Item 01: Oliver Hogue letters, November 1914-29 December 1915 - Page 90
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[Page 90]
5
Hitherto Ive refrained from mentioning our destination. But so much has appeared in the press about the Expeditionary force for the Dardanelles that there can be no harm in my mentioning that we believe that we are going to the Dardanelles to combine with the naval force in capturing Constantinople & smashing up the Turks.
Its bound to be a great exploit -- quite the most spectacular in the whole war. Hitherto the Dardanelles have been looked upon as absolutely impregnable. But the Turks have had the Bosphorus & the Sea of Marmara too long. They have run riot in Europe far too long. So they will have to quit.
The Russians will attack from the Black Sea & the North, while the French & English will come in from the Dardanelles & the South. By the time the plan is fairly moving it is probable that the Greeks will take a hand. But the Ring & the Court party have so far been able to block Venezelos & the nation. If Greece does not butt in she will loose her chance of getting the rich territory in Asia Minor that she has so long coveted. The Germans up till recently did a great deal to help fortify Turkey & sent enormous quantities of arms & ammunition. But lately there has been nothing through from the North. The way is blocked. And