Manpower constraints behind the naval-only Dardanelles plan

Gordon Corrigan's account presents the Dardanelles scheme as an example of political concerns taking priority over military ones. Russia had requested an operation against Turkey, and the British and French feared that it might leave the war. Kitchener recognised the need for assistance but wanted Britain's limited reserves for Flanders. Lloyd George's Balkan proposal depended on uncertain cooperation from other states, while Churchill's suggestion of landings at Bruges and Antwerp was rejected as too small to achieve its purpose. Kitchener argued that another front would require at least 150,000 men who could not be spared. A purely naval attack appeared to satisfy the conflicting demands: help Russia, threaten Constantinople and preserve the Western Front's claim on the army.