PASSAGE OF THE DARDANELLES.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2401, 5 March 1915, Page 5

PASSAGE OF THE DARDANELLES.

BOMBARDMENT RESUMED AUSTRIAN FIEET VENTURES OUT . By Telegraph—Press Association—CopyrleM _ . ' m London, March 3. Pans reports state:—"The bombardment of the Dardanelles has been resumed." , (Rec. March 4, 11.10 p.m.) • . , . London, March 4. The Admiralty report that the battleships Triumph, Ocean, and Albion on Monday morning entered the Dardanelles and attacked Fort No. 8 and the batteries at Whitecliff. The fort returned the Are, and also the Turkish fieldguns and howitzers. ' ■ "In the evening our seaplanes reported that several new gun positions had been prepared,_ but there were .no guns. ■ "A force of mine-sweepers, on Monday/ covered by destroyers, swept to within a mile and a half of Gape Keploz, and came under fire, only six being wounded. Meanwhile four French battleships operated at Bulair, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and bombarded the batteries and communications. "The operations at r the entrance to the straits, have already resulted in the destruction of nineteen guns, ranging from sis inches to eleven inches, and eleven smaller guns. "The battleships Canojms, Swiftsure, and Cornwallis on Tuesday engaged Forts No. 8 and No. 9, andHhe latter was silenced. All three battleships were hif, but the_ only casualty was one man slightly wounded. "Sweeping operations were continued at night. The attack progresses. "The Russian cruiser Askold has joined the Allies." i Rcuter's correspondent at Athens states that the Allies' ships on Tuesday silenced the Forts at Dardanus, Hamidieh, and Thimenlik, and advanced two miles. Fiffy-two vessels are participating in the operations.

MPORTANT LAND OPERATIONS PENDING CANADIANS IN THE EXPEDITION. (Rec. March 4, 11.10 p.m.)' ~, . Athens, March 4. The first detaohment of the military expedition to Turkey under General d'Amade, including Canadians and Senegalese, has arrived off the Dardanelles. Essad Pasha, commanding one hundred thousand Turks, is on the Isthmus of Gallipoli. .WORST PART OF THE BUSINESS 'TO COME. (Rec. March 4, 5.45 p.m.) • London, March 4. The "TimesV' naval correspondent, commenting on the operations in the Dardanelles, says that it is impossible that any of the Allies' sliipa have passed the narrows. _ . . The most difficult part of the business is yet ahead—the destruction of the forts in the narrows, where there are earthworks in addition to the batteries. There are probably, altogether, a scoro of defensive positions still to be reduced. ... . The position of some of the inner forts is- such that they cannot possibly he engaged by ships at long ranges. Hitherto it has been considered that warships are not built to attack shore defences, but the advent of long-range guns, and scientific methods of ensuring accuracy, throws a new light on the problem. —"Times" and Sydney "Sun' services. FUTURE OF THE FAMOUS WATERWAY. The Paris "Temps" states that an agreement lias'been reached by France, Britain, and Russia regarding the future status of the Dardanelles. It is proposed to give Russia free passage. Venice reports that the Austrian Journal "Neue Frcie Presse" says that the bombardment of the Dardanelles is 1 the first step towards the destruction of the Ottoman Empire, and the displacement of the relationship of the Great Powers in the Mediterranean will he so overpowering that it must bo reckoned one of the most serious consequences of the wat.. DELICATE SITUATION IN ITALY TENSION INCREASED BY THE BOMBARDMENT. . (llcc. March 1, 5.45 p.m.) London, Much 4. The situation in Italy has become extremely delicate since the Dardanelles belfltathJttMM, aitd tliß wlUwl houf la how uppwttsßiHgiw''UaHe*' uHH wHttf "Bun 1 ' wiykt*

DEPOT SHIPS FOR FOOD SUPPLIES. London, March 3. Numbers of Italian shipowners liAve arrived at Marseilles to purchase old sailing ships lying in the docks. They state that Italy is laying in food supplies, and wishes to use the ships as depots.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" services. ■ BULGARIA WATCHING THE BOMBARDMENT (Rec. March 4, 11.40 p.m.) Sofia, March 3. The operations in the Dardanelles are engrossing attention, particularly as it was believed that the advent of.the Germans had rendered the forcing of the Strait impossible. It is belioved that if Tchanak-(the fortress at the eastern end of the Strait) falls, the I'orte will be obliged to retire to Koniah (in Asia Minor). WHILE THE CAT'S AWAY AUSTRIAN FLEET BOMBARDS ANTIVARI. Cettlnje, March 3; Official.—Five Austrian warships entered Antivari harbour (Montenegro), and bombarded the port and town. The Royal yacht was sunk and large and valuable stores burnt. A civilian was killed and several wounded.