FORCING THE DARDANELLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12539, 10 May 1915, Page 6

FORCING THE DARDANELLES.

THt GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN. COLONIALS FIGHT LIKE SEASONED TROOPS. UNDAUNTED BY LOSSES. LMPORTANT POSITIONS -SEIZED. -RcceH-ed May 9. MlO.lo a.m. yjonuon. May 8. - ■Mr -?, Ashinead-Bartlett, the English ■K-j.r ■ c'orresoondeut. fWther describing the work of the colonials on:.Gallipoh Peninsula, savs that throughout the night-of the 26th the Turks' harassed our lines by creeping upVnd endeavoring to snipe the AtislralWans in the .-lielter - trendies, but irerA never dar. ing enough, to press an Vttack, a!-, though they were there in overwhelming numbers. \ NEW ZEALANDERS USE -THE BAYONET. The Turks paid dear'.y for their temerity. One section of New Zealanders. using" the bayonet, made a charge-. driving off the Turks in disorder. It was obvious on the morning of the 27th that the Turks had not recovered from the terrible hammer ng they received on the 26th, and had no "stomach'' for another big attack. The Uritish entrenchments were now iirmly established in a senr'-circle along the whole foreshore., which was- being used for the disembarkation of troops. supplies, guns and ammunition. REMARKABLE STEADINESS.

The Colonials' position was><also immeasurably improved by the landing of field guns aud several Indian mountain batteries. The Turks evidently intended to drive the Australasians into the -ea- on the '26 th by a great concentration of shraonel fife. Expecting to find the line .thin! v. held and the men exhausted by losses and the exertion oi landing, the Turks were soond:-il-lusioued, and discovered that these

Australasians were determined to die rather than •■.surrender the ground to dearly Tron. Every man knew that h'y< only "hope of safety lay in victory, as it was impassible' to re-embark once the ring of hills commanding the beach was lost. Most troops when under fire for the first time., "especially volunteers, keenlv'feel their■ losses at the beginning, especially if they occur before the men hare time to.settle' down; but these Colonials are an exception to the '.r.ule„ Despite heavy josses., the survivors are as keen as ever.

The enemy throughout the 27th resorted .to new, tactics in the hope or driving the colonials- off the. shore-, and. preventing supplies and. reinforcements reaching the beach! : The enemy, on the. light of. the 26th, brought up many field gilus, with which they opened a tremendous bombardment 011 the foreshore, and sea, and kept up an inees=arit ram'of .shrapnel on the "trenches. .They could no longer enfilade the beach, as every attempt.to place the guns was imuicdiatcly clicekcd by a few well-aimed silvos from the warships. The Turkish gunners, tried to put ■ a curtain of shrapnel over the sea between the warships and transports and the shore. It. was an amazing sight. Seoi'cs of shells were. burstjing and churn'ng up the water like a great hailstorm. Some fell far out and others mace a great daiiger zone, through wliich boats and trawlers had to pass. This hail of lead did not make the slightest difference. The gallant crews 'in the pinnaces, boats, lighters., and tugs took as much notice as if it was a tropical thunderstorm. The spectacular effect of the bombardment was magnificent, but the damage dene was practically nil.

The warships throughout the 27th incessantly fired at any of the enemy's infantry attempting to advance. Hydroplanes did excellent work in directing the fire of the. guns inland. The ships' indirect fire was daily becoming more efficient, and was now so accurate that nothing, could- live provided the target was. accurately-spotted. • The Turks frequently fire their heavy guns on the other, side of the Peninsula, hoping to hole the transports, but thev have not succeeded yet. If a Turkish warship in the Straits makes an nttempt a : salvo from the Allies' shies speedily forces her to fly up the channel.

