Successful Bombardment.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 43, 22 February 1915, Page 5

Successful Bombardment.

THE DARDANELLES FORTS. BRITISH AND FRENCH FLEETS’ COMBINED ACTION. United Pkess Association. London, February 20. The Admiralty reports that a strong Allied battleship squadron bombarded the Dardanelles on Friday and Saturday, and silenced the European forts.

The Press, Bureau states that the bombardment of forts Cape Hellfes and Kumkale commenced at 8 a.m. on Friday. A British fleet of battleships and battle-cruisers accompanied the flotillas, aided by a strong French squadron, the whole being under the command of Vice-Admiral Carden. The deliberate long-range fire produced considerable effect on two of the forts, while two others were frequently hit, but being constructed of open earthworks, it was difficult to estimate the damage. The forts, being outranged, were unabe to reply. A portion of the battleship force at ;3 o’clock in the afternoon was ordered to close in and engage the forts at

closer range with their secondary armament. The forts on both sides of the entrance then opened fire, and were engaged at a moderate range by the Vengeance, (Jornwallis, Triumph, Suffren, Gaulois, and Bouvet, supported hv the Inflexible and Agamemnon at i long range. The forts on the European side were apparently silenced, hut one on the Asiatic side was still tiring when operations wore, suspended owing to the failing light. The tiring was renewed in the morning after an aerial reconnaissance. POWDER MAGAZINE DESTROYED MANY GUNS PUT OUT OF ACTION. Athens, February 20. Reports state that twelve battleships and twenty torpedoers partook in the bombardment of Forts ElHamidieh and Kumkale. A shell destroyed the powder magazine, which exploded, many guns being put out of action. TURKISH ACCOUNT REPORTS ONE SOLDIER WOUNDED. Constantinople, February 20. Official: The outer forts were shelled, 4.00 shots being fired. The bombardment was unsuccessful. One soldier was wounded.

The Vengeance and Cornwallis are third-class battleships. The former, of 12,950 tons, was launched in 1899. Her armament consists of four 12-inch and twelve 6-inch guns. The latter was launched in 1901. She is of 14,000 tons displacement, and carries the same armament.

The Triumph is a battleship of 11,185 tons displacement. She was launched. in 1904, and carries four 10-inch and fourteen 7-sinch guns.

The Agamemmnon, a battleship of 16,300 tons, was launched in 1908. Her armament consists of four 12-inch and ten 9-inch guns. The Inflexible is a cruiser of 17,250 tons, launched in 1908, and has a speed of 27 knots. Her armament consists of eight 12-inch and sixteen 1-inch guns.

TURKISH OFFICIAL REPORT.

600 SHOTS TO KILL ONE TURK AND WOUND ANOTHER.

(Received 9.20 a.m.)

Constantinople, February 20

Official.—The battleships fired 600 shots, killing one Turk and wounding another. Three of the enemy’s battleships were damaged.

TURKISH CAMPS BOMBARDED FROM THE AEGEAN SEA.

(Received 9.20 a.m.) i Athens, February 20

The warships bombarded tbe Turkish camps on the coast opposite Tenedos, in the Aegean Sea. /•

IMPORTANCE OF OPENING OF THE DARDANELLES.

(Received 8.45 a.m.) London, February 20

The forcing of the Dardanelles, besides securing the mastery of Constantinople, would open the way to the Black Sea and facilitate the export of ten million quarters of Russian wheat, which is lying in various ports, and thus provide cheaper food to Britain and France.