WAR NEWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1393, 4 May 1915, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

THE DARDANELLES. Atukns, May 2, The British at Sedd-el-Bahr advanced and captured Kambatepah Hill, commanding a large portion of the peninsula. Ihe capture greatly facilitates the destruction of the mobile batteries, which seriously hampered minesweeping. The town of Dardadoh is reported to have been destroyed. Turkish troops are concentrated in the vicinity of Maidos. The Allied fleet violently bombarded the Nagara forts, which did not reply.

FRENCH RE-EMBARK AT

KUM KALE

A report from Mitylene states that it was the purpose of the French to facilitate the British landing at Sedd-el Bahr. ff his was achieved, and the breuch troops re embarked at Kum Kale for a secret destination.

TU R KIS H R EIN FORCE ME N T

Sofia, May 2

The Turks are hurriedly sending great reinforcements to the Gulf of Saros and the shores of the Sea of Marmora.

TURKISH PRISONERS CAPTURED.

Athkxs, May 2

It is reported that the Australians, by medium of a ruse, captured 670 prisoners, including two German officers.

THE POST OF HONOUR. GIVEN TO AUSTRALIANS AND NEW ZEALANDERS. London, May 2. The Daily Chronicle remarks that the Australians and New Zealanders were given the post of honour in threatening the forts and guarding the Narrows, which must be the first main objective.

The Evening Standard says that the fortune of war has at last given the Australians and New Zealanders a turn, and they are making the best use ol it in tbs Dardanelles operations, which have special and peculiar dangers, which are being met with special and peculiar skill and valour.

DEATHS OF NEW ZEA LANDERS.

The Hon. J. Allan, Defence Minister, has received a cablegram from the Defence headquarters in Melbourne, stating that Private W. B. Knight, a son of Mr F. W. Knight, of Waipori, hut who was with the first Australian infantry battalion, died between 27th and 29th April, from wounds received in action in the Dardanelles. Mr Allan lias received a cablegram from Alexandria that Lieut. Prater, of the Auckland division, died on 50th April from wounds received on a hired transport.

The Minister has been advised that the 4th Reinforcements arrived at a port of call, all weli. Some ol the men are iu hospital, but no one seriously ill. 'The general health on all the ships is good. Two horses were lost and some are sick. Ckk isTCMHKCir, May 2.

Cable advice was received here to night from Alexandria of the death from wounds at the Dardanelles of Sergeant E. R. Guthrie of Christchurch,

The Defence authorities have j been advised of the following further casualties to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 8751 Private Alfred Richard Hayward, 10th (North Otago) Company, Otago Infantry Battalion. Next of kin, Mr John Hayward, Abbotsford, Dunedin, No. S, 152 Corporal Peter Couperthwaile, 14th (South Otago) Company, Otago Infantry Battalion. Next of kin, Mr A. Gibson, Kelso, Otago. No. 12/453 Private Robert Watson, 51b (Hauraki) Company, Auckland Infantry Battalion. Next of kin, Mr John Watson, Tirau, Auckland. The latter three casualties occurred between the 25th April and Ist May. MR ALLAN’S MESSAGE TO GENERAL GODLEY. The Hon. J. Allan has sent the following message to General Godley:—

Have :ead with quickening pulse the meagre uevvs of your magnificent doings. New Zealand awaits the casualty list with fortitude born of pride that her sons have proved themselves worthy in this time of trial. Please say to your command, and especially to the wounded, that ourheaits and thoughts are with them.

BRITISH DESTROYER SUBMARINED. TRAWLERS SUNK. TWO GERMAN TORPEDO BOATS ACCOUNTED FOR. London, May 2. Official; The destroyer Recruit was submarined on Saturday, Four officers and 21 of the crew were saved. German torpedo boats sank the trawler, Columbia. Later, four British destroyers, after an hour’s chase, sank both the torpedo boats. They rescued two of the officers and 44 of the crews.

Kolb events took place in the North Sea, in the vicinity of Galloper Sands and Hinder lightships. [The destroyer Recruit was a 30-kuot vessel of 350 tons, built in 1896, armed with six small gun s and two* torpedo tubes, Sire carried 5S officers and men,]

The Recruit was submarined during Saturday forenoon. The trawler Daisy rescued four of the officers and twenty-one men.

At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, two German torpedo boats, approaching from the westward, attacked the trawler Columbia without hoisting their colours.

A torpedo sank the trawler, Only one deck hand was saved. The British torpedo boat destroyers Laforey, Leonidas, Lawford and Lark, chased the torpedo boats, and after an hour’s running fight, both the German vessels were sunk.

Two officers and forty four men were rescued and made prisoners. The British destroyers had no casualties.

[The British torpedo-boat destroyers mentioned are of 963 tons each, and carry three 4 inch guns.] Thirty-five of the Recruit’s crew perished. The submarine fired a torpedo at the Daisy, and the latter steamed away, leaving the rescuing boat behind. The submarine chased the rescuing boat, and fired, wounding lour of the crew. When the German torpedo boats sighted the destroyers they turned and fled. The Britishers’ marksmanship was excellent. One of the enemy’s vessels was hit amidships, enabling the destroyers to approach and sink her. The prisoners were landed at Shotley this morning.