The Dardanelles Conspiracy by Alan Bardos (you can read anyone txt) 📕

a naval expedition to bombard the defences and clear the Straits for commerce,' Sir George read from his notes. 'This so-called demonstration is of the utmost importance. If Russia were to fall, the full might of the German Army would be brought to bear on the Western Front.’

'Smyth, you have the gift of compressing the largest amount of words into the smallest amount of thought.' Churchill threw a stack of papers onto his desk, scattering the minutes of the last War Council meeting which Sir George had meticulously crafted.

'I know what was agreed at the War Council, Smyth, I was there. I invited you to the meeting so you might offer opinions and, God forbid, produce an idea that could break the deadlock in Europe. Not so you can regurgitate discussions already held!' Churchill stood up and walked towards the window to gaze out at the Foreign Office across Horse Guards Parade.

Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary, had taken up a similar stance, looking out at the Admiralty building, when he'd given Sir George the opportunity to work for Churchill. He’d commented that the lamps were going out across Europe. Little did he know that the same thing was happening to Sir George’s career.

'When I accepted your transfer from the Diplomatic service, the Foreign Secretary had led me to believe you were something of an unorthodox thinker. A Napoleon of the Diplomatic Service. However, I've yet to see anything to justify such lofty accolades. What are you, thirty five? I was already a Cabinet Minister by the time I was your age. Napoleon had achieved somewhat more.'

Sir George didn’t doubt that if had also descended from a noble bloodline with Churchill’s social connections he could have accomplished at least as much as he had.

The First Sea Lord turned away from the window, placing his hands on his hips. Sir George couldn’t deny his force of personality as he adopted the pose he often took when addressing the House of Commons.

'The Dardanelles operation is in hand and will be decided upon at the next War Council meeting, Smyth, so I would greatly appreciate it if you would kindly apply that much vaunted analytical mind of yours to the matter at hand.'

'Forgive me, First Lord, I had thought a review of the War Council’s conclusions would provide a useful basis to work from,' Sir George said flatly. He was still unsure what the matter at hand was.

'You sold the plan to force the Dardanelles Strait superbly to the War Council, First Lord.' Sir George found playing to the ego of a firebrand like Churchill sometimes helped to stifle his outbursts.

'Smyth, I don’t need a scribbler to take down notes and toady. I have plenty of those already. I need dash –boldness. If the Navy is to be more than a heap of floating metal in this war, we must have operations.'

Sir George understood now what was at issue – Churchill's great frustration. The Royal Navy had had a largely inauspicious start to the war. Besides a few skirmishes, the long awaited clash of the titans between the British and German fleets had failed to take place.

'There are the proposals for combined operations against the Frisian islands and Zeebrugge. They will all give the navy an opportunity to exert force on the enemy.' Sir George had no idea what to suggest. He was a career diplomat and the Staff at the Admiralty considered these schemes quite mad – that is, with one exception. ‘The most practicable idea and the one that has the most support in the admiralty is the Dardanelles operation.’

'Yes, yes, that's all well and good, Smyth, but have you actually contributed an initiative yourself? What value does your presence add?' Churchill asked and sat back at his desk.

Sir George had heard talk of a fanciful cloak and dagger idea put forward by Maurice Hankey, to end the Turks’ involvement in the war diplomatically. Which might have suited Sir George’s skill set, but he had little faith in such operations and saw no reason to bring it to Churchill's notice.

He needed a chance to work the back channels, make contacts and have the right word in the right ear. He had to know all the facts before he could make reasoned and informed suggestions.

'I believe my role is to provide a strategic overview, First Lord.'

'You haven't listened to a word I've said, Smyth. Am I to send you back to Grey with your tail between your legs?' Churchill paused to light a cigar and leant back in his chair. 'There is little point in having you remain in well-paid inactivity. Perhaps we could put you to better use in uniform. I'm sure a place can be found for you somewhere at the sharp end.'

'Mr Churchill, is this really the appropriate juncture for you to discipline one of your subordinates?' Fisher asked abruptly. 'I have grave misgivings about this scheme of yours in the Dardanelles.'

Churchill turned to the old Admiral, forgetting Sir George's dressing down. 'I am at something of a loss, Admiral Fisher. Are you saying that you no longer support a naval demonstration in the Dardanelles?'

'I did support an attempt being made on the Dardanelles Strait following the Russian request for help, but only if it was to be immediate and with full military support. Since then the Turks have had time to prepare their defences. The Germans are pouring military aid into the country, down that blasted railway of theirs. There is also their gift of the Goeben and the Breslau, two state-of-the-art cruisers, lurking in the Straits, ready to pounce on our ships.'

Churchill growled at the mention of the German cruisers. Sir George suppressed a smile. It had been the First Lord’s interference that had allowed them to reach Constantinople. They were now highly effective pieces in the power politics that led to Turkey’s entry into the