TWO WEEKS OF HOT FIGHTING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2473, 28 May 1915, Page 6

TWO WEEKS OF HOT FIGHTING

OFFICIAL NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS FROM MAY 6 TILL MAY 18 His Excellency the Governor has reeved from the Secretary of State for the Colonies the following official report (m code) of the fighting in the Dardanelles, which he has forwarded on to the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. W. F. Massey):— "The following is for publication°regarding the operations in the Dardanelles :— The Attack on AcMf Baba. "On May 6, after the arrival of fresh troops, which included part of o territorial division, a general advance ot the Allied troops took place at 11 a.m. against-the Achi liaba portion. A heavy covoring fire was maintained bv ships of the Allied fleets, but, owing to high wind that was blowing, aeroplane observation was extremely difficult. During the night of May 5-6 a considerable portion of the Australian and Now Zealand Army Corps had been transferred to Gapa Tep'e m order to talco part in attack, Very severe fighting tool: place al day, and by nightfall thewholo keen advanced from * i?- i to i 1500 yards. On the left the Allied advance was stopped by a strong lurlcisli redoubt, manued witn machiiio guns, with the result that after the conclusion of the day's operations the village of Krit'hia and the Achi Baba ridge still remained in the enemy's) possession. Just at dusk, however, French troops obtained possession of an important tactical point, which was , thoroughly fortified during tho night to ' serve.as a pivot for the further opera- ■ tions on the following' day. j An Obstinate Foe, ] "On May 7 the attack upon the Achi ' Baba position was continued. French i troops on the right of line improved i their position and carried several i Turkish trenches, while, on the left, a < brigade of infantry which had relieved 1 the Territorial brigade succeeded just i before sunset in driving back the enemy nearly into Krithia village. The main j position of Achi Baba, howover remained in Turkish hands. - , "On May 8 the attack was again re- ■ sumed after heavy artillery, machine | gun, and rifle fire. French troops and ] British troops commenced to advance at t 5.30 p.m., and a fine advance in the ( face of very heavy fire took place, j 'French troops' attacked the Turkish , trenches with tho bayonet, and 1 the whole line, excepting on the extreme left, advanced steadily. This advance was carried out successfully, but the main object, namely, the capture of Achi Baba, again failed. During tho night the Turks attempted a counterattack, which was everywhere repulsed with heavy loss. • Bravery of the Troops. I "During tlireo days' fighting against J Achi Baba tho Australian and New 1 Zealand corps at Sari Bair, in spite of t having sent strong reinforcements to support the main attacks, successfully held their own and resisted all attacks ] of the enemy in that part. The fighting which took place on these three days caused 3000 casualties to British troops, of which, fortunately, a large proportion were only slight cases, and these will return quickly to their places in the ranks, it was clearly] demonstrated that the Turkish defences were strongly constructed and that to carry tile position by open assault was a very difficult operation, and (hat the capture of Aclii Baba, which had been converted into a veritable lortross, must lie achieved bw slow methodical methods of trench warl'aie. "Tho French forces throughout theso operations had fought with magnificent courage and dash and had suflered heavy losses. During .May 0 the ground gained was every where consolidated and all progress achieved made good. At 10.15 p. m. an attack was brilliant- i Iv carried out by the !sth and Kith Battalions of the 'Itli Australian Hri- 1 jjads of Infantry, .who attacked and t

