THE DARDANELLES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 144, 11 February 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE DARDANELLES.

\VHi;X NEAR A VICTORY TFRK3 WERE ALMOST WHIPPED. tflio following messig' 1 was published in the San Francisco "Chronicle" on December 22. — Had the Allied fleet returned to its attack upon the Dardanelles batteries en the day after the great bombardment on March 19 last, the waterway to Constantinople would have been surely forced in, in the opinion of a number of artillery officers of the defence works near Tschanek Kale, expressed to the Associated Press correspondent. who lias just come from tho Dardanelles front to Vienna. One of the principal batteries had for three of its large-calibre nuns just four armour-piercing shells each when night ended the tremendous effort of tho British and French fleets, it appeared. For the fourth gun five shells were left, making for the entire batterv a total of 17 projectiles of tho sort which the aggressors had to fear. What this meant is best, understood when it :s considered that the battery in question was the one which had to be civen the widest berth by the Allied fleets. During the evening of March l Q tli The Associated Press correspondent talked to several artillery officers from the battery in question. "Rotter pack up and bo ready +o uu t at daybreak," said one of them. " Wliv ?" ho was asked. "Oh. they aro sure to *{ct in tomorrow." Then the officer stated his reasons. He was so sure that tho British and French would return in the moning to finish their task, that there was no question in his mind as to the propriety of discussing the ammunition matter. ''We'll hold out well enough to make them think that there is no end *•0 our supply of ammunition." lie said. "But it can't bo doile if they eo about their work in real earnest. With our heavy pieces useless, they can reduce the batteries on the other shore without trouble. The case looks hopeless. You had better take my advice.'' Following the injunction thus given, the correspondent early next morning arose and packed his few lelongings, keeping meanwhile a watchful eye on the tower of Kale Sultanie, where the flag showing that the Allied fleet was near, was usually hoisted. But the morning hours passed and still the danger did not appear. The Allied fleet evidently was not inclined to risk more such losses as those of the previous day. when the Bouvet, Irresistible, and Ocean went down and five other ships wore badly damaged. And yet i . *-n with only tho remaining ships it appears from tho Turkish admissions that the Dardanelles could have been forced on March 19. During the day the correspondent visited several of the batteries. The damage done on the day before was slight indeed, consisting mostly of large earth displacements from the parapet and traverses. Four guns were temporarily out of commission, but the general shortage of ammunition made these pieces negligible quantises, anyway. Although tho British information system in this Held of operations wa6 efficient, it must have failed in this instance, for it seems certain that with 17 shells the battery in question would have been easily disposed of, a channel could then have been made through the minefield, and the way to Constantinople would have been open. This was realised in the Turkish capital. The court made arrangements forTts transfer to Eskishehir, Anatolia, and the German and Austro-Hungarian embassies also were ready to go to tTiis ancient seat of the Ottoman Government. Many of the families of the German officers in the Turkish service left Constantinople. In short, everybody understood that a calamity was impending. What its exact nature was but few knew. To-day the Dardanelles forts have all the ammunition they can use, and the position generally has been so improved and strengthened that it is considered probable that to force the straits would take more ships than the Allies have.