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Show GREAT FIGHT WORTH MAKING If Allies Endure, Campaign of 1916 Will Be Decided Against Germany Is Churchill's Prediction. REVIEW OFFICIAL WORK Episodes During Tenure of Office Of-fice Explained and Reasons' Given Denounces Untrue Un-true Statements. London, Nov. 15, 5 p. m. In his speech in the house of commons today Mr. Churchill declared that if any operations op-erations in the history of the world were worth carrying through with sustained fury and utter disregard of life, the operations at the Dardanelles were worth it "We are passing through a bad time which probably will be worse before be-fore It is better, but it will bo better?'' Mr. Churchill said. "If wc endure, tho campaign of 1916 should be decided de-cided against Germany by her shortage short-age of men." Gradual Reduction of Dardanelles. Regarding the Dardanelles, Mr. Churchill declared that the admiral on the spot said they could not be fnlrpn u'itli ! rush hut that tho fnrtl- fications might be reduced gradually by bombardment. Admiral Sir John Fisher, then first sea lord, was opposed op-posed to a reduction of Great Britain's naval strength in home waters, but never criticized the method of attack on the Dardanelles. Mr. Churchill declared he did not receive clear guidance from Admiral Fisher before the expedition was decided de-cided upon, or the subsequent firm support to which ho was entitled. Churchill Reviews War Episodes. In making his promised sta.tement, Mr Churchill dealt with episodes during dur-ing his tenure of office as head of the admiralty rather than with his resignation. He said his letter to Premier Asqulth gave fully and truthfully truth-fully the reasons which led him to ask for a release from the government. govern-ment. These reasons did not apply to any other member of the cabinet who was not in the war council. "Moreover, T alone have performed an alternate -form of service whereto no exception can be taken and wherewith where-with I am perfectly content," he continued. con-tinued. Battle Off Chilean Coast. Turning to the naval battle off the Chilean coast last year, In which a British squadron was defeated by the Germans,. Mr. Churchill- said he had been In full agreement with his expert ex-pert advisers. The admiralty's disposition dis-position of warships, he said, were sound and were the best under the circumstances. Documentary evidence evi-dence would make this clear, without detracting from the gallantry and devotion de-votion of Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Christo-pher Craddock who lost his life when the Good Hope went down. Tho suggestion that he had overruled over-ruled his nayal advisers aud kept the old cruisers Hogue, Cressy and Abou-klr Abou-klr at sea, thus causing their destruction destruc-tion by a German submarlno last year, was characterized by Mr. Churchill as untrue lie said It was for A. J. Balfour, the present lord of the admiralty, to determine whether the papers should bo published. He himself had no desire to press for the publication of papers which might prejudice officers now in the service. Regarding the Antwerp expedition Mr. Churchill said it was not arranged by hlra, but had been planned by Field Marshal Kitchener and the French government. He was not concerned with it nor qousulted until arrange-,'inonls arrange-,'inonls were being advanced a loug way and not until the troops were moving or wero under orders. nn |
