A WAR STORY

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1929, Page 3

A WAR STORY

THE 6rn ROYAL IRISH RIFLES AT KJUPRI. - 1 ' _ During our offensive T operations in... the Struma Valley east of the river anadvance upon a considerable scale was begun in the evening of May 15, 1917.;' It was the task of two companies of the fith Royal Irish R.ifles to take" and hold the village of Kjupri, which-they reached without difficulty and little loss. They were digging and wiring for most of the night, and at 5.15 next morning about 150 Bulgars, sustained i by a violent bombardment, crept (for-, , ward through the tall mustard icrop. They tried to outflank Post No. 4 on the left, which was in a very exposed,- 3 ;j position, but were repulsed. • Then came another infantry attack ip ~i-K j greater force, directed f against both;„• posts, the Bulgars advancing in .sma.ll aacolumns and shouting as they-.-drewt o’ near. . - - ... ,A - Our barrage was late, yet the enemy broke before the rifle fire of the- Ulster- , men and was caught by our artillery as he retreated. His infantry could hpit ■ be induced to try again, but his guns.. had not slackened fire at noon, by A, which time -the Lewis '-gun in. No., 74 Post had been put out of action apd few of the men there remained 1 wounded. ;; '

E ll’S CRUISE UP THE DARDANELLES. % .... ;■ ‘->A“ ’ On .-May- 18,: 1915, -.the British.- sub-p marine 15,11,.; commanded.’ by Lieut;- 1 Commander Nasmith, enteredvthe, Dar-robv danelles to make her way past- the minefields and systems of nets which i the Turks and Germans had 'placed in j the channel. Her object was to cruise ! in the Sea of Marmora and interfere with the Turkish communications, thus' aiding the British forces then engaged > : at Gallipoli. The task of passing the Dardanelles obstructions and defends was great danger and difficulty. Several boats were lost in attempting it, among them the French submarine Saphjr. The Turks were vigilant, and a multitude of powerful guns in their batteries bore on the straits, which at night were swept by searchlights. On May 19, Nasmith with E 11 passed the town of Gallipoli and was clear of the Turkish obstructions and defences. He captured a Turkish sailing vessel which was engaged in the coasts ing trade and secured her to his boat so as to screen it from view, and tectod by this camouflage cruised for a day on the surface of the Sea of Marama. . ; . x At Constantinople, on .May 23 he tor- ;.j pedoed and sank a Turkish tbrpedodnpgunboat at anchor. :■' {39*l But before she sank her crew opened •o.j.d fire with a 6-pounder gun, and at therm"'' first round hit the forward periscope in the British boat. Nasmith withdrew :i« to some little distance, and then, as .i the sea was clear, rose to the surface, * and repaired his periscope while the ‘ crew tranquilly bathed. ; Next day he sank the small steamer' Niagara; after her crew had abandoned her at his orders. . r ' 1 . ; . • • . •-. J--'' ; n, * i 5