On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 67, 22 March 1915, Page 5

On the Sea

Dardanelles Disaster. BRITISH-FRENCH LOSSES. RESULT OF DRIFTING MINES AT ' THE NARROWS. • r # TERRIFIC NAVAL BOMBARDMENT FORTS REPLY EFFECTIVELY. United Pbebs Association. / London, March 20. The Admiralty reports that the Queen Elizabeth, Inflexible, Agamenon, Lord Nelson, Triumph, and Prince George, on the morning of the 18th, bombarded the torts, which replied with heavy howitzers and field-guns. , The French ships the Suffren, Gaulois, Carlemagnei and Bouvet were closer in, and four forts were silenced. All the ships were hit several times. The Vengeance, Irresistible, Albion, Swiftsure, and Majestic relieved the other ships. The French ships also returned. The Bouvet struck a drifting mine, and sank near Arenkios in three minutes. The relief battleships engaged the forts at 2.30, and mine-sweeping proceeded. The Irresistible quitted the line shortly after 4 p.m., listing heavily. She had probably been struck by a drifting mine. The battleship sank in forty minutes later. The Ocean sank soon after. Practically the whole of the crews were removed, under a hot fire. The Gaulois was damaged by gunfire, and the Inflexible was hit by a heavy shell, and requires repair. The bombardment and mine-sweeping continued until dark. The damage to the forts has not been ascertained. The warships were sunk in areas which had been previously swept for mines. Provision will be made to meet these dangers. The British, casualties were not heavy, considering the scale of the operations. The battleships, Queen and 'lmplacable are due at the Dardanelles immediately. Operations are continuing, there being ample naval and military forces on tho spot. An internal explosion occurred on the Bouvet after she was mined. Vice-Admiral Garden, in charge of the Dardanelles operation, is ill, and was succeeded on the IGth by ViceAdmiral i)e Itobeck.

THE FRENCHMEN'S LOSS. Paris, March 20. It is unofficially stated that the Gaulois will be out of action for a time. The Henry IV. will replace the Bouvet immediately. Though our losses wore painful, these will not arrest the progress bf operations. ■■ THE SICHT OF A LIFETIME. Tenedos, March 20. Observers on Mount Elias saw a terrific explosion and immense flames at Chanak and KiJid Bahr. Both places aro a lire in several qunrtors.

EFFECT OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH'S 15-INCH GUNS. i London, March 20. An account of tho Dardanelles engagement from Renter's Tenedos correspondent says a small crowd watched operations on the 18th from the summit of Mount Elias. The warships steamed from their anchorage near the island and entered the straits in single file, and then spread out in semicircles. The first notable hit was made by tho Queen Elizabeth after an hour's bombardment, when a great balloon of smoke leapt hundreds of feet into the air from a magaizne at Chanak. Within the next twelve minutes four shells were dropped on the ruins, but the Turkish batteries continued to reply.. Their firing was erratic, though they made many good shots. Shortly after noon a waterplane left the Arkroyal and flew over both shores of the straits. The Turks vainly shelled it. Two more heavy explosions at Chanak followed. The ships meanwhile steamed constantly iip and down a two-mile stretch.. Then two approached the Narrows. The Turks opened a furious bombardment, and several shells took effect on both ships. The Qneen Elizabeth fired a shell at three o'clock, which caused a terrific explosion at Kidil Bahr, with a gigantic spurt of flames and a cloud of smoke. Two batteries, apparently movable, suddenly opened fire near Kepezburma, but the Queen Elizabeth soon silenced them. At nightfall Chanak was in flames, and the warships were still in the straits.

SURVIVORS OF THE BOUVET'S CREW. Paris, March 20. It is officially reported that there are sixty-four survivors of the Bouvet. The casualties on the other ships were slight. The Vigor, of the French division, performed an honorable task and won high appreciation of the British sailors.