carried with the bayontft three lines of Turkish trenches 011 Sari Bair and established themselves therein. 1 Heavy Attack by the Turks. "A heavy Turkish counter-attack was launched at dawn of Ma/ 10, which drove the Australians bai;k to their original trenches. The guns of the corps were in readiness, and at 5.30 a.m. opened fire on the enemy, beginning at a range of 1100 yards, and coming down to 500. The execution done was terrible, and the Turks lay so thick upon the ground as to form mi obstacle. 'During May 10, .11, 12, further reinforcements of French, British, and Australian troops arrived at the Dardathe men from the Australian and New Zealand mounted troops having volunteered to serve on foot in support of their comrades at tho front. Some much-needed 1 rest was obtained by the troops, who had been fighting incessantly for four days. Indian Brigada Attacked. "On the night of May 11 the Turks launched a determined attack on the Indian Brigade, which wa> repulsed with heavy loss. On the night of May 12 troops of the 29tlx Division, under Major-General Hunter-Wcston, undertook an attack on the extreme right of tho Turkish front, which had bo far proved impregnable. One brigade of infantry, and the artillery on the left centre .of the Allied line, made a demonstration. Under , cover of this double a company of Ghurkas crept under the precipitous sea cliffs, and occupied a cleft in front of the Allied line, where they dug themselves in with their machine guns. The Turks opened heavy fire, but only made a half-hearted attack. "On the night of May 13-14 the Turks made three strong attacks on this advanced position, and established themselves within eighty yards of the Indian Brigade. On tho night of May 13-14, however, the left of thp Allied line was further advanced and straightened, and the position of the Indian Brigade made secure. On the night of May 14-15 the Turks made an attack on French trpops on the right of the Allied line, but were repulsed with loss. The Territorial division further advanced their trenches, and gained several hundred yards of ground. Ceneral Bridges Wounded. "On May 17 the 29th Division again worked forward and established themselves in another line of trenches 200 yards in advance. This had the effect of rendering the position, lield by the Indian Brigade very much stronger than it was before.. .French troops on the right of the Allied line were attacked, but this was • easily repulsed. The enemy also attacked the Australian and New. Zealand Corps without success. The Allied artillery was handled with great success, aided by aeroplane observations, and destroyed by direct hits a Turkish 6-inch howitzer gun, exploded wagon loads of heavy <gun anummition, and also demolished some new Turkish trenches and- gun emplacements. This day General Bridges, commanding the Australian Division, was wounded mortally. His subsequent death caused irreparable loss to his command. "On the night of May 17 the Territorial Division advanced its line of tranches by 500 yard;;. This advance was thoroughly consolidated. At midnight 011 the night of May 18-19 a determined attack was carried out against the Australian and New Zealand Corps by two Turkish Divisions tinder the command of Liman Pasha, who had evidently newly arrived 011 the peninsula from Constantinople. This attack was repeated at 3 a.m., supported by artillery fire from guns of all natures. Terrible Slaughter. "The enemy suffered very heavy losses in these attacks, which were renewed at intervals du.'ing May _ 18. More than 2000 Turkish dead remained in front of the Australian and New Zealand trenches, and their .wounded are estimated at 5000 more. The Australasian losses did not exceed 500 in all. An aeroplane of the Allies did good work, and successfully dropped bombs on the Turkish reinforcements landed at Ali Bashi Liman, causing damage, loss of life, and confusion. A further advahco was made on the night of May 18 by the French troops, supported' by the Royal Naval Division on the right extremity of the line, ana by the 29th and Territorial Divisions jr. tho centre. Thcso advances were consolidated. "During the night of May 19 a continuous fire was maintained against the lines of the Australians and New Zealand Corps, as if an attack were imminent, but no attack was delivered. Many of the Turkish shells this day were picked up and found' to be fitted with driving bands of lead. At 6.15 p.m. on May 21 a large number of Turks, followed by unarmed men carrying red crescent flags, appeared in front of the Australian and New Zealand Corps, applying for permission to bury their dead.. As the hour was late and the Turkish trenches were seen to be fall of men, two deep and shoulder to shoulder as far as tho eye could reach, permission was refused. Thereupon the Turks launched a fierce attack, which was repulsed with heavy loss. Turks Bury their Dead. "On May 23 French troops attacked ■ the enemy's advanced trenches, which they gallantly carried by assault, but being heavily counter-attacked after a severe bombardment they with difficulty maintained themselves. The enemy also made determined attacks upon the Indian Brigade, and temporarily secured a- footing in an advanced portion of the Indian trenches. A counter-attack was immediately organised, the enemy was driven back, and every man who had reached our trenches was killed, including three German officers. "A temporary suspension of. hostilities occurred on May 24 in front of the Australian and New Zealand Corps to allow the Turks to bury their dead, and 3000 Turks were buried. These had been all killed in the attacks made from May 18 to May .20. There was 110 suspension of hostilities on the southern front, where the French and British troops, with only a slight loss, made an appreciable advance."