THE DARDANELLES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 53, 2 July 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

GASUALTIZG TO MAY 31. KILLED 7423: WOUNDED 24,576. MISSING G 527. United Press Association-. (Received 9.00 a.m.) July 1. The Premier (Mr Asquitli). in the House of Commons, said the naval and military casualties at the Dardanelles to -May 31 were:— \ OFFICERS: Killed 496 Wounded ... ... H 34 Missing ... ... 92 MEN : Killed ... - ■■• 6927 Wounded ••■ ••• 23,542 Missing ... ... 6445 FRENCH ENCOUNTERS. HAND-GRENADES AND MACHINEGUNS. THE TURK AS AN OPPONENT. (Received 9.10 a.m.) London, July 1. Renter, at the,Dardanelles, «ays:— Eland-grenades and machine-guns are becoming .increasingly important in trench encounters. The Turks rarely await the bayonet, but cause much trouble with bombs, which are of the cricket-ball type, and which the British throw hack if unexploded. The Australians recently organised a, bombthrowing competition against the enemy's trenches for prizes, which was conducted 'under elaborate rules, one >f which disqualified, any competitor exposing himself. The machine-guns are the Alpha and .Omega of Turkish defence, and if both sides were deprived thereof, the campaign would he as good as won. The Turks could not stop our attacks. It is doubtful if the Turks would attack at all but for the machine-guns, which are served by Germans in the second line of trenches, and which would he turned on them if they wavered in the attack. Their front trench is practically empty unless our trench is very close, as the Turks wait in the rear trenches, passing to them through deep communications when an attack is feared. The trenches are often ten feet deep, with the parapets loopholed, a hole every yard. Signs exist that the enemy's reserves are giving out. The prisoners include, old and untrained men. The enemy's enfilading fire from the Asiatic shore lately increased in intensity,: the Turks having mounted several six-, inchers behind the ridges overlooking the Plain of Troy, the guns having probably been taken from the Goehen and Breslau. The Allies regard them in a sporting spirit, the shells providing occasions for races to the dugouts. Five hundred shells fell on the southern end of the Peninsula in a single day, but our loss was ridiculously small.

TURKISH LOSSES ENORMOUS.

GERMANS IN FULL CONTROL.

(Received 9.50 a.m.) Paris, July 1

A French naval officer describes the Turkish losses as enormous, masses of corpses lying between the lines. The Turks are humiliated by the manner in which the Germans assumed all control and supressed discontent.

SIR lAN HAMILTON'S DESPATCH

(Received 9.55 a.m.)

London, July 1

.Mr Asquith, in the House of Commons, said Sir lan Hamilton's Dardanelles despatch will he published in a few days.

IN MEMORIAM NOTICES. (Received 9.55 a.m.) Sydney, July 2. Private Metalfe, who was killed at the Dardanelles, was formerly the Sydney Morning Herald's correspondent at Paris, where he exposed the Itougemont fictions. Private George Vincent Rixon ikilled) was for many years a resident in New Zealand before coming to Sydney.