The Defences of Gallipoli.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 August 1915, Page 3

The Defences of Gallipoli.

A correspondent who, with tho consent oi ciio Admiralty, is at tnc .Dardanelles lor tho purpose oi representing lieuter s torvico writes as lollows concerning the defensive positions ol the lurks 011 tlio Uallipoli JL'enuisula: — "1 spent some time watching tho enemy's puoitiou from a point in our reserve trenches. Our lront trench lino ivus visible less than a inao away. r'our hundred yards beyond it was me enemy's lust trench stretching acrosb our iront and Jooplioleti every yard. Jjeinnd this ay am were rows upon rows oi Turkish trenches. Tho view wito bounded to lett and right by ridges haling cue sea, and was cioaeu in ironi. Oj Llw Aclii JJaba barrier, with it's central peak dominating everything in sight. i' loiM it every part ot the area held by us must be visible, except the reserves oi ii111(3 and the bottoms oi gullies. 'On our lront in 1' landers i saw nothing comparable to it, except, perhaps '.Utbsines and W'ytschaote. The ridge is as iormidable as the spichern, quite apart from its entrenelinienta. ft is quite probable that behind Aclii Uaba tub enemy ha<» batteries which he lias not used against us, but which ho is keeping in reserve as a surprise tor us should we tackle the mountain. i3etween us and Achi liaba the ground is intersected by several nullabe, the targes* and deepest of which runs from one oi our leading beaches on the side diagonally across country, pacing in lront of Krithia. "On the right in front of the i'rench position is a nullah wlnoli a stream called Kereve6dere runs to tho sea. Northwards on Doth sides are several othera. These nullahs are oi great value to the defending side. They alford excellent cover ior troops and hiding places for Maxims, which attacking parties must face or get round when crossing the nullah. Despite these advantages the Turk is not yet (satisfied with liifi defence, but according to the universal report of those who have had an opportunity to v a toil him is always feverishly digging in fresh places. The airmen Bay ihey have sometime* a difficulty in recognising a position whicii thej sailed over a day or two previously."