Çanakkale Muharebelerinde İngiliz Askeri İstihbarat Raporları
British Military Intelligence Reports in the Gallipoli Campaign

Summary/Abstract: British Intelligence Service, one of the oldest intelligence service known in the history, has extensively engaged in intelligence activities in the Ottoman State during the World War I and collected military, political, economic and geographical information and reported them to the government offices. Prior to and during the course of Gallipoli Campaign, British Military Intelligence prepared numerous detailed reports about general status of Turkish army, locations of the troops, their quantities and qualities, geographical features of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Such military intelligence reports were not only about the Gallipoli Campaign but also provided detailed information about the incidents in several regions of Ottoman Empire. It closely followed up the social, economic and political developments, especially in Istanbul, the capital. It is understood that intelligence was received from the agents in important centers such as Istanbul, Izmir, Syria, European living in such places and minorities, residing around Istanbul and Gallipoli. Another important intelligence source is the statements of Turkish prisoners and deserters. In general terms, while such intelligence reports contained false information, depending on the intelligence source, the significant majority of the reports were considerably important and useful. There are no academic studies on this subject before in Turkey. The effect of British military intelligence reports on the course of the campaign and comparing such information with Turkish side are important for better understanding of the battles.

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