THREE BATTLESHIPS SUNK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2415, 22 March 1915, Page 5

THREE BATTLESHIPS SUNK

HOT WORK IN DARDANELLES ARTILLERY DUEL I THE NARROWS TERRIFIC GUNFIRE FORTS SILENCED OR BLOWN UP MAGAZINE EXPLODED » TERRIBLE 'EFFECT OF 15-INCH GUNS News of the land operations is overshadowed to-day by accounts of a tremendous battle in the Dardanelles. Three battleships of the bombarding squadron, the British Irresistible and Ocean and the French Bouvet, have been sunk, not by the fire of the defending forts, but by drifting mines. All three ships were old. In the case of the two British ships comparatively few lives were lost, but only 64 members of the crew of the Bouvet were saved. Apart from this loss, the bombarding squadron carried out its attack with signal success. The assault was directed against the defences of a narrow section of the Dardanelles, where the .strongest forts and batteries protecting- the strait are located. Besides the older ships engaged in the close bombardment; the attacking squadron included the British stiper-Dread-nought Queen Elizabeth, which wrought great havoc on the forts and shore batteries with her fifteen-inch guns. Some of the bombarding ships were damaged by shells, but none were sunk by gunfire. The bombardment as a whole appears to have been entirely successful, and' to have inflicted serious damage upon the forts and shore batteries. Few developments are reported to-day in the Western theatre, but the Allies are everywhere holding the positions won in recent fighting, and in some places have achieved further slight advances. A Now \ork report states that the transportation to France of the new British Army of a million men has been in progress for two months past, and that the French have a million fresh, troops ready for the field. The Russians have, entered East Prussia towards the northern end of that province, and a message from Amsterdam (not confirmed) credits th9m with having occupied the German Baltic port of Memel. In Bukowina and elsewhere the Eus sians have beaten off attacks, and are comfortably holding their own. The Munitions Conference, convened by Sir. Lloyd George, has reached a satisfactory understanding. Increased friction is reported between Austria and Italy, and it is stated that the prospects of their reaching a satisfactory settlement of . their differences is remote.