The Dardanelles

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 17, 20 May 1915, Page 2

The Dardanelles

REMARKABLE BATTLE SCENE. Unitkd Prim Assooiatioh London, May 18. Mr Ashmead Bnrtlett, the war correspondent, in his narrative of the j operations at the Dardanelles, says ' the navy is working incessantly ill con--1 ueetion with the landing of troops, ! animals, guns, stores and ammunition, and at the same time is keeping down the enemy's fire. Deep-water | piers have been built and roads cut, land tin- work never stops. The army and nr.vv is a marvellous organisation which is distinct yet co-opera-tive, and carried out their work with great difficulty. The enemy aircraft efforts to bomb the warships and the crowded beaches excite derision. One shot blew up a gun-caisson, killing a man and the ■horses, ! There is a wonderful scene at night at the southern end of the peninsula, 'giving the appearance of one of the Iworld's greatest ports. There are masses of lights on the seashore like several towns, while at sea hundreds of great transports and numerous warships lie packed outside the forbidding and still defiant Straits. The English and French reinforcements arrived on May 6, and now commenced one of the most remarkable battles ever fought. Almost every detail could be followed with the naked eye. The battle was of the oldfashioned type, being chiefly conducted by the commanders from what they could see with their own eyes, apart from the field-telegraphs and telephones. The eventual objective was the possession' of Achi Baba. The first 'step was to; get possession of two great arms of Achi Baba, stretching towards Saros and the Dardanelles. THE BRITISH OBJECTIVE. A perfect view of the battle was obtained from a hill six miles distant. 1 The Allied armies were practically lighting for the Rhomboid side, culminating with the peak of Achi Baba. The other two sides were already in our possession, and were covered by the warships. Five of the enemy's snipers occupied the rugged scrub which covered the ground, and they had to be hunted out man by man. Ravines, low hills and dead ground offered every kind of concealment to the enemy who constructed endless trenches, which could only be located with extreme difficulty, while machine guns were concealed with masterful skill. The British left, including Australians and New Zealanders, rested at Saros, and the French right on the Dardanelles, with our warships on either flank sweeping every yard of the enemy's positions, not a sign.of whom was visible. There was nothing more remarkable than the way the Turks were dug in. .Deadly stillness prevailed, broken only by the occasional bursting of shrapnel. The Australians and New Zealanders were in reserve behind the Indian Brigade, and the immediate British objective was to push the left wing forward and at the same time endeavour to occupy Krithia and the ridgo on which stands the French objective, advance up the spurs and get astride the Maidos Road, and at the same time advance in to the valley of the Kerivea River. The first day's fighting was almost entirely confined to the right wing. It was necessary to get a good footing on the right, otherwise the British advance could be enfiladed. ON THE MAIDOS ROAD. I Although the French did not succeed in getting astride the Maidos Boad, they made good progress, and obtained a footing in the Kereves Valley. On the 17th our ships furiously bombarded, sweeping the broken conn, try slopes leading to Krithia. Shrubs and ravines were yellow with bursting lyddite, and it seemed impossible that anything could live in the zone. Our left made a general advance. Meanwhile, the British concentrated artillery on Krithia. The infantry pressed forward under furious machine gun fire, and occupied a number of ravines. On our extreme left the British made a sweeping movojmeiit towards Hill 40U behind Krithia, and were met by tremendous 'shrapnel fire. Shells burst right over 'our men, the whole companies disappeared in clouds of earth, but they jnever wavered and advanced, losing heavily. As the enemy aim high, most of the wounds were slight. Darkness stopped the light within eight hun'dred yards of Krithia. The Turks fought with extreme bravery and determination, whilst their handling of artillery was masterly, i At 0.10 everv shin and every shore battery opened a stupendous lire. Ihe hills were covered by immense clouds of yellow, and made a magnificent 'spectacle. The noise was frightful. Thousands of bursting projectiles, like volcanoes, were bursting everywhere, and it looked as if the whole country was afire. The bombardment lasted fifteen minutes. The infantry leaped the trenches and dashed towards Krithia, and the French towards the Maidos Road. They were met by a murderous Turkish tire. The New Zealanders hurried forward in a solid phalanx, and were joined by many of the 88th brigade in a mad charge. A TORNADO OF BULLETS. 1 They bayonetted all in the first Turkish trench and then passed over broken ground shooting and stabbing. Many wwe falling before the terrible hisilndo, but not a soul turned back.

On the right the Australians, with the JNew Zealanders, advanced over coverless ground, facing a tornado of bulllets, being enfiladed by machine gun 'fire from the right, which our artillery was unable to repress. The manner in which the Australians went forward will never be forgotten by those witnessing the advance. They went steadily, as if on parade, sometimes doubling and sometimes walking. They melted away under a dreadful fusilade, but reserves filled the gaps. A point was readied beyond which'it was impassible to advance. They lay down and attempted to reply to the enemy's concealed (ire, and entrenched themselves where they lay. It was obvious Krithia could not be taken by a direct assault. The Kreneh carried out desperate bayonet charge,. Darkness ended the conflict, and the end was not achieved, though some ground was gamed.