NAVAL ATTACK ON THE DARDANELLES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2397, 1 March 1915, Page 5

NAVAL ATTACK ON THE DARDANELLES

. TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT AIXIED FLEET ENTERS THE STRAITS • London, February 26, 6.30 pjn. The High Commissioner reports: "Paris reports that in the Dardanelles bombardment four forts were com* pletely destroyed. Ope was entirely armed by Germans. "Dragging for mines in the Straits is being undertaken by armoured ships, which the _ combined lieet is protecting. London, February 27,10.10 p.m. "The Admiralty reports most successful operations in the forcing of the Dardanelles. Forts Sed-cl-Bahr, Orkhanieh and Kum Kaleh were completely destroyed; the Gape Helles battery was partially demolished. ' The bombardment also destroyed the new batteries near Tombachilles, "and at the entrance. "The weather and wind were favourable when the attack was resumed by the Queen Elizabeth, Agamemnon, Irresistible (British), and tho Gaulois (French) at long range. The Holies battery replied; one shell'at 11,000 yards hitting the Agamemnon, killing three and. wounding five. . ' ' ' "The.Veiigeauce and the Cornwallis (British)'"got in under the enemy's guns and engaged him at short range. "The Suffren and Charlemagne (French) next attacked Sed-el-Bahr and Orkhanieh within 2000 yards range. The resistance offered was ineffective. "The Vengeance, Triumph, and the Albion completed the rkfuction. of the forts, and mine-sweeping operations have begun. The enemy burnt a village at the entrance. " 0 "On Friday the Albion,- Majestic, and Vengeance proceeded four miles up the straits tc the limit of the mine-swept area, and attacked Fort Dardanus ?jid tho new batteries on the Asiatic shore. The reply was ineffective, and the enemy retired during the afternoon. Our casualties were one killed, three wounded. The operations are proceeding. , "In the main attack on Thursday 'our casualties were two officers killed, one died of wounds, and six wounded." LANDING PARTIES DEMOLISH THE FORTS A statement by the Admiralty,.received at 0.20 a.m. to-day, covers the same ground as the High Commissioner's report, and.adds; The straits swept for four .mil es from the entrance, and the Albion and the Majestic on l'nday, the Vengeance supporting them, proceeded tothe limit of the mme-swept area, and attacked Fort Dardanus, armed with four shore SUnS ' s - u PP<> rted b y s°m© newly-erected batteries, on the Asiatic The enemy, on being shelled from inside the straits, abandoned the forts at the entrance. The Vengeance and Irresistible landed parties, who demolished the three; first forts completely, and Fort Kum Kaleh'partially Two new 4m. batteries concealed at Tombachilles, and four NordenfeMts covering the entrance, were destroyed. ° One of the British wa6 killed and three men wonted on Friday. HYDRO-AEROPLANES ASSIST IN THE DESTRUCTION. v (Rec. March 1, 0.20 a.m.) / ™ . , , , , , R°nio( February 27. . .three hydro-aeroplanes dropped many bombs on the Dardanelles forts. INCIDENTS OF THE BOMBARDMENT FRENCH CRUISER ENTERS THE WASPS' NEST. (Rec. February 28, 5.5 p.m.) . London, February 27. A report from Athene states that a French cruiser penetrated tho Dardanelles and bombarded the inner forts for an hour. TURKISH ENCAMPMENTS BOMBARDED. (Reo. February 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 27. The Allied Fleet has advanced up the Dardanelles.as far as Sortari within reach of Fort Intepe, which has been destroyed, and ajso bombarded the Turkish encampments. Six hundred Turkish wounded were taken to Constantinople. GOOD- WORK BY THE FRENCH WARSHIPS. (Rec. February 28,-5.5 p.m.) • Pariß, February 27. The French battleships Suffren, Gaulois, and Charlemagne played an active part in the bombardment on Thursday during the destruction of the Dardanelles forts. While three British battleships opened a slow, methodical fire on the forts at Cape Helles, Sed-el-Bahr, and Orkhanieh, the Gaulois engaged the large fort at Kum Kaleh, on the Asiatic side. The fire of the ships was remarkably accurate. The-Suffren. and Charlemagne fired at short range and completed tho destruction of the enemy's batteries, which only fired a few shots before beinsr silenced The ffroiu.l, ships were not damaged. GERMANS FORTIFY THE APPROACHES TO CONSTANTINOPLE (Rec. February 23, 5.5 p.m.) 1 London, February 27. Renter's correspondent at Athens states that the Allied Fleet entered the straits and bombarded the interior forts, notably Fort Dardanus. The Turkish reply was feeble. ' The Germans are strongly fortifying Princes Islands (in the Sea of Marmora near the mouth of the Bosphorus), and placing- batteries onStambul (the Turkish name for Constantinople). TURKISH PESSIMISM IN CONSTANTINOPLE. (Rec. February 27, 6 p.m.) '• ' - ' , London, February 26. ' , Telegrams from Constantinople report that the Turks are downhearted and expect the Allies to take tho metropolis sooner or later. "Times" and Sydney "Sun" services. . BOMBARDMENT SHAKES THE CHICAGO WHEAT. PIT. (Rec. February 23, 5.5 p.m.) , , , . London, February 27. Chicago reports that an approach to a panic m the wheat pit prevails in consequence of the reports of the bombardment of the Dardanelles. [The forcing of the Dardanelles is the first 1 step towards the unlocking of ths great wheat granaries of South Russia, of which Odessa, on the Black Seais -the main outlet.] ' + ————— ——— *