FORCING THE DARDANELLES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1377, 23 March 1915, Page 3

FORCING THE DARDANELLES.

BATTLESHIPS SUNK

London, March 21,

The Admiralty announce that the battleships, Irresistible, Ocean and Bouvet were sunk iu the Dardanelles by-mines. The Inflexible was damaged. The Prime Minister has received the following message from the High Commissioner: — London, March 20.

The Admiralty announce that in the Dardanelles mine-sweeping has progressed during the last ten days inside the straits. A general attack was delivered by the British and French fleets on Wednesday upon the fortresses in the Narrows of the Dardanelles. At 10.45 a - m - the Queen Elizabeth (27,500 tons), Inflexible (17,250 ions), Agamemnon (16,500 tons), and the Lord Nelson (m,500 tons), bombarded forts L., M., U., aud V., while the Prince George fired on batteries F., E., and H. Heavy fire was opened on the ships from howitzers aud field guus. At 12.22 a French squadron, consisting of the Suffreu (12,527 tons), Ganiois (u,ioo tons), Charlemagne (11,100 tons), and Bouvet (12.000 tons), advanced in the Dardanelles, engaging the forts at close range. Forts J., U., F. aud E. replied strongly, their fire being silenced by ten battleships inside the straits, all the ships being hit several limes during this part of the action. At 1.25 p.m. all the forts ceased firing. The Vengeance (12,950 tons), Irresistible (15,000), Albion (12,950 tons), Ocean (12,950), Swiftsure (11,800 tons), and Majestic (14,900 tons), advanced to relieve the six old battleships inside the straits.

As the French squadron, which had engaged the forts in the most brilliant fashion, passed out, the Bouvet was blown up by a drilling mine, sinking in several fathoms north of Aren-Kol in less than three minutes.

At 2.36 p.m. the relief battleships renewed the attack on the forts, which again opened fire. The attack was maintained while the operations of the minesweepers continued. At 4.9 the Irresistible quitted the line, listing heavily aud sinking at 5.50, having probably struck a drifting mine. At 6.5 the Ocean also struck a mine, both vessels sinking in deep water. Practically the whole of the crews were removed to safety under hot fire. ‘‘The Gaulois was damaged by gun fire. The Indexible went forward to the control position, and was hit by a heavy shell, requiring repair.

"The bombardment 0! the forts and the mine-sweeping operations terminated at fall of darkness. The damage to the forts was effected by prolonged direct fire. Very powerful forces were employed, but they have not vet been estimated.

“The losses of (he ships were caused by mines drilling with the current. They were encountered in areas hitherto swept clear, a danger requiring special treatment. The British casualties in personnel are not heavy, considering the scale of the operations, but practically the whole of the crew of the Bouvet was lost with the •ship by an internal explosion, ap patently supervening on the explosion of the mine. “The Queen (15,000 tons) and the Implacable (15,000 tons) were despatched from England to replace ships’ casualties, in anticipation of this operation, and are due to arrive immediately, thus bringing the British fleet up to its original strength. “The operations continue. There are ample naval and military forces available on the spot. “On Tuesday, Vice-Admiral Carden was incapacitated by illness, and was succeeded iu chief command by Rear-Adinhal De Robeck, with the acting rank ol Vice-Admiral,’’ Romk, March 21.

An account ot the Dardanelles bombardment from Reuter’s Tenedos correspondent states that a small crowd watched operations on iStb March from the summit of Mount Elias. “The warships steamed from their anchorage near an island and entered the straits in single file. Tbey then spread out in semicircles, and the first notable hit was made by the Queeu Elizabeth, After an hour’s bombardment, a great balloon of smoke leapt hundreds of feet into the air from the magazine atChauak. Within the next twelve minutes four shells dropped on the ruius, but the Turkish batteries continued to reply. Their firing was erratic, though they made many good shots.

“ Shortly after noon a waterplaue left the Ark Royal, and flew over both shores of the straits. The Turks vainly shelled the waterplane. Two more heavy explosions occurred atCbanak. Two of the ships, meanwhile, steamed constantly up and dow T u a twomile stretch. Then two approached the Narrows, The Turks opened a furious bombardment, and several shells took effect on both ships. A shell from the Queen Elizabeth at 3 o’clock caused a terrific explosion at Kilid Bahr. Their was a gigantic spurt ot flame, and a cloud of smoke. Two batteries, apparent l }' movable, suddenly opened fire near Kephez Burma. The Queen Elizabeth soon silenced them. “ At nightfall Chanak was in flames, and the warships still in the straits.” Mai.ta, March 20. The firing of the Queen Eliza-

betb is the talk of the whole fleet. While at anchor, she frequently shelled the forts effectively at a distance of fifteen miles. London, March 2 c

The Admiralty announces that the casualties among the officers on the Irresistible in the Dardanelles operations were three killed and one missing, believed to be dead,- and one severely wounded.

[The battleship Irresistible (15,000 tons) was built iu Chatham, and completed iu 1901. Her armament consists ol four 12-inch guns, twelve 6-incb, sixteen 12 pounders, and four torpedo tubes, .She bad a complement of 781 men. The battleship Ocean (12,950 tons) was built in Devonport, and completed in igoo. She carried four 12inch, twelve 6 inch, ten 12pounders, and four torpedo tubes. Her complement w?w "00 men. The French battL... . Bouvet (12,000 tons) was completed iu 189 S. She had two 12-inch guns, two xo.S-inch gnus, a number of small guus, aud two torpedo tubes. She had a complement of 620 men.]