TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT BY THE WARSHIPS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2450, 1 May 1915, Page 7

TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT BY THE WARSHIPS

TURKISH DEFENCES KNOCKED TO PIECES . (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Rcc. April 30, 10.30 p.m.) n. London, April 30. „ ' ly Uhromclc's" correspondent at Mitylene reports that tlie most powerful fleet ever ongaged in warlike operations commenced to hammer tlie Hellespont defences down on Sunday. There was no cessation of the bombardment at night, and the darkness was lit up by the flashes of the guns and the scarchl.ghts. The thunder of the gun 6 was heard in Mitylene. •X "Cbronicla's'.? correspondent reached Rabbit Islauds on Monday, and witnessed the bombardment. Tremendous columns of smoke at midday poured out of Ivum Kale. Then the village of Yeni Shehr was seen to be ablaze. Tall columns of smoke showed that an effective fire was being directed upon tho ft arrows,-where small ships were directing the fire of the battleships upon tho Kilid Bahr and Chanak forts. The largest of the battleships lay on the European side of the entrance often firing twenty discharges to the minute. To the left of the entrance was tho line, of transports. The bombardment became more intense in the afternoon, and new fires broke out at several points on the Asiatic shore. One shell took a huge mass of masonry from the cliff-side at Kum Kale. It was evident that all resistance was ended, for the battleships lifted their fire higher up the Strait. The Sedd el Bahr fort was utterly knocked to piece 3. Then two of the French warships took up the game, and by four o'clock the fleet was firing its maximum gun-power, particularly the battleships lying off Erenkeui Bay. The Turkish guns did not reply seriously until the middle of the afternoon, though the Allies' artillery-landed at Cape Helles, and drove back one battery near,Sedd el, Bahr. As the battery was retiring, a battleship found tho range. The Turks bravely stood to their guns, and fired three 6hots. The warship replied with seven shots, and when the smoke cleared off no sign of life was to be seen near the battery. The Turks we-e much more active with their artillery under coyer of night, and another Turkish battery was Btationed on the road leading from Kum Kale to Erenkeai. The ships found the range, and the Turks limbered up and retreated to Erenkeui, followed by shells, and leaving dead men and fragments of guns on the roadway. The battleship Queen Elizabeth, standing well off the shore, assisted in silencing the batte-ies at Eski Hissarlik. \ The Allies on Monday evening were in complete possession of the extreme tongue of Gallipoli Peninsula, and the flat shores of Suvla Bay. ' '

AUSTRALIANS DISEMBARKED LAST FRIDAY Athens, 'April 29. It is reported from Volos (Greece), that a portion of the Australian troops participating in the Dardanelles operations ware disembarked on Tuesday last and immediately installed batteries on the coast. ' FORTS SHELLED FOR TWELVE HOURS. Athens, April 29. k British forces are operating on the European coast and the French on the Asiatic side of' the Dardanelles. Tuesday's bombardment lasted twelve hours. It was mainly directed against the Kilid Bahr. forts, on the European side of the southern end of The Marrows. London, 'April 28. > Reports from Greece state that a fierce battle occurred on Wednesday at Buvla Bay. The Turks, suffered heavy losses. The Allies captured an entire battalion. NAVAL CASUALTIES IN THE DARDANELLES The High Commissioner reports:— London, April 30, 9 a.m.. In the recent fighting in the Dardanelles the naval casualties were Officers killed, i; wounded, 1. Men killed, 1; wounded, 7. '