The Dardanelles.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 90, 17 August 1915, Page 5

The Dardanelles.

LANDING AT GABA TEPE. v' ■ ■•' ■■ fWfiji. \ •** 'j i ' ' 1 * 1 ' h —rr — ' • V 1 ARMY AND NAVY CO-OPERATE. ■ . ' ’ ! t v . 1 '

PRAISE FOR THE COLONIALS.

1 “actions Live in history.j : '5■ i

'."i ; I- ■ ■■ V ' , “NOTHING COULIS STOf SUCH L. y.

:ni<i dftri'.. 1 *! t : ,f, ; MEN.”

V.C’fi AND D.S.O.’S FOR CAL-

LANTRY.

United Press Association.

(Received 8.25 a.in.)

London, August 16

Vice-Admiral de Robecks, desci ibing the lauding noifch of Gaba Tepe on April 25, says tlinfc the beach, which is vpry narrow, was continuously under shell-fire, and service there called for great determination and coolness tinder fire, and tho success achieved indicated the spirit animating all concerned. He specially mentions the extraordinary gallantry and dash '* of the Third Australian Infantry Brigade who formed the covering force, ami eulogises the good service by the . vessels in landing and covering the force. The seamanship displayed was deserving of the highest praise. After detailing the operations on the 25th and 26th, he says: From the very "first,- co-operation between the Army and Navy was most happy,, the difficulties arising being quickly surmounted. Nothing could have exceeded the tactfulness and forethought of General Sir Tan Hamilton and staff. Admiral Guepratte’s loyal support simplified' the task of landing the Allied armies simultaneously. When the committees of both services were working out details of the landing at Madron, the keenness displayed by the officers and men resulted in a good standard of efficiency, especially in the case of the Australian and New Zoa land Corps, who appear to bo natural boatmen. Such actions as the storming of Sedd id Bahr by the 29th Division must live in history for ever. The innumerable deeds of heroism and daring performed, and the gallantry and absolute contempt of death, displayed, alone made the operations possible at the landing at Gaba Tepe, and yf- the dash of the Australian Brigade for the cliffs was magnificent. Nothing could stop such men. In their first battle the Australian and New \ Zealand Army Corps set the standard high of any Army in history, and it is sf. one whereof their countrymen have every reason to be proud. Vice-Admiral de Robecks specially recommends the following, all of whom were awarded the Victoria (’ross:— Edwin Unwin, Commander of tho River Clyde, who, under a murderous fire endeavoured to get the landing lighters in position till the cold through immersion obliged him to return to the ship, where he was wrapped in blankets and somewhat recovered. Against the doctor’s orders, he returned to complete the work later,

ami though suffering from three abrasions from bullets and wounded, he went to the rescne/of the wounded lying in the shallow water, till physical exhaustion, forced him to stop. Midshipman George Drewry, when wounded in the head, continued to work, and i twice attempted to swim from lighter to lighter with a line.

Midshipman Wilfred Malleson, after Drewry had failecj, swam yrith thq line and succeeded, hut the line broke and he made two further unsuccessful efforts., f, , ! .

Seaman William Williamson held on to the line-in the water for over an hour under heavy fire until he was killed. >

Seaman George Sampson worked on the lighter all day long under fire, attending, to tlie wounded' and gettingout the lines until dangerously wounded by Maxim fire. ’Vice-Admiral de. lip becks speacs of the invaluable service, of Rear-Ad-mirals R. Wernyss, C. Thins,by, and S, Nicholson', and specially recommends a Surgeon, two Lieutenant-Command-ers, two Lieutenants, a Boatswain, and ten midshipmen. All these midshipmen received Distinguished Service Orders, and therP are twenty Distinguished Crosses, and a largo number of medals in commendation of seamen. GENERAL HAMILTON’S MESSAGE

Per Press association,

Dunedin, August 16

Hon. Jas. Allen received the following cablegram from Sir lan Hamilton to-night-“ Warmest thanks for your telegram, which has been communicated to the troops. The corps commander under whom the New Zealand troops are serving reports as follows, and I fully endorse all he say’s; —“J cannot tell you how magnificently the whole of the New Zealand troops—artillery, mounted rifles, infantry, and Maoris—have done in our recent very severe fighting. Trench after trench and ridge after ridge were successfully taken by them, with a dash which prevented the Turks making any stand against them, over country as precipitous and difficult as that which we took on our landing. Among our fallen comrades the whole force deplores the loss of Colonel Malone and Colonel Banchop, who had proved themselves first-class soldiers, and real leaders in the field.”—(.Signed) lan Hamilton