QUEEN ELIZABETH'S BIG GUNS IN ACTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2404, 9 March 1915, Page 5

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S BIG GUNS IN ACTION

ENEMY'S GUNS SILENCED

ATTACK IN THE GULP OF SMYRNA ByTelegraph—Prefls Association—Oojyrlglit London, March 7. Router's Athens correspondent states that the battleship Queen Elizabeth, on March 5, operated in the Gulf of Saros. _ Her first shots silenced a battery on the heights. The armaments of Fort L include 14-inch guns. Router's Athens correspondent states that Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Peirse (whose flagship is the Euryalus) has silenced the forts on the Smyrna heights, and is now bombarding the forts at the entrance to tho gulf of Smyrna. x The High Commissioner reports (London, March 8. 1.20 p.m.):— "Paris reports, referring to the oporations in the Dardanelles, state that on Saturday the battleship Queen Elizabeth, from her position in the Gulf of Saros, bombarded by indirect fire two large forts on the Asiatic side,, defending the Straits at Chanak. At the same time the warships inside the Dardanelles continued' by direct fire tho bombardment of the forts on the European and on the Asiatic sides.

Indirect fire means that the target is not seen from the firing point, as, for example, when the object of attack is engaged from a concealed position, or is inaccessible for direct fire. The battleship Queen Elizabeth, engaging the fortified works at Cbanak on the Asiatic side of the "Narrows"), was firing from a position in the Gulf of Saros, which means that her 15-inch shells were fired right over the Gallipoli Peninsula, and across the Straits to the targot on tho other side. The disposition of the firing units, described in the above message, indicates that tho Turkish forts were made the target for a converging fire. The Queen Elizabeth would have at hand not only an efficient air reconnaissance to correct her range, but also wireless reports from the fire-observers on the warships inside the Dardanelles.

GRAPHIC PICTURES OF THE BOMBARDMENT HOW THE FORTS WERE UNMASKED, (Reo. March 8. 9 p.m.) London, March 8. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Athens writes: "The Turks are using many floating mines in the Dardanelles, pome of them have floated as far as Tenedos. The heavier .Turkish guns are skilfjilly hidden, and it is necessary to knock out each individually, an operation calling for the most skilful markmanship. Already fifty have been destroyed." A spectator on Mount Uias watched the opening of the bombardment. "It was a magnificent spectacle," ho says. "The-fleet was ranged in a'Semicircle at the entrance, and shells screamed every two minutes. Huge masses of earth and stone-work wore thrown up, and the din. was terrific. As the Turkish batteries refused to fie drawn, one British and one French ship stood in, spitting firo and smoke towards Port Seddul Bahr. The ships sped under the batteries, drawing their fire, and fountains of water sprang high in the air round the ships. None of the shots came within a hundred yards' of the mark, and immediately tho batteries disclosed themselves tho fleet opened a terrific fire with its heaviest guns. Each projectile appeared to create a frightful inferno. . "One section of the fleet, sheltering at the extremity of the Gallipoli Peninsula, fired' over the hilly promontory at the Kum Kale forts, and another section, under the coast north-east of Tenedos, concentrated a galling fire on the samo spot, also demoralising groups of Turkish troops on the mainland." WHEN THE FLEETS REACH THE NARROWS. (Rec. March 9, 1,35 a.m.) Amsterdam, March 8. The "Frankfurter Zeitung", publishes an interview with Fnver Pasha, who declares that the subjection of the outer forts of the Dardanelles was expected. The real defences are furthor in, where the "Narrows" defile, commanded by mines and artillery, which will prevent the ships from manoeuvring. These defences so far have not been affected.

PANIC REIGNS AT CONSTANTINOPLE

MASSACRE OF CHRISTIANS FEARED,

(Rec. March 8, 11.15 p.m.) London, March 8. The "Times's" correspondent at Sofia (the capital of Bulgaria) savs that Constantinople is panic-stricken. Thousands of refugees from Gallipoli have increased the general alarm, and it is feared that the appearance • of the Allied Fleet will bo tho signal for a general massacre of Christians. Many have, already fled. , • In tho event of an outbreak, it is expected that the instigators or the Holy War will bo the first victims of Moslem- fanaticism, tlio German officers being unpopular with the masses. _ Great efforts are being made to fortify tho environs of the city, under the direction of Enver Pasha (Turkish Minister of War).

GERMANS IN CONSTANTINOPLE ALARMED,

Bucharest, March 7,

There is increasing alarm ,in the German colony at Constantinople. German officers arc sending away their families. Many women, including General von Sander's wife, have arrived here.

General von Sanders was Chief of the German Military Mission which was sunt to CptiotnnUuflule seme Ume before ills wsv, to feersiusism the lurkish wstaui.