THE DARDANELLES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 18, 21 May 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

KAIJD BAHR OCCUPIED. BOMBARDMENT OF ABALIA. riNiTID Press Association. London, May ‘2O. i Athens newspapers state that the Allies have occupied Kilid Bahr. | The enemy’s sharpshooters painted 'their faces and hands green in order to hotter conceal their positions. ( During the bombardment of Abalia ;!()() Greeks, engaged in trenching work, were killed. AT THE NARROWS. ALLIES CUT COMMUNICATIONS. (Received 8.45 a.m.) London, May 20. The Evening News’ Athens correspondent states that the Allies were strongly reinforced and attacked in the direction of Kilid Bahr. The Turks yielded everywhere, and communication between Kilid Bahr and Maidos were cut. CROWNED WITH SUCCESS. INFANTRY ASSISTED BY FLEET And AEROPLANES. (Received 10 a.m.) Athens. May 20. The British are operating at Krithia. The troops advancing from Gaba Tepe carried out gallant attacks on Thursday. These were crowned with success, the Turkish losses being heavy and many being taken prisoners. Tbe Allies consolidated the captured positions, and continue to attack. Tuesday’s success was greater because it prevents the Turks operating at Maidos and Kilid Bahr, and communicating with the rest of their forces at Gallipoli. The fleet greatly assisted the infantry under direction of aeroplanes. The Fleet also bombarded and damaged Nagara. A doctor writes from the Dardanelles to say that lie has heard of no antemortem mutilations but many postmortem.

“BACKS TO THE WALL!” TURKS' DESPERATE POSITION. ALLIES IN GREAT HEART. (Received 8.45 a.m.) London, May 20. The Times’ correspondent at the Dardanelles reports that the Bulair lines situated on the bottle neck of the Peninsula are at the mercy of the Fleet, but it is still possible for the Turks to ferry reinforcements across the Straits. Since the Queen Elizabeth sank a transport thus engaged, this can only; be regarded as a dangerous line of communication. The fighting at Gallipoli, therefore, is desperate, the Turks having their backs to the wall, and the chances of the garrison escaping are problematical. On the cramped and narrow tongue of land, the Fleet’s guns are able to play almost all round the positions, being assisted by a strong determined and firmly-established land force. : ASIATIC FORTS SILENCED.

FIGHTING AT KRITHIA CONTINUES. TURKISH MASSACRES CONFIRMED. (Received 8.45 a.m.) Athens, May 20. It is understood that all the Asiatic forts in the Dardanelles have been silenced . Fighting around Krithia continues, and the British are advancing behind the Turks’ stronghold, threatening to envelope them. The Australians continue to make progress, and their attack on Achi Baba continues. The massacre of British and Senegalese prisoners by the Turks is confirmed. GENERAL BRIDGES’ DEATH TRIBUTES TO HIS MEMORY. APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR. (Received 10.55 a.m.) Melbourne, May 21. In tiie House of Representatives at a late hour, the Premier (Hon. A. Fisher) announced that General Bridges had succumbed to his wounds. .Messrs Fisher, Cook, and Pearce paid high tributes to his memory as a man and a soldier, and a resolution was adopted, expressing members’ deep sense of the loss the Commonwealth had sustained, placing on record their appreciation of Ids great service to the development of Australia’s defence scheme and admiration of Ids organisation and leadership of the forces at the Dardanelles, and tendering respectfully their sympathy to the family of such a distinguished officer. Mr Pearce announced that General Bridges’ successor. Colonel Legge, had left Australia on the previous day to take up the duties. It was a gratifying fact that the command would reImain in the hands of an Australian officer. Mr Pearce said he was unable to say who was commanding the forces in the meantime. | The new commander has seen lengthy jinilitary service, having served in the South African War. being in command of the Australian Infantry, and later was military secretary to the Board of Military Administration. At the time of his Dardanelles appointment, he was chief of the ( 'omnioiiw call b General Si off.