was vital to do everything to secure our position in the Balkan peninsula, in order to pre- vent the etnente moving into Hungary and making a flank attack on Germany and Austria. We sent German divi- sion from Sebastopol through Bulgaria and Rumania to Sofia. General Won Arz also dispatched an Austro- -Hunga- rian division from the Ukraine through Rumania to Serbia.
 Three German divisions from the east, which had been released for service in the west and had in part already set out on their journey thither, were di- verted to Serbia. Lastly, two divisions from the Italian front which had been handed over to us by General Won Arg for service in the west. were also sent
 Finally, even from the hard-pressed west front. general Headquarters sent the Alpine corps; this corps had just been withdraw from the line. and still had its mountain equipment. which vvas urgently needed for Serbia. The yves,