NEW ZEALANDERS IN ACTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2449, 30 April 1915, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS IN ACTION

0 FIGHTING THE TURKS IN THE DARDANELLES '

"SPLENDID GALLANTRY"

■MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR'

PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION ' • IN WELLINGTON

The following cablegram was received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies by His Ex cellency the Governor yesterday morning, and communicated to the Prime Minister: — London, April 28, 2.10 p.m. "Hie ■ Majesty's Government desires me to offer to you their warmest _ congratulations on the splendid jallanfcry and magnifi- , cent achievement of your contingent in the successful progress of operations in the Dardanelles." The New Zealand field troops engoged in the Dardanelles operations probably include the Infantry Brigade under Colonel F. E. Johnston , (North Staffordshire Regiment), previously commanding the Wellington Military District), tho Field Artillery Brigade, under Lieut.-Colonel G. N. Johnston (previously Director of Ordnance at General Headquarters), Engineers, Field Ambulance, and other special services, the whole under Sir Alexander Godley, Commanding the New Zealand Main Expedition. These hold troops, oE course, would bo operating as part of tho general attack by Sir lan Hamilton's forces, and would engage a small sector of the line. It is not possiblo to say whether tho whole or merely tho major portion of our troops were transferred from Egypt to tho Gallipoli Peninsula, but it is quito likely that Sir Alexander Godley's force will include reinforcement troops frofu tho first two contingents which followed the main Expedition; The Gallipoli Peninsula is very rough and mountainous, and the nature of tho operations most likely will prccludo tho employment of mounted troops in the initial stages. TROOPS ASTRIDE THE'PENINSULA . STATEMENT BY THE WAR OFFICE (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) • ( London, April 28. The War Office, states:—"Despite continual opposition, the troops established themselves .-.cross the peninsula north-east of Eski Hissarlik. "They beat off all attacks at Sarihair and are steadily advancing:" HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. . The High Commissioner reports:— London, April 29, 1.25 a.m. "The War Office announces that in the face of continual opposition the troops established themselves across the Gallipoli Peninsula, from a point north-east of Eski Hissarlik to the mouth, of a stream on the opposite side, beating off attacks at Sari Bair, and steadily advancing. The . troops, had to overcome. wire entanglements on land and under the sea near the shore, and deep pits, with' spikes at tho bottom." "> ■ ■ PRINCIPAL POINTS OF DEBARKATION. Athens April The four principal, points of debarkation were: Cape Suvla, Cape Helios, Kum Kaleh, and the Saros coast below Ghennikos (Yeni TCeui), in tlie lino of tho town' of Gallipoli. The majority of tho forces landed at. Seddel Bahr. GREAT EXCITEMENT IN GREECE. ' ■ . , ; I ■ . ■ Athens, April 28. ; There is much excitement in Greece at the Allies' success in the Dardanelles. ' Many''"express disappointment that another splendid opportunity to further Greek interests by co-operating with the Allies -has beer. lost. ENEMY'S TROOPS HASTENING TO ENOS. , * .' Sofia April 28. Turkish troops are hastening to Enos, 05 the Turkish mainland, hear the Bulgarian frontier, where it was recently stated that an Allied force had been .landed.