POLITICS AND WAR THE BRITISH’S DARDANELLES DILEMMA (3 NOVEMBER 1914-18 MARCH 1915)

On the eve of World War I,seizing of two Turkish ships that were ordered to Britain by the British Government has created a great response in Turkish public opinion.With the entry to two German ships into the Dardanelles and blockade of the Strait entry by British fleet and the political and military attitude of British Government towards Turkish Government further sharpened this reaction.Germany who was in a rush in throwing Turkey into the war made use of this growing reaction against the British. With Turkey’s enry into the war,the process taking place in front of the Dardanelles forced the British Government to consider opening a new front in the Dardanelles. The idea of naval and land campaign was expressed by Winston Churchill,Lord of the Admiralty,in War Council meeting held on 25 November 1914.It was only Churchill who supported this idea decisively during the council. However, Horatio H.Kitchener,the Secretary of State for War ,did not approve this campaign which requires a large military force on the grounds that they had no enough military power except for those allocated to Western Front.But this idea was neither fully accepted nor abondoned. Eventually, with the approval of naval campaign , a limited operation was decided. This study deals with the strenuous historical process full of hesitations,drawbacks and discussions on the Dardanelles operation which always remained behind the Western Front priority of the British War Council.