The. scene ashore is one of interest activity. One lands in an avalanche of shrapnel and finds the regiments waiting on the beach before mov-

ing to the trenches. Here are fatigue pa*rtks unloading the boat* and lighters, mule-teams endeavoring to drag the field-guns into position; Indians conveying mountain guns, dressing stations tending wounded, and telegraph .and telephone units laying wires. Meanwhile the landing parties from ' the warships have been busy building bomb-proof shelters. Thousands of hardy New Zealanders and Australians are concentrated on the narrow shore, each engaged in some occupation. The generals and staff officers fare no better than the men. PRAISE FROM GENERAL BIRDWOOD. Genera] Biidwocd told Mr A-shmead-Bartlctt he could not sufficiently praisethe courage and endurance and soldierly qualities of the colonials, for the manner iu which they hung on to the position day and night was magnificent,, considering the heavy losses, the shortage in water, the incessant shrapnel to wnieh they weie exposed, being without cover, and also, the enemy's incessant iijfantrv attacks. After thev retired to a. contracted line they set their teeth and refused to budge a foot. These Colonials are extraordinarily good under fire, often exposing themselves rather than take the trouble to keep under the shelter of the cliffs. One of the strangest sights was to see a number bathing in the sea with shrapnel bursting all round them. COLONIAL COLONY ON THE CLIFF. TURKISH SNIPERS DANGEROUS. This colonial colony is assuming a definite form. The 'whole face of the cliff is being cut with roads, dug-outs, and bomb-proof shelters. An improvised township is springing up as the troops slowly dig themselves in and make themselves comfortable. We are holding a semi-circular position, liia trenches are well . made, - providing ample cover; but the slightest exposure is almost certain to result in a hit from a bullet. lhis incessant sniping greatly puzzles the men in the trenches, and ia a great problem at present. Apparently, even when the advance post is thrown out. the enemy's sharp-shooters 'remain behind and snipe unwary volunteers who venture out nightly in order to hunt the snipers. So-far they have been unable to keep them under. The cheerfulness-of the men in the trenches is most marked. They feel thev have overcome the initial difficult. - ties and paved the way to success; that they now'occupy such a position and are so thoroughly-entrenched-that all the Turks in Thrace and Gallipoh will never turn them out. • Received -May !). at 3.30 p.m. London, May 8. BRITISH DESPERATE UNDERTAKING. Renter reports that the British lauding on Sedd-ul-Bahr was of the bloodiest character. The enemy's-position was particularly strong. The beaches, •ivere Hanked bv a fort on the right and a- high cliff oil the left. The landing parties encountered a terrific fire, and had to run the gauntlet- for 200 yards. The survivors entrenched themselves in the sand and remained there the rest of the day. Countless deeds of the utmost bravery were resorted to, men bringing in the wounded and struggling for water across the v beach into -shelter. Soon 'hundreds of wounded were lying at one point. I

Another party landed on the eastern end of Sedd-ul-Bahr and struggled up the cliff into a village which was a. jumble of bracken and gaping walls, and afforded shelter for Turkish riflemen. The British were compelled to withdraw.

Meanwhile a force was landed at Helles and carried the wire entanglements. With their bayonets thev stormed a promontory. There was a magnificent infantry fight on the top of the plateau,' which lasted till midnight, when the Britishers reached an old fort on a ridge behind Sedd-ul-Bahr beach, the remainder landing after dark. The enemy at midnight opened a. terrific but harmless fire on the ships, whose -guns all day had kept down the batteries' fire. The British shattered a strong attack during the night on a ridge above the beach at Cape Helles, and at daylight occupied the -whole of the seaward edge of the plateau. The Britishers displayed the utmost coolness throughout, and overcame an awkward series of wire fences. The infantry on the crest advanced to the ridge, and the troops on the beach stormed a long hill and ioined their comrades on the ridge and cap-

tured Sedd-ul-Bahr, together with many trenches. On the top of the ridge many i of the enemy were found dead, killed { by the ships' fire, which found their i trenches. The. French landed during the night and joined the Br.itisheis on the ridge. ' Received May 10, at 8.45 a.m.

! ' ' Athens, May 9; The Deputy-Governor of Tenedos ielegraplts that the warships are_ concentrating on a single fort at- Nagara, all the others having been destroyed". It is reported that the Allies have captured Atchibaba, thus threatening the forts in the rear. A Turkish aeroplane bombed a bivouac at Gallipoli. doing some damage. Received May 10. at 9.40 a.m. Athens, May 9.

It is rumored that a Russian army lias entered the Turkish side- of the Black Sea.

It is .stated that the Allied forces, after a fierce struggle, captured important heights commanding Kilid Bahr. The battle continues furiously. The capture of the remaining heights is expected to entail the. surrender of tlii' Turks in the vicinity.

Advices from state that the forts at Bulair are liring vigorously t/i onposo the infantry landed at Karaehala, and a decisive engagement is proceeding.