THE DARDANELLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 23, 27 May 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES.

THE TURKSSH ATTACK.

MOW IT FARED AT THE HAN^S

OF AUSTRALASIANS.

Flnithd Pbhi AnßooiAinm. (Received 8.20 a.m.)

Paris, May 2(J. The recent Turkish attack near iJaba 1 epe was carefully prepared by Jeneral Yon Sanders with the object of inflicting a check on the Allies and raising the spirits of the Turks and reassuring the public, which had been profoundly impressed by the heavy Turkish losses. General Yon Sanders nought up the first army corps—a crack organisation which had hcen •escrved for the defence of Constantinople—but their landing was greatly 'tampered by bombardment from aeroplanes. Two divisions attacked the Australians and New Zealanders on the night of May 18, but the Turks ivere completely beaten, losing two thousand killed and five thousand wounded at. the south end of the Peninsula. The French were faced with strong defensive works. In fierce bayonet and hand-grenade fighting, a colonial infantryman named Laborte took the lead, entering the Turkish trench, whore he threw grenades, and stopped the counter-attack and prevented the quick-firers being used until he fell wounded.

TALES FROM THE TRENCHES. Cairo, May 26. Reuter says the Australasian and Turkish trenches at Sari Bahr were sometimes only thirty yards apart. In many cases the colonials would catch the Turkish grenades and immediately fling them back, so that they Mould explode in the Turkish trenches. The Australasians are continually playing tricks. One rilled a jam tin with cotton wool soaked in oil and set it alight and flung it in a trench. The Turks scattered in all directions, amid the colonials' cheers. There was the greatest difficulty in locating the Turkish artillery. Directly an aeroplane mounts the Turkish lire ceases, and not a shot from a heavy gun is fired at night. It is believed the guns are run underground on rails to a given spot. A few shots are fired and then the guns are divert ed to another displacement. The Turks never come to close quarters with the Australasians, for dir ectly they see the bayonets they aro off. The Turks are poor rifle shots, but are fairly accurate with the mac-hine-guns, which alone are holding the colonials. Stories of atrocities must be accepted with reserve, as they are seldom first-hand information.

After a recent assault at Gaba Tepe. the Turkish commander permitted ..the British to bury their dead and carry off their wounded. The position at Gaba Tepe is very strong, being a mass of trenches. The Queen Elizabeth continues to do great work. In .one case a long line of camels was seen on the hills, sixteen miles distant, aim the warship fired a shot at the camels, which were not seen again.

HEALING THE WOUNDED.

London, May 26

. The Hon. Sir John MeCall (AgentGeneral for Tasmania), who visited the Tasmanian wounded in England, states that the Dardanelles wounds are healing much better than wounds of corresponding gravity received in France. This is attributed to the less cultivated soil of Gallipoli.

IN MEMORIUM.

Sydney, May 2G

There was a big attendance, including Sir Gerald Strickland (the Governor), and heads of the defence forces, at General Bridges' memorial service. The Archbishop, in a stirring address, said: "Pause a little and pay a tribute of sorrow and respect to his grave, and then realise that the first call upon us is to take up the task for which he died and prosecute it to the bitter end."

London, May 26

The wcene of Colonel Doughty Wyllio's death has been named Doughty VVyllic Hill. TURKS RETREATINC. (Received 11.10 a.m.) Athens, May 26. Miteylene reports fierce fighting in the Peninsula. The Turks are retreating.

English officers who landed at Imbros have asked the Government to put a veto on all presumed Turkish officers or soldiers. TURKISH GARRISON DESERTS. (Received 11.10 a.m.) Smyrna, May The garrison continues to desert.