VIVID PICTURE OF THE BATTLE IN THE NARROWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2416, 23 March 1915, Page 5

VIVID PICTURE OF THE BATTLE IN THE NARROWS

STRAIT A RAGING INFERNO BAD WEATHER INTERRUPTS THE ADVANCE (Rec. Starch 22, 6.40 p.m.) London, Match 22. The "Daily Mail's'. 1 correspondent, giving his impression of the'bombardment in the Dardanelles as seen from a high hill from a distance of fifteen Iniles up the narrow neck between Forts Chanak and Kilid Bahr, says: "The largest vessels of the Allied Fleet passed up and .down for over four hours, hurling, with sheets of orange flame from the heavy guns, a constant succession of shells on the forts. The Turkish batteries, with decreasing frequency, flashed back replies, many of their shots falling harmlessly into the s£a.' "The ships turned about in a stretch of two miles, incessantly bombardting the two sides of the Narrows alternately. It was easy to imagine what an inferno was in progress below us. The blinding flashes of the discharges, the deafening explosions, the screams of the great shells of- nearly a toil" weight, which could be seen actually hurtling through the air, the rattle of the :enemy's shots falling into the water, causing torrential splashes, and the sound of the hits thudding against the armoured sides of the ships—these were all ■ terrible manifestations 1 of man's power of scientific destruction. "The action slackened at 3.45 p.m., when the five ships were seen steamj ing homewards, one of thorn showing a white froth at the port side where the pumps were working. 1 • "At 4.30 p.m. the forts ceased fire and the. day's action was over."— ((''Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) HOW THE FRENCH WARSHIP BOUVET WENT DOWN. London, March 21. An eye-witness at Tenedos says that a thick cloud of smokfi blotted out the BouvSt. Then, as it thinnedi the grey bow pointing skyward was seen. The stern was submerged. Before the smoke had passed away the vessel Sank, just as two British ships rushed up to the rescue. A CHECK BY THE WEATHER LESSONS OF THE. BOMBARDMENT. (Rec, March 22, 11.30 p.m.) London, March 22. The Admiralty announces that unfavourable weather has interrupted the' operations in the Dardanelles. The amount of the damage to the Turkish forts by Thursday's bombardment has not .been ascertained,' as_ owing to the losses caused by drifting mines the attack was not pressed to its conclusion that day. The power of the fleet to dominate fortresses by superior fire seems to be established. Various other dangers and difficulties have been encountered, hut nothing has happened to justify the belief that the cost of the undertaking will exceed what was always expected and provided for. The British casualties in pWsonnel were sixty-one killed, wounded, and .missing. Rear-Admiral De Robeck has telegraphed to the Admiralty testifying to the splendid behaviour of the French squadron, which, undaunted by its heavy loss, was led into close action by Admiral Guapratte with the greatest galfentry. GERMAN AIRMEN LEAVE CONSTANTINOPLE. Sofia, March 24. Fifteen German aviators have auitted Constantinople for Germany. Some Turkish branches of the German banks have sent their gold re- • Serves to Berlin. BRUSH BETWEEN BULGARS AND GREEKS. Athens, March 21. A strong Bulgarian band attempted to raid Demir-Hissar, Greek Macedonia (forty-five miles north-east of Salonika), but Greek troops drove them off. Three Bulgars were killed and several Greeks were wounded. O ■