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Show RETREAT" FROM ANZAC AND SUVLA. Englishmen everywhere are rejoicing rejoic-ing over tho successful withdrawal of the British and French forces from the Dardanelles. They had feared the entire expedition would bo annihilated annihi-lated and wore delighted when the news came that the retreat had been accomplishd without more than unimportant unim-portant casualties. Tho London Observer, reviewing this feature of the war, says: "There was expected generally, even in the innermost political quarters, quar-ters, a disaster such as might well have brought down tho government before the end of the year. At Anzac and Suvla we wero on a narrow front, partly rocky shelves, partly swamp-logged swamp-logged flats, almost literally between the devil in Turk-shape and tho deep sea. The trenches in tho hills wero rain-swept and storm-lashed. Those below at Suvla were almost drowned out Even those who had bolioved in further efforts to get through at any cost while there was still a fighting chanco either on the peninsula or in its neighborhood know that it was now time and over time to go. "But how to go? Tho Turks wore everywhere In heavy forco and close contact. At tho first sign of withdrawal with-drawal would they not leap up in exj ultant fanaticism with one shout of 'Allah!' to overwhelm our weakening ranks on tho cliffs before tho operation opera-tion was half through. Some who were against ovacuation thought we must lose anything up to "half our forces or more. Even some sober minds in favor of withdrawal as tho least of evils did not put tho probable casualties very mucn lower, in any case how could we hope to avoid total disaster to tho last rearguard? Some soldiers and sailors, Lord Fisher Fish-er amongst them, thought the thing could be done with little loss. But behind the scenes in homo politics and amongst all who knew the facts of which the nation was blissfully' Ignorant Ig-norant the hazard of tho thing was a nightmare for weeks. "But if hopes about the Dardanelles expedition had been dupes, fears had been liars. Came the denouement. It took away tho breath of ordinary people, peo-ple, who could hardly credit our luck, and bettered tho belief of the most sanguine optimist. From Anzao and Suvla a British army with Its array of guns, light and heavy and some of the heavy guns had been built into the advanced trenches were spirited away as by magic. The Turks on higher positions within ear-shot of it all wore non-plussed and supine. Our casualties were three wounded. It wculd all be unbelievable If It wore not true. "Wo are not allowed yet to know by what means and devices this thing, this miracle, or conjury was wrought, when a whole army with aitillery and baggage, did a vanishing feat or disappearing trick like the neatest trap-door effect in melodrama. Tho weather was favorable. The preparation must have been perfect. Tho credit Is divided between Sir Charles Munro, General Blrdwood and Admiral Weraysi. The British navy and army had shown that they cau say the last word in efficiency when they sot their minds to it; and Mr. Asquith's government broathed again, as amazed at its own escape as was Cllve at his moderation." |