Redemption - Leon Uris [221]
Fisher points out that the new super-dreadnoughts such as ELIZABETH are required in Channel and Atlantic operations.
Fisher cites that there is activity detected in Turkish fleet in Black Sea and Sea of Marmara. Further argues that German U-boats will sooner than later pose a danger to British fleet anchored off Gallipoli.
Prime Minister
Overrules Admiral Fisher and General French. British interests in Ottoman Empire are too great. Dardanelles operation imperative.
Foreign Minister
Taking Turkey out of the war should be the 1915 priority.
Field Marshal Kitchener
Supports Dardanelles operation. However, agrees with General French that no more land troops can be assigned to the campaign.
Churchill
Time runs against us. The longer we delay the more opportunity Turks/Germans have to prepare defenses and the less likely it becomes to win peninsula quickly.
Suggests minesweepers force the straits at once, followed immediately by main battle fleet entering and using 2,000 Marines and 4,000 Anzacs to make coordinated landing.
Lord Kitchener
Churchill is asking the impossible. Admiral Harmon feels it will take at least two weeks to clear the mine fields.
Churchill
Admiral Harmon also has come to conclusion that naval gunfire alone will not subdue peninsula.
Lord Kitchener
Will not support an early troop landing.
Namely: Island of Lemnos has been commandeered as an advance base for the assault on Gallipoli. Troops must be moved over from Egypt in orderly fashion and supplies and other support built up.
Moreover, General Darlington, Chief of Mediterranean Operations, refuses to commit troops until British 29th Division has arrived in theatre and is battle-ready.
Churchill
Major General Brodhead, CC of Anzacs, complains that advance base at Lemnos is not being properly used.
Lord Kitchener
Rather disdainful of Churchill’s poke at the Army. Lemnos is taking troops in order of battle priority. Namely: Marines, sappers, assault troops, artillery, in that order. Support troops: quartermaster, headquarters people, etc., will go to Lemnos last.
Churchill
Won’t quit the argument. Brodhead argues strongly that special units such as mule transport are desperately in need of field training and must be given priority to go to Lemnos first.
Lord Kitchener
Darlington doesn’t agree, but he will look into Brodhead’s problem.
Prime Minister
Does not like the lack of unanimity. Outsiders such as Sir Edward Carson, the Ulster Unionist, are against the operation.
Asks Kitchener to name a date for troop landing so he can quiet growing opposition among party leaders and secret councils.
Lord Kitchener
Field Marshal Kitchener feels that late April/early May is more realistic date for landing of troops.
The War Council meeting was adjourned with no one truly satisfied. A terrible stress had now been placed on the Anzacs and British forces in Egypt. The clean stroke of the swift sword of victory was badly dulled. Darlington had no feel for bold movement. The growing outside political opposition was putting a negative whisper over the operation.
As he went over the notes, Churchill brooded. As Churchill brooded, Cairo was about to burn.
72
Sonya called to her girls to round up the squad’s uniforms and bring soap and fresh towels to the fountain, where they had plunged in unison to cleanse their bodies of oil and clarify their minds. After they helped wipe the lads dry, Sonya sent the women from the villa and went off to make coffee—powerful coffee.
“From the beginning, Serjeant Yurlob.”
“I was working in Pig Island on the requisition list. Upon leaving I saw that the Major’s light was still burning and sought to get him to sign it. I knocked and upon entering saw that he was in a frightful state.”
“What do you mean?”
“He had the eyes of a madman and was sweating all over.”
“What in the name of God could it have been?”
“A letter