The Dardanelles

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 24, 28 May 1915, Page 6

The Dardanelles

AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES. THE TV/ENTY-FIFTH LIST. (Received 1.15 p.m.) Sydney. May 128. DIED OK WOUNDS. Sergeant Watson, Corporals \\ ilkins, Hope. Lance-Corporals Saunders, Ward, Privates Cannon, Rowell, Dower, Hunt, Hides, Mason, Poisson, Power, Lather. Mason, Monnsey. Honkers, Ancbmncbie, Harry. Maitland; Green, Smith, O’Hrien, Alford, Mc’Kelvio, Ellis'. Hebley. George, Martin., Steele, Dawson, Hudson, IVooton, Smale, McPherson, Watson. Gray, Sheridan, Bateman, Holmes, Hall. WOUNDED. Two hundred and thirty-seven noncommissioned officers and men. BURYING THE TURKISH DEAD. ADDITIONAL LOSSES.

(Received 2.5 p.m.) London, May 27

The Press Bureau at Cairo states; General Bird wood reports that during the suspension to bury the Turkish dead much larger losses than three thousand came to light. Tgjp other areas were covered with Turkish dead, and four hundred corpses were counted ,iii a space of eighty yards by hundred, j The Turkish burying parties' worked quietly and quickly, all being supplied with cotton wool prepared with some solution to deaden the stench. Ihis was a most necessary precaution. Over twelve hundred Turkish rifles were picked up on our side of the dividing line during the suspension. We rushed and occupied a trench on Tuesday in front of General Cox’s brigade. FROM MAY 6 TO MAY 19. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT The High Commissioner reports on the Dardanelles operations from the Gth to 19th as follows: There was severe lighting on the Gth, and the whole Allied line advanced one’ thousand to fifteen hundred yards, but the left wing was checked by strong Turkish redoubts. The French, however, gained an important position, which served as a pivot lor further operations. On the 7tli and Bth the attack was resumed, in the fact of a heavy lire, the French attacking the Turkish trenches with the bayonet. Counterattacks were repulsed with heavy loss. During three days’ lighting the Australians at Sari Bahr, in spite of sending . reinforcements to support the main attacks, successfully resisted all attacks. The fighting on these three days was severe, there being a large proportion of casualties, hut only sliklit wounds. The Turkish defences were strongly constructed, and only capable of capture by slow trench warfare. The French 1 ought with magnificent courage and suffered heavy Joss.

On the 9th, a brilliant attack by the loth and 16th Battalions of the Fourth Australian Infantry Brigade, carried with the bayonet three lines pf enemy trenches at Sari Bahr. The Turks counter-attacked heavily at dawn on the tenth, forcing the Australians back to the original trenches, hut the guns opened lire on the enemy at close range, doing terrible execution, the dead Turks forming an obstacle.

From the lUtlx to the 17th, the Allied line further advanced.

On the 17th General Bridges was mortally wounded during an attack on the Australian position, his death causing irreparable loss to his command.

On the night of the 19th, there was continuous fire, hut no attack against the Australians and New Zealanders.