The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1915.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4007, 13 August 1915, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1915.

The latest nows to Land from the Dardanelles serves to further emphasise" the task whieli lies bolero the Allies. It is quite clear that very heavy fighting lias again been raging in that particular theatre of war ami consequently the casualty lists are, unhappily, proving very heavy. Unquestionably the list of officers killed and officers wounded which was published yesterday occasioned a groat shock and the details of the find her losses in killed or wounded among the rank and file will bo awaited with much anxiety. As far as can be judged matters on Gallipoli have reached a much more critical stage. What would seem to be the position is that the Allies now thoroughly realise that if their campaign is to be concluded speedily their plan will have to embrace operations at what may he described as the root of the peninsula, as well as at the southern end and at the midway point where the Colonials are stationed, amt what is more, no further time must be lost in waiting for assistance from Greece or from Bulgaria. This view of the situation is borne out by tho fact that the Allies are at the present moment engaged in landing another force on the north side of the Gulf of Saros, presumably between Enos and Bulair. It may be recalled that at the very beginning of the land operation against the Turks it was reported that an army had been landed in the vicinity of Enos, but the report proved to be without foundation. • Af - ter the-delay that lias been-allowed to take place in regard to this particular matter, landing operations in the new sp.hore, it may be anticipated, will be no less difficult than was tier, ease in regard to the initial landing on the peninsula for the reason that- the enemy has once again had ample time in which to make extensive preparations- against such an attack. That the Turks have not been caught napping any more than they wore at Sedd ul Bahr or at Gab a Tope is shown by the anouneement that whilst the Allies were able to establish themselves at one now spot they had to desist in connection -with a landing which was attempted at another point. It can be taken, we should say, that if a base of operations to the north had remained outside the Allies’ programme it might prove the case that the struggle for the peninsula might proceed over a. very lengthy period. In this connection the fact must not be lost sight of that the Turks have all tho advantages at present on their side, excepting that -the operations of til lie British submarines in the Sea of Marmora have greatly restricted their means of securing reinforcements, munitions and food supplies. Apparently, however, the enemy has not been prevented from gaining access to its armies on the peninsula overland!

A Hard Row to Hoe.

iis from time to time there have boon authentic reports to tho effect that their wounded are being got away to Constantinople and that supplies ol fresh troops have been available as required. The great question at tho present time is undoubtedly whether the Allies have at their disposal a suf- ( ficiently large new force to work from j tho north that will prove a grave 1 menace to tho safety of tho lurks lighting on the peninsula itself. D f such be the case—and it is to be sin- . f cerely trusted that it is—it can only, < he a matter of months, perhaps only 1 weeks, when the, Turks on the main- _ land will either have to fall back and . allow them to advance or they will he : compelled to withdraw their troops from Gallipoli to meet the new Allied army lighten the task of the Allied jdmops around A chi Baba and at G; Jh. Tope. It really does seem a gredc pity that operations from the could not have boon begun much dirtier, seeing tliat the operations to plate have necessarily resulted in such heavy casualties to tho Allies —a circumstance which in view of the excellent defensive preparations which the Turks had made on the peninsula was of course inevitable. The explanation of the situation in this regard is unquestionably that the Allies had expected the attack that should ho made from that quarter to ho undertaken by the Greeks. Whether the Greeks will now agree to assist remains to bo seen. Up till now Greece has as is well-known been afraid to move lor fear 'of an attack on her by Bulgaria ami liournauia, in turn, continues to flirt with both sides although it she so cart'd she could do very much more to assist the Allies.than is possible on tho part of Greece. As a matter of strict fact within only a few weeks, perhaps less, Bulgaria could bring about the downfall of Adrianople and have Constantinople at her mercy. The immediate future will, indeed, prove a very critical period hut the Allies will now he in a happy position and ready to at once face with equanimity any possible eventuality—such as the joining of forces by. say, Bulgaria and Turkey—until Gallipoli is swept clear of the enemy and the three Allied armies have been concentrated at the i northern end of tho peninsula.