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

'The Turkish government are merely a collection of radicals and gamblers. It doesn't matter how the Germans enticed them onto their side, a few well-placed shells will have them running. The Foreign Secretary has stated that the political situation in Constantinople is such that one good knock at the door and the whole government will tumble down.'

Sir George came out of his daze, realising that he'd been a complete fool. If the political situation in Constantinople was as shaky as Churchill suggested, then Sir George thought he might be able to poach a better way of solving the problem in the East.

Admiral Fisher stood up and Sir George could see the shadow of what must have once been a formidable man. 'Damn the Dardanelles! Every Admiralty study for the past century has concluded that modern gunnery makes it far too dangerous to send ships through such a narrow stretch of water, without troops to clear the coastal defences. You said it yourself in 1911 - the days of forcing the Dardanelles are over.'

'Admiral Fisher, there are no troops available to provide such support.’ Churchill’s tone softened, ‘It is bad form to quote oneself to one's self. But allow me to do the same, boldness in war is prudence and prudence imbecility.'

Fisher closed his eyes. 'I said that, it is true, but the British Empire ceases without the Royal Navy to protect it. The resulting loss of ships from the operation would seriously damage the Royal Navy's advantage over the German High Seas Fleet.'

Churchill banged his desk, only willing to humour the old man for so long. 'As far as I am concerned, Admiral Fisher, you have supported the operation in question. You even suggested that it can be accomplished with obsolete ships. Thus their loss would not undermine Britain's naval supremacy over the Germans.'

Fisher sat down, muddled and frustrated. He accepted Churchill’s argument, but knew he was also right. Yet evidently, he could not find the right words to put his point across. 'Surely there must be another way of achieving our objectives without taking such an awful risk.'

Sir George, who up until that moment had welcomed the distraction from the drubbing he'd been receiving, now saw the opportunity he needed in the old admiral's distress.

'Excuse me, First Lord, First Sea Lord. I believe that I have a solution to this problem. It’s a diplomatic initiative that would complement the naval demonstration. It would be quite a feat if we could bring it off.'

Churchill looked round and raised a hopeful smile. 'Go on, Smyth.'

'Well, it’s simply, as you said, First Lord, the Turkish Government is unsteady. They were divided about entering the war, the Germans pretty much bribed them to come in. We can exploit that weakness, with some sort of… alternative compensation to come out of the war.'

Sir George thought the idea might have more merit than he'd originally anticipated, but he now realised, exasperated with himself for being a tremendous fool, that the important point was whether Churchill believed it would work.

'We do not have to bring the navy directly to bear on the Turks. Simply imply its power and invite the Turkish government to cease hostilities. To in fact take the money or be destroyed. That would negate the need to mount a full-scale operation in the Dardanelles, saving our ships and men and winning the glory in a seemingly bold, decisive, Napoleonic strike.’

'Carrot and stick, yes, that could be worth looking into.' Churchill spoke to Sir George for the first time that day without the scorn of a school master pounding a dullard boy.

'Of course, I'd need access to naval personnel,' Sir George said. He had no intention of conducting the negotiations himself, in Constantinople. He knew of someone from the diplomatic service he could send, but there would inevitably have to be someone from the navy involved to keep Churchill pacified.

'You'll see to it, Fisher?’ Churchill asked, not overly enthusiastic about the idea.

'I'll need to consult with Hall, but it’s possible that Hankey may already have suggested something similar,' Fisher said.

'In that case perhaps I could assist in some advisory capacity, overseeing the, err... initiative,' Sir George said helpfully. The trick was now to be seen to be involved without having to get ones hands dirty.

'Good, Smyth, you'll be my representative with the Intelligence chaps.' Churchill had made his decision. It was now up to his staff to sort out the details. 'That's more the kind of thinking I've been looking for.'

Sir George nodded, manfully taking on the responsibility. He was a man of destiny. All that was required now was a lightness of touch, a certain amount of finesse, and there would be no more nonsense about being put in uniform.

The storm outside rattled the windows and Sir George wondered again if it might be artillery fire. Then his mind turned to lunch at his club.

Sir George gave Captain Reginald ‘Blinker’ Hall lunch a few days later. The Director of Naval Intelligence had appeared none too pleased at the invitation, when he was shown into the private room Sir George had taken.

After an excellent Dover sole and a few stiff gins, which Sir George assumed was what one gave the navy, Hall’s ruddy complexion began to glow and his famed facial twitch subsided.

Hall came from an old naval family and had established himself as highly competent. Sir George knew that he would have to handle him with tact, but that was very much Sir George’s forte and this was his forum.

‘Look Hall, I understand you are obviously overrun with work. So I thought I might offer a helping hand.’

Hall appeared mildly amused by Sir George’s opening gambit and coughed. ‘Forgive me, Sir George, weak chest. The reason why I’m not on a ship.’

Sir George wondered if that was meant as