On the Sea

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 97, 27 April 1915, Page 5

On the Sea

IN THE DARDANELLES. TV.'O FORCES WORKING IN CONJUNCTION. United Pkebs Apsoc/ution London, April 26. Mr Ashmead Bartlett is representing the London Press ;it the Dardanelles. The trial made on March IS convinced the navy that the Narrows can be forced, hut that it was essential that a powerful army should be ready to occupy the Gallipoli Peninsula, otherwise the navy would be again obliged to clear the minefields and force a way out. Naval men are surprised at the small damage done to the forts, though the fire completely silenced them. Landing parties found many guns intact. The warships' fire drove the gunners into the forts at the Narrows from their guns to bomb proof shelters, hut it is improbable that many guns were knocked out. The success of the German gunners is greatly helping the Turks, other- | wise the fleet would already be before 'Constantinople The chief obstacles in the future are the mines that are carried by the four-knot current, and the torpedo tubes that have been placed on both shores in concealer? positions. Batteries of heavy howitzers, and flatteries of field gnns, which are able to move along the hills, attack the warships From unexpected places. They also inflict serious damage to the trawlers and destroyers while mineclearing. A battleship has to score a direct hit on a gun before the gun is put out of action if protected by well-constructed emplacements. The expeditionary force required many held howitzers in order to occupy Gallipoli, which, fortunately, commands the lower Asiatic s'.'.ore. THE SEA MYSTERY. London, April 25. Scandinavian ships continue to report the presence of belligerent warships in the North Sea. It is declarer! that the Anglo-French squadron was sighted off Norway. DANISH STEAMER RELEASED. Copenhagen. April 26. The Nidaros and her cargo have been released. STEAMER VOLUNTARILY SUNK. (Received 9.25 a.m.) Amsterdam. April 26. A Berlin telegram asserts that the Orania did not sink the Navarra, the latter having been voluntarily sunk to avoid capture by pursuing cruisers.