HOT WORK WITH THE BAYONET

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2455, 7 May 1915, Page 5

HOT WORK WITH THE BAYONET

RUNNING FIGHT FOR THREE MILES (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright) ■ , ' . ' London, May 5.' Ranter s correspondent at Cairo reports that the fighting in the Dardanelles reveals many stories of dash and courage on the part of the Australians and New Zealanders. They jumped out of the boats and waded ashore neck-deep, and then took three ridges in succession in a running fight extending for three miles. "Our Man Never Wavored." One soldier said:—"Nothing stopped us. Our big lads lifted the Turks on the ends of their bayonets and hurled them over their heads. The Turks ran screaming and howling with fear after the first rush. Others of ours came up and helped to storm the ridges and consolidate our new positions. "The enemy's fire of shrapnel, from machine-guns, and rifles was terrific throughout; but our men never wavered. Our casualties were hea.vy, but very many of the wounds are slight, and the men will reappear in the fighting line in a few weeks." Heroes of the Red Gross. Some of the wounded, say that the Red Cross worked magnificently. The ambulance men were under fire continually, the Turks making a dead set against them, and shooting them down mercilessly. _ , It has been established that the Turks used dum-dum bullets. The Turks' losses were enormous, the bayonet rushes doing great slaughter. GRAPHIC STORY OF THE ALLIES* ATTACK WHOLE VALLEY A RIVER OF FLAME London, May 5. The ."Daily Chronicle" publishes the following telegram,, dated Thursday last:—"From a motor-launch in the bay under Gaba Tepoh on Monday night I witnessed a land battle in which a portion of the fleet assisted. The searchlights picked out targets for the great guns, the opposing artillery working across the valley running inland from the bay. The fire was so continuous that I could not discern the outline of the valley across which the two land forces were also contending. Often the whole valley seemed a river of flame. The Turkish Position.

_ "The Turkish position on Monday was, roughly, from the crest above Maidos to Bolcali Kalessi, the British holding the seashore at the mouth of the valley, and Hazmak Valley. During Monday the British left was thrown along the northern, and commanding, ridge towards Bukali, and the Turkish left during tho night advanced westward along the southern ridge, endeavouring to x cut off our forces. "The warships, including the Queen Elizabeth, replied with shrapnel, while the land forces on the northern ridge rained a hail of deadly shells. The fire was kept up during the night, when the British extended their position, making ; the southern ridge extremely dangerous. "The Turks late'on Tuesday afternoon made i another attack. They were assisted by a thick mist and rainstorm. Their intention was to make"it impossible for the British transports to land supplies under cover of the night. Meanwhile the ships at the entrance to the Dardanelles bombarded the Narrows. French on the Asiatic Shoro. "The French landed at Morto Bay, and were astride the roads leading to Crithia on Wednesday. The Turkish guns replied from positions a mile behind Crithia, which the fleet's guns set on fire. TTie height of Achibab, 730 ft., dominates the Tegion, and is the chief obstacle to the Allies' advance. "By 1 o'clock on 'Wednesday the Allies were acrosß the peninsula a mile south of Crithia. The shrapnel was bursting on Achibab, which the warships at Cape Helles and Ereku Bay were also shelling. Crithia was practically captured by nightfall. The Turkish artillery made a feeble reply, except when two cruisers ran close in shore. The latter replied, silencing them in a few minutes. "During Wednesday the Allies' activity in the northern position continued, with a view of throwing a force across the Peninsula. The fleet's guns were shelling the Turkish reinforcements, and keeping the northern force free from \ attack." TURKISH PRISONERS ARRIVING AT TENEDOS. London, Mar 5. A message from Tenedos reports the arrival of two thousand Turkish prisoners. In Constantinople it. is declared that the French troops were completely driven off the Asiatic side, while the British at Gaba Tepe, though they tenaciously maintain their positions on the coast, have not succeeded in improving their positions. ATTACK ON ALLIES' CAMP REPULSED. (Rec. May 7, 2 a.m.) Athena, May 6. A report from Mitylene states thnt, the Turks, considerably reinforced, attacked the Allies' camp at Crithia on Tuesday, but were repulsed, leaving fifteen hundred dead. The Allies have advanced into the interior, and the Fleet's bombardment continues. The warships' guns annihilated an entire Turkish regiment. Tlio German Embassy at Constantinople admits that the Allies have occupied several po.ints or the Peninsula. AIR ATTACK ON BRITISH WARSHIPS TWO TURKISH BOMB-DROPPERS BROUGHT DOWN. London, May 5. Two Turkish aeroplanes dropped bombs on warship at Seddul Bahr without doing any harm. The warships brought; down both and made prisoner the Geraian aviators. > OFFICIAL REPORT OF NAVAL CASUALTIES. 5 - The High Commissioner reports:— London, May 5, 0.35 a.m. "Tbe naval casualties in tho Dardanelles include eight officers and ten men killed, and nine officers and five men wounded. Six men arc reported missing." TURCO-GERMAN INTRIGUE IN PERSIA SWEDISH MORAL SUPPORT FOR THE NEW GOVERNMENT. Undent J)ay S. Swedish dinlomats in' Persia hove promised to support/the new.Government, ind continue their attitude of neutrality. This decision is likely in an important degree to assist the Allies against Turco-German intrigues,—"Tinieii" and Sydney "Sun'' Services,