The Dardanelles Conspiracy by Alan Bardos (best ereader for pc TXT) 📗

being in Number 10 Downing Street. He instinctively picked out the key members of the War Council, waiting for the meeting to commence.

The War Council had been formed from the leading military and political figures in the country to find a solution to the fiasco unfolding in Europe. The most pressing issue for them to resolve was whether to open a second front in the East and if so where.

The Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith, referred to the War Council as one of the strangest collection of men you were ever likely to see at one table. Sir George wouldn’t have wished to entertain its members as dinner guests but he didn’t consider them strange, just ineffective.

Lloyd George, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had failed to inject his usual energy and exuberance into the council. Even Lord Kitchener, the most famous soldier in the land and now the Secretary of State for War, did little more than provide a commanding presence.

Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary, had managed to get himself cornered by Arthur Balfour, the urbane leader of the opposition, who was boring him about wheat exports.

Sir George moved toward the beleaguered Foreign Secretary, he had to ask him for a favour.

‘Just one moment, Smyth.’ A balding, middle aged man put a hand on his arm. Sir George smiled amiably at Maurice Hankey, the Secretary of the War Council and a wolf in pinstripe trousers.

‘It really isn’t good enough, Smyth. The War Council was scheduled to start ten minutes ago.’

‘The First Lord and Admiral Fisher had an urgent matter to discuss with the Prime Minister,’ Sir George replied indifferently.

‘Yes, I understand there has been some disagreement at the Admiralty,’ Hankey said in a probing tone.

‘There has been a frank exchange of views,’ Sir George answered. Fisher had continued to go around in circles over the plan to force the Dardanelles Strait and had now taken his concerns to the Prime Minister.

‘I’m sure a compromise will be reached,’ Sir George added.

‘A compromise, yes, Churchill will abandon his plans to attack the North European coast if Fisher supports the Dardanelles operation.’

‘I’m sorry?’

‘You seem shocked, Smyth, there is very little that happens around Whitehall that escapes me.’ Hankey eyed Sir George menacingly.

‘I don’t follow, Colonel,’ Sir George said.

‘Oh come now, don’t be coy, Sir George. You’ve latched onto my Constantinople mission.’

Sir George didn’t like Hankey’s manner. ‘I was directed by the First Lord of the Admiralty to act as his representative.’

‘Yes, play it that way if you like, Smyth.’ Hankey turned away as Churchill and Fisher entered the Cabinet room, followed by the stocky figure of Asquith. Sir George quelled his annoyance. He’d missed his opportunity to talk to Grey.

The War Council members took their places. Sir George joined Churchill and made a note of the date: 28th January 1915.

The meeting settled down and the Prime Minister engrossed himself in writing a letter, content for Churchill to provide direction.

‘At the last War Council meeting it was decided that the Admiralty examine the possibility of a naval demonstration in the Dardanelles Strait that would not require the use of troops as a covering force. The basis of our plan is therefore to use the superior firepower of our ships to systematically destroy the Dardanelles defences. Troops will not be needed to take the enemy fortifications, as they will cease to exist.’

Churchill turned to Fisher for his support, but the old Admiral maintained a dogged silence. Churchill frowned and the rest of the cabinet tactfully ignored this lack of unity.

'We plan to start by smashing the forts at the mouth of the Straits and then working our way up the inner fortifications, while the minefields are cleared. The estimates I’ve been given are that in a matter of weeks the only thing that will stand between our fleet and the glittering prize of Constantinople will be a few field guns and some rifle fire!'

A general murmur of approval went round the table. The Prime Minister even looked up momentarily distracted from his letter. Churchill paused and looked at his colleagues. 'Gentlemen, the ships are on their way to the Aegean and by mid-February will be in a position to attack. The only question that remains is what importance you attach to an undoubtedly risky operation.'

Admiral Fisher at last broke his silence. 'I had understood that this question would not be raised today.'

Asquith turned toward Fisher and replied solemnly, 'Admiral Fisher, you made your views clear to me. However, in light of the measures that have taken place we cannot possibly consider leaving the operation in abeyance.'

Fisher stood up abruptly and strode towards the door. Sir George watched in amazement as Lord Kitchener stalked after the Admiral and steered him to a nearby window.

Asquith ignored Admiral Fisher's outburst, his imagination evidently captured by the promise of Eastern adventure.

'Gentlemen, there can be no opportunity without risk. I say the forcing of the Dardanelles Strait should go forward. It will afford the chance to occupy Constantinople and bring in the whole Balkan Peninsula on our side.'

Colonel Hankey took Asquith’s view a step further. ‘Once the way through to the Black Sea has been cleared, our forces can join with the Russian navy and launch a combined assault up the Danube. Into the very heart of Austro-Hungary, sidestepping the stalemate in the West and bringing our sea power directly to bear on the heart of Europe.’

The members of the War Council were elated by the possibilities. Sir George was awed by their naivety, as the discussions continued. Great Britain, it appeared, could take Turkish possessions in Asia Minor and consolidate its position in Persia, containing Russian expansionism. Thereby curing the principle ailment that plagued the British Empire before the war, establish world domination and end the war in one fell swoop.

Amidst the general soundings of support, Kitchener