PAVING THE WAY TO CONSTANTINOPLE. Athens, March 20. A British officer states that the purpose of the six hours' bombardment of the Dardanelles was to pave the way lor forcing the Narrows between Kidil iiahr and Chanak. Two thousand shells were fired. There was no idea on the 18th of completing the enterprise, Many were killed and wounded within the forts, which suffered groat damage. The Allied squadrons re-entered the Straits at 9.30 on the 19th, and the bombardment is proceeding. Repairs to the Gaulois will take only a ipw days. She now is anchored at Te'nedos. The Inflexible was struck by a shell on the bow, and left the Straits conveyed by two cruisers. A shell also exploded on the deck, killing forty and wounding many. "THE TALK OF THE FLEET." Malta, March 20. The firirig of the Queen Elizabeth is the talk of the whole fleet. While at anchor she frequently shelled forts effectively at a distance of twelve miles. When landing parties of the naval

division wont ashore to complete the demolition, they wore fired upon by strongly entrenched Turks, whom aeroplanes had failed to discover. Nineteen of the naval men were killed, and a number wounded. The Turks were later driven out.

BRITISH VESSELS ENCAGED. Queen Elizabeth.—Built 1915, 27,500 tons, 58,000 i'h.p., speed 25 knots, armament eight 15-inch guus [and sixteen 6-inch. I Agamemnon.—Built 1908, 16,500 tons? 16,750 h.p., speed 18£ knots, armament four 12-inch and ten 9.5inch guns. Lord Nelson.—Sister-ship to the Agamemnon. Prince George.—Built 1896, 14,900 tons, 12.000 h.p., speed 16 knots, armament four 12-inch and twelve 6-inch guns. I Triumph.—Built 1904, 11,985 tons, 12,500 h.p.. speed 19J knots, armajmenfc four 10-inch and fourteen 7.5inch guns. I Albion.-Built 1901, 12,950 tons. ! 13,500 h.p., speed 18* : knots, armament four 12-inch and twelve 6-inch guns. Vengeance.—Sister-ship to the Al- - ' Swiftsure.—Built 1904, 11,800 tons, 112,500 h.p., speed 19J knots, armament four 10-inch and fourteen 7.5lihch guns. I Majestic—Sister-ship to the Prince George. Implacable.—Built 1901. 15,000 tons, 15,000 h.p., speed 18 knots, armament four 12-inch and twelve G-inch

guns. ' Queen.— Sister-ship to the Implacable. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The Prime Minister has received the following message from the High Commissioner : London, March 20. The Admiralty announces that the Dardanelles mine-sweeping operations progressed for the last ten days inside the Straits. A general attack was delivered by the British and French fleets on Wednesday upon the fortresses at the Narrows in the Dardanelles. At 10.45 a.m. the Queen Elizabeth, Inflexible, Agamemnon, and Lord Nelson bombarded the forts J, L, M. T>, and V, while the Triumph and Prince George fired at the batteries F, E, and H. A heavy fire was opened on the ships from howitzers and fieldguns. At 12.22 a French squadron, consisting of the Suffren, Gaulois, Charlemagne, and Bouvet, advanced in the Dardanelles, engaging the forts at closer range. Forts J, U, F, and E, replied strongly, their fire being silenced. Ten battleships were inside the Straits, all the .ships being bit several times during this part of the action i At 1.25 p.m. all the forts had ceased firing. The Vengeance, Irresistible, Albion, ■ Ocean, Swiftsure, wi'd Majestic advanced to relievo the six old battleships inside the Straps. the French squadron, which had. engaged the forts in the most brilliant fashion, passed out, the Bouvet was blown up by a drifting mine, sinking in fathoms of water north of Aren Kios in less than three minutes .

At 2.3 G p.m. the relief battleships renewed the attack. The forts opened the attack, which was maintained while operations with the mine-sweep-ers were continued. At 4.9 p.m. the Irresistible quitted the line, listing heavily and sinking at 5.30, having probably struck a drifting mine. At 6.5 p.m. the Ocean also struck a mine, both vessels sinking in deep water. Practically the whole of the crews were removed safely under a hot lire. The. Gaulois was damaged by gunfire. The lnflexible's forward control position was hit by heavy shell, requiring repair. The bombardment\of the forts and the mine-sweeping operations terminated with the fall of darkness. Damgao to the forts was effected by a prolonged direct fire. Very powerful forces were employed, but damages have not vet been estimated.

A further report states that the loss of the ships was caused by mines drifting with the current. The mines were encountered in areas hitherto swept clear. This is a danger requiring special treatment.

The British casualties were not heavy, considering the scale of operations;, but practically the whole of the crew of the Bouvet were lost with the ship, an internal explosion apparently supervening on the explosion of the mine.

The Queen and Implacable, despatched from England to replace ship casualties, in anticipation of this operation, are due to arrive immediately, thus bringing the British fleet up to its original strength. Operations are continuing. There are ample naval and military forces available on the spot. On Tuesday Vice-Admiral Carden was incapacitated by illness, and was succeeded in the chief command by Roar-Admiral Do Robeck, with the acting rank of vice-admiral.

RUSSIANS CAUSE PANIC IN CONSTANTINOPLE. SQUADRON APPROACHES THE BOSPHORUS. Petrograd, March 20. Official.—A Russian squadron approached the Bosphorus and caused a 'panic in Constantinople. v THE LAST OF THE BOUVET, (Received 8.35. a.m.) London. .March 21. 1 An Eye-" Wit n ess at Tenedos, reports;

A thick cloud of smoke blotted out the Bouvet, then as it thinned, her grey bow pointing skyward was seen, with the stern .submerged, and before the smoke passed, she sank as two British ships rushed up to the rescue. GERMANS SEIZE SHIPMENT OF ECCS. (Received 8.35 a.m.) Amsterdam, .March 21. German warships seized the Dutch steamer Zaanstroom laden with eggs for London, and was taken to Zeebrugge. GERMAN SUBMARINES AT WORK London, March 20.

The steamer Hyndford, from Bahia Blanca to London, was torpedoed in the Channel. The vessel reached Gravesend leaking. The steamer Blue Jacket, from La Plata to London, was torpedoed in the Channel without warning. She reached Southampton with her bows partly submerged. Passengers by the-liner Lapland report that a German submarine, attempted to torpedo her in the Irish Sea. A British destroyer fired at the submarine. The result is unknown. LIST OF LOSI BRITISH VESSELS. United Pkess Association. London, March 20. The British Admirality announces that since the begining of the war fifty-four British vessels have been sunk or captures by the enemy cruisers, twelve sunk by mines, and thirty by submarines, totalling 332,770 tons. The arrivals and sailings at United Kingdom ports of steamers of all nationalities exceeding 300 tons numbered 42,264, whereof 143 were* lost. A NOVEMBER INCIDENT. (Received 8.35 a.m.) New York, March "21.

The Herald states that the Navarrow, which was sunk off the River Plate on November 11, tried to avoid the fight. After an hour's chase, the Orama opened fire, and the Navar-! row's upperworks were soon ablaze. The fire destroyed all Hhe boats except four, in which they escaped just before an explosion and were taken prisoners. The Navarrow turned turtle. BRITISH BLOCKADE EVENTS. TWO NEUTRAL SHIPS DETAINED. (Received 8.55 a.m.) London, March 21. A Spanish ship laden with iron ore bound for Germany was captured off the Goodwins Sands and brought to Jar row. The-i American steamer Maricas, bound to Sweden, was brought to Hull on suspicion that her cargo was destined for Germany. ...

GERMANS BLOCKADE DUTCH STEAMER. (Received 8.§5, a.m.) Amsterdam, March 21. The Germans seized the Dutch steamer Batavier. She was bound from Rotterdam to London, and was taken to Zeebrugge. MISCELLANEOUS. Times and Sydney Sun Service. London, March 20. AVounded Germans officers at Valparaiso allege that the Dresden was anchored 400 metres from the shore when the British opened fire. The Germans signalled a protest against the violation of Chilian waters. When the British persisted the crew fled inland, leaving the commander and a few men who blew up the magazines. America, in order to counter-balance losses in consequence of the British reprisals, i sseeking a commercial rapproachement with Russia, hoping to secure orders for goods for Russia previously purchased in Germany.

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND. LETTER OF APPRECIATION FROM CAPTAIN LIONEL HALSEY. Peb Press iAssooiation. Wellington, March 22. Following is an extract from a private letter written by Captain Lionel Halsey, R.N., to the Countess of Liverpool, in which he conveys most sincere and appreciative thanks of his officers and men for the sum of money so generously contributed by the people of this Dominion in response to her Excellency's appeal on behalf of H.M.S. New Zealand:—"lt is now over 18 months since we in this ship regretfully left the shores of New Zealand, and never can any of us forget what was done for us during our stay in the Dominion, and for that reason alone we have always felt that we are a part of that Dominion, but in addition to this, we have been constantly reminded by kind and thoughtful acts that although the ship may be out of sight she is never out of the minds of the people. This crowning act of generosity only confirms our knowledge, and we in our turn have always endeavored and will always endeavor to repay the Dominion for the confidence reposed in us."