The War News.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 6 May 1915, Page 3

The War News.

FRIDAY Splendid Gallantry—New Zealanders Praised — Fighting at the Dardanelles — Landing in a Hostile Country Intimation that New Zealand and Australian troops have been transported to the Dardanelles, and have been engaged in action, is conveyed in cable messages from the Secretary of State for the Connies, received yesterday in Australia and New Zealand. The messages refer to the " splendid gallantry " and the " magnificent achievement" of the New Zealand and Australian contingents "in the successful progress at the Dardanelles," and convey the congratulations of the Imperial Goverment. The War Office announces that the allied troops have established a line across the south-western extremity of the Gallipoli Peninsula, in spite of continual opposition by the enemy. • The; allies' success at the Dardanelles is reported to have caused much excitement in Greece. The French armoured cruiser Leon Gambetta, of 12,416 tons, has been torpedoed by an Austrian submarine in the Adriatic. All the officers perished, and ouly 138 of a total crew of 810 were saved. Sir John French reports that the German attack on Ypres has been definitely stopped. British and French counter-attacks are proceeding north of Ypres. SATURDAY The Dardanelles—Naval Bombardment—Fierce Battle ReportedAdvance at Yser The King has sent a message to the Governor congratulating him " upon the splendid conduct and bravery displayed by the New Zealand troops at the Dardanelles, who have indeed proved themselves worthy sons of the Empire." Little information is yet available from the Dardanelles, but an interesting account of the naval bombardment of the forts is given by a London Chronicle correspondent, who states that on Monday artillery was landed at Cape Helles, where the Turks were driven back. A report from Athens states that the Australians effected a landing on Tuesday, and that on Wednesday there was fierce fighting, with heavy Turkish losses, on the Saros coast of the Peninsula. The "Eye-witness" account of the Ypres battle shows that in spite of the German use of asphyxiating gas, the situation was saved by the heroic conduct of the allied troops, and the promptitude with which officers rose to the emergency and hurried reserves to the front without waiting for orders. Most of the ground lost has been recovered. Belgian artillery and aviators are doing good work. MONDAY New Zealand's Part — Landing at Gallipoli — Success of Undertaking—German Designs in the East. The New Zealand and Australian forces landed from the iEgean Sea opposite the Narrows and the reports indicate that they have fought their way across the Peninsula and have , cut off the Turkish garrisons to the south. The official report refers in high terms to their spirit and determination, and tributes have been paid to their valour by the Lords of the Admiralty, and by the Admiral j of the fleet at the Dardanelles. A number of casualties are recorded in the telegrams, but the list is so far incomplete. It is believed in Petrograd that the Germans are planning a new offensive campaign against the Russian Baltic Provinces, in view of their failure on the Warsaw-Narew line. In the Niemen region the Russians are advancing successfully. The Russians have also captured new positions in the Carpathians. German artillery dropped 19 shells into Dunkirk on Friday. Sixty-five civilians were killed and wounded, The position of the German guns was discovered by allied airmen, who dropped bombs upon them.

THE WEEK'S SUMMARY.

TUESDAY Desperate Battle at Maidos — Active Naval Bombardment — British Destroyer Lost — Two Enemy Torpedo Boats Sunk The latest report of the Dardanelles operations states that a desperate battle is proceeding at Maidos, where a Turkish battalion has been captured. Maido's is on the shores of the Dardanelles above the Narrows, nearly opposite the point on the peninsula where the Australians and New Zealanders landed. The British, engaged at this point would be the Australian and New Zealand troops. The warships kept up an incessant bombardment of the Dardanelles forts on Saturday. Several forts at the Narrows have been silenced. The French troops have progressed on the Asiatic side of the Dardanelles. It is officially reported from Paris that the allies bombarded the southern front of the German entrenched camp before Metz. The allies' fire was effective against one of the forts and some barracks, and also against an adjacent railway. A British destroyer was sunk by a German submarine in the North Sea on Saturday. ~ Subsequently two German torpedo boats attacked and sank a British trawler. A division of British destroyers chased the enemy and sank the two torpedo boats after a running fight. Five steamers have been tor- | pedoed by German submarines in the region of the Scilly Isles and the south coast of Ireland. One of the five was an American j steamer, which reached Falmouth. WEDNESDAY Roll of Honour — New Zealand Casualties —Maidos Forts Destroyed — Town Reduced to Ruins The first list of New Zealand casualties in connection with the Dardanelles operations, has been published. It contains the names of eight officers killed in action, two died of wounds, and 18 officers and 107 men wounded. The number of men' killed has not yet been stated. The occupation of Maidos, on the European side of the Dardanelles, beyond the Narrows, is reported from Mitylene. It is stated that all the forts protecting the town were destroyed from the land, and the town was reduced to ruins by the allies' fire. The Russian fleet is still bombarding the Bosphorous forts. An explosion and fire were caused at one of the forts. The Russians state that since Saturday a desperate battle has developed from the Nida, in the south of Poland, to the Carpathians region, which embraces the Western Galician theatre. An attack by the enemy on the left bank of the Vistula, into which the Nida flows, was renulsed. The German General Staff admits the loss of 12,000 killed in the Ypres fight. A battle of big guns is proceeding. The United States has demanded an explanation from the German Foreign Office of the sinking of the Gulf Light. THURSDAY Anvance on Gallipoli—Turks afraid of Bulgaria—lmportant Russian Success — Anstro- Germans in Retreat It is reported from Athens that the majority of the vital points in the Dardanelles defences have been invested. The allied troops | are establishing themselves solidly in their new positions, and are steadily advancing. According to a message from Constantinople, the Turks defending the Dardanelles number 70,000 picked troops. The Turks are apprehensive that Bulgaria will co-operate with the allies.