THE DARDANELLES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 8, 10 May 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

BRIGADIER-GENERAL NAPIER KILLED. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, May 8. Brigadier-General Napier was killed at the .Dardanelles. GLOWING REPORT FROM THE ENEMY. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, May 8. Constantinople official.—The Allies’ nniavorahle situation is unchanged. There is no truth in the reports that the Allies occupy Gallipoli and Namo-

am. They only hold positions at Ari Buran and Sedd-el-Bahr. Our military movements on the Peninsula were not interfered with, and the Asiatic shore • is free from the enemy. LANDING OF THE BRITISH. London, May 8. Reuter says that the British hmd- ' iag at Sedd-el-Bahr was of the bloodiest character. The position of the enemy was particularly strong, 'lire beaches which Hanked a fort on the left of a high cliff left the landing parties to encounter a terrifice fire. They ran the gauntlet for two hundred yards and survivors entrenched in the sand, where they remained for the rest of the day. There were countless deeds of the utmost bravery by the men bringing in the wounded struggling out of the water and across the beach into shelter. Soon hundreds of wounded were lying at one point. Another party landed at the eastern end of the Sedd-el-Bahr and struggled up the cliff into a village, which was a jumble of broken, gaping walls which afforded shelter for the Turkish riflemen. The British compelled them to withdraw. Meanwhile a force landed at Hellos and carried wire entanglements with their bayonets. They , stormed the promontory, and there was a magnificent infantry light on the top of a plateau. It lasted till nightfall, when the Britishers reached an old fort on the ridge behind the Sedd-el-Bahr beach, the remainder landing after dark. The enemy at midnight opened a terrifice but harmless fire on the ships, whose guns all day kept down the lire of the batteries, which the British shattered. There was a strong attack during the night on a ridge above the beach at Cape Hellos. At daybreak we occupied the whole seaward edge of the plateau. The Britishers displayed the utmost coolness throughout, and overcame an awkward series of wire fence*. The infantry on a crest advanced along the ridge. The troops on the beach stormed a long hill and joined their comrades on the ridge. They captured Sedd-el-Bahr and also the trenches on the top ridge. Many of the enemy were killed. The ships’ fire found the trenches. The French landed at night and joined the Britishers on the ridge.

BOMBARDMENT OF NACARA. Athens, May ». Mitylene reports that the fleet is bombarding the first line of defence, especially Xagara. A German /aeroplane threw bombs on the Allies on the peninsula. The result was insignificant. The Allies are bombarding Smyrna. CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY. Wellington, May 9. The following message has been received from General Godlcy by Colonel Allen, Minister for Defence:—“Your cable received and communicated to New Zealand units, who have all behaved with conspicuous gallantry and have upheld the honor and traditions of the Dominion.” AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES. Sydney, May T>. A further casualty list from the Dardanelles reports:— Died of wounds.—Lieutenants Curwen and Walker; Privates Meek, Williams, Gibson, Dunlop, Wright, and Healy. Wounded.—Captains J. C. Stewart, 1). W. Dalk; Lieutenants May, Woodforde, Bennett, MacPherson, and Room. Two hundred and eleven men were wounded. The Australian casualties at the Dardanelles at present notified toeal -18. Private advices state that Lieutenant G. Steen, who was reported killed in action, was only slightly wounded. The eighth Dardanelles casualty list' is as follows: —Lieutenant W. Hodgson, died of wounds. Two hundred and thirty-five men wounded.

MR ASQUITH’S SON WOUNDED. London, May 8. Mr Arthur Asquith, son of Mr Herbert Asquith, has been wounded. WARSHIPS BOMBARD NAGARA FORTS. ALLIES REPORT PROGRESS. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Athens, May 0. The deputy-Governor of Tenedos telegraphs: 'l'he warships are concentrating on the single forts at Nagara, all the others having been destroyed. The Allies, after a fierce struggle, captured several of the heights dominating Kilid Bahr. It is reported they captured Atchi Laha, and are threatening the forts at the rear. A Turkish aeroplane bombed a bivouac at Gallipoli, doing some damage. WOUNDED ARRIVING AT MALTA. (Received 8.10 a.m.) Malta, May !). More Australian and British wounded have arrived from the Dardanelles.

RUSSIAN ARMY LANDED ON BLACK SEA SIDE. VIGOROUS FIGHTING AT BU LA I R. (Received 9.d0 a.in.) Athens, May 9. There is a rumour that the Russian army entered ou the Turkish side of the Black Sea. It is stated that the Allied forces, after a tierce straggle, captured imposing heights commanding Kalih Bahr. The battle continues furiously. The capture of the remaining heights is expected to entail the surrender of the Turks. Reuter’s advices from Dadeagatch state that the forts at Bulair are firing vigorously to oppose the infantry which landed at Karachala. A decisive engagement is proceeding. WHY LISTS ARE DELAYED. Peb Press Absccutton. Wellington, May 9. Ilie Governor referred to the matter of the delay in forwarding the list of killed when speaking at the Orphans’ Club last night. “I am afraid it will he some time before we receive the lost of those New "Zealanders who have been killed at the Dardanelles,” he remarked. “Names of wounded have come from the base hospital in Egypt but more serious items will not come through for some days yet.”