THE DARDANELLES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 52, 1 July 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

ADVANCING THE LINE.

SIR lAN HAMILTON REPORT.

Unhid Prch Association

(Received 9.55 a.m.) London, June -30. The Press Buerau states that Sir lan Hamilton reports important operations on the 28th, the object of

which was for bis loft to capture

seven lines of trenches east and west of the Seghir Dere. The Australians

assisted with a vigorous denio :sr< a tion and practically all that was attempted was carried out. The line ai son.e points is well beenrnl the contemplated advance.

DUM-DUMS AND GAS.

TURKS EXPECTED TO USE CAS.

(Received 8.55 a.m.) Athens. June 30

Tho newspapers at Stambuiil accuse the Allies of using dum-duras and oypffjtpive shells tilled with gases, and they declare that retaliation is justified.. This is interpreted to mean that the Turks are preparing to use gas' at 't he Darda il'el levs. .

BACK FROM CALLIPOLI.

NARRATIVE OF ONE OF THE LANDING PARTY. TRIBUTE TO TURKISH GUNFIRE (Received 10.15 a.m.) Fremantle, .July I. Private Darby, of the Main New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who is a passenger by the Mahva, is the first to return of the actual force who landed at the Dardanelles. He «ays that the landing was accompanied by the most sanguinary battles, and he thinks the British General was unaware o fhow thoroughly the Turks had entrenched; there were tenches even on the beaches. The' Tukish gunfire was a mavel of accuracy, and the Australians soon themselves short of ambulances.

Private Darby was selected to take . the wounded back to Cairo. The scenes were pitiful aboard ship, hut they were the most cheerful body of men he ever saw. One hundred and sixty of the wounded offered to return to the trendies immediately and 129 were chosen. The British officers were amazed at the Austraians* -gallantry. At the bottom of a hill he saw three hundred Australians and Turks in a g' astly heap, and witnessed two bayonet charges, which were fearsome experiences, Private Darby is returning owing to an attack of hemorrhage) of the luags.

THE ACHI BABA FIGHT.

TURKS' GOOD GUNNERY.

I Cairo, June- 30

Further details of the fighting at Ki'ithia on June 4 show that tl.e Worcester Regiment' fought with the greatest pluck aind determination and suffered heavily, hut they carried all before them. . "The Turks fled at our approach, hut their machine-guns on the right gradually thinned the British ranks, pouring a consistent and deadly fire," said an officer in describing the fighting. "If a tennis ball •was thrown in the air it would be riddled. Notwitstanding this the Worcester* advanced dauntlessly and ousted the Turks from their trenches. The enemy was able to keep it's reserves in security behind Achi Baba, and had all the advantage of the position and outnumbered us three to one. A gain of five hundred yards was therefore distinctly good.- Achi Baba can only be taken at the bayonet's point. The enemy's' observation is very accurate. Many of their shrapnel shells are filled with sand and sawdust."

DARDANELLES OPERATIONS.

The High Commissioner reports:— 4 London (7.35 p.m.), June 30.

Sir lan Hamilton reports from the Dardanelles that on Monday 1000 yards were gained West of Krithia and two lines of Turkish trenches captured east of Saghir Dere. The Australian Corps co-operated in making a vigorous demonstration. Three lines were captured "west of Saghir Dere. The enemy counter-attacked, and was repulsed with heavy losses. Boomerang Redoubt was captured, and thus the northernmost object and even beyond has been attained.

REPORT FROM CAPTAIN BEAN.

MEN IN SPLENDID SPIRITS.

(Received 11.45 a.m.) Sydney, July 1

Captain Bean (Commomvealtii official coirespondent), cables from Cuba. I'epc ; "On dune 24th- Colonel Legge arrived to take command of the Australians. The fighting has settled down to obstinate trench warfare similar to the Flanders operations. Since the middle of .May the main fleet, which had previously been present all the time, has only occasionally been present. 1 cannot see any difference in the position since the presence of the large warships has been generally withdrawn, but the Navy will give support when required. The French and British troops are fighting most gallantly. Their battle is not tar over the hills from us, and one cm see their shells bursting in showers on Aclii Baba. The weather is beautiful and the men's spirits are splendid."

The officers asked Captain Bean to mention the great kindness of the people of Cairo and Alexandria. All nationalities treated the wounded, including a German nursing sister and the German Convent Hospital.