THE DARDANELLES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 45, 23 June 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

FICHTINC THE TURKS.

OUR BOYS IN THE TRENCHES.

United Pbkm Association. (Received 8.4(r a.m.) London, June 22,

Reuter’s correspondent at the Daidanelles on 22nd May visited the trenches of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, which repelled the Turkish attack on the 18th. He says: They were in opposite lines, mostly fifty to two hundred yards apart. The scene can only be viewed through a periscope, and even then one must be prepared to have the instrument smashed by the snipers fiie directly they see it. Turkish dead were to be seen everywhere a few yards from the trenches, and in some places they were too thick to count. The fighting Was hottest in two parts of the trenches, called Quinn’s Post and Pope’s Head. The latter is a hill 450 feet high, forming an island in the line of trenches, and separated by a deep gully on each side from the rest of the line. This was a paradise for the Turkish snipers. The attack began at midnight. The bombardment was of unprecedented vigor, there being shells of all calibre, and it was literally impossible to put one’s bead out of the dug-out till the hail of shrapnel had abated. But the damage was slight. Heavy rifle fire followed, and at three o’clock in the morning there was an attack by a great force along the whole line, the main objective being Quinn’s Post. At some points the Turks reached the trenches, but were shot down, many being actually killed in the trenches. The attacks were repeated at short intervals with the same disastrous results. The enemy 7 made a last grand attack at midday on19th, when there was another thundering bombardment, with every type ot projectile, but our casualties were singularly few. The Turks again gallantly attacked ■ Quinn’s Post, but withered away before the blast of rifle and maxim fire. Prisoners said that the Turks brought up a fresh division for this attack, and wore apparently half sacrificed. After the battle, a Turkish officer with a doctor and stretcher-bearers appeared, facing the Australian and New Zealand trenches. The Australian Divisional Commander went out and met them and they asked for an armistice to remove their dead and wounded. As night was approaching, and the enemy’s trenches were seen bristling with double rows of armed men, the Divisional Commander said he had no power to arrange an armistice, and suggested that the Turks renew the application . in the morning, and tit'st meanwhile they would resume hostilities in ten minutes . Thereupon the party withdrew. Apparently, the Turks intended to take advantage of the suspension of our artillery fire to mass men in the trenches under cover of humanitarian activity of tire doctors in the space between the lines. Later, masses advanced with fixed bayonets behind a screen of weaponless soldiers, who held up their hands as it to surrender, but the Australians detected the ruse, and their rifles and gun,s spoke all along the line. The Turks paid dearly for the attempt to abuse the Red Cross Flag.

GALLIPOLI BOMBARDED.

ALLIED FLEETS AT WORK. DESTRUCTIVE FIRES BREAK OUT. (Received 8.55 a.m.) Paris, dune 22. A despatch to Le Journal says: “The Allied fleets on Monday bombarded Gallipoli, and immense flames sprung up in different parts of the town. It is believed that the munitions, docks, and several military warehouses are on Are.”