(Official Crest)
ADMIRALTY
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WHITEHALL
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4th March, 1915.
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| (handwritten) My dear Kitchener, |
| I have
now heard from Carden that he considers it will take him 14 days on
which firing is practicable to enter the Sea of Marmora, counting
from the 2nd of March. Of course bad weather would prolong, and a
collapse of the Turkish resistance at the later forts would shorten
this period. But it seems to me we ought now to fix a date for the
military concentration so that the arrival of troops can be timed
to fit in with the normal fruition of the naval operation. The transports
for the 30,000 troops from Egypt, less those already taken to Lemnos,
will all have arrived at Alexandria between the 8th and the 15th,
that is to say the troops could be landed at Bulair or, alternatively,
if practicable, taken through the Straits to Constantinople about
the 18th instant. By the same date the transports conveying the 8,000
men of the Naval Division from England could also reach the same points.
In addition there are, I understand, in Lemnos 4,000 Australians and
2,000 Marines of the Royal Naval Division. Therefore I suggest for
your consideration, and for the proper co-ordination of naval and
military policy, that we fix in our own minds the 20th March as the
date on which 40,000 British troops will certainly be available for
land operations on Turkish soil. To make sure of this date, it will
perhaps be better to give all orders as for the 17th or 18th; we should
then have a little in hand. I think the French should be given this
date (20th) as their point, and should rendezvous at Lemnos not later
than the 16th. We should also inform the Russians and the Greeks,
and ask them what dates they can work to (assuming they are coming).
It is necessary for me to know what your views and plans are in these
matters. |
| I feel
it my duty also to represent the strong feeling we have at the Admiralty
that there should be placed at the head of this army so variously
composed, a general officer of high rank and reputation, who has held
important commands in war. I heard yesterday with very great pleasure
you mentioned the name of Sir Ian Hamilton as the officer you had
designated for the main command in this theatre. Certainly no choice
could be more agreeable to the Admiralty and to the Navy; but I would
venture to press upon you the desirability of this officer being on
the spot as soon as possible, in order that he may concert with the
Admiral on the really critical
and decisive operations which may be required at the very outset.
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| I wish
to make it clear that the naval operations in the Dardanelles cannot
be delayed for troop movements, as we must get into the Marmora as
soon as possible in the normal course. |
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