Birds Without Wings
“Whoever attacks loses spectacular numbers of soldiers. Not even Kemal’s night attack works, and neither do the assaults in overwhelming numbers that are tried by other commanders.Kemal is appointed full colonel, and receives battle medals from the Sultan. Kaiser Wilhelm gives him an Iron Cross, and King Ferdinand of Bulgaria creates him Commander of the Order of St. Alexander. He has another falling-out with Enver Pasha, who opposes Kemal’s plans for an attack. The attack fails, as Enver had pr...edicted, and Kemal resigns, blaming Enver for his interference, but after Enver has returned to Istanbul, Kemal is persuaded to stay by Liman von Sanders. Enver offers Kemal a command in Tripolitania, a considerably less important theatre of the war, and Kemal says he will think about it, but nothing comes of it.Kemal remains quarrelsome. He fires off letters demanding better defence of his positions, and disputing the command structure in his sector. He is seldom guilty of subtle and tactful diplomacy, and he makes a vocation of antagonising important people.The corps commander comes to see him, and Kemal explains to him how the enemy will circle round from Suvla Bay.MoreLess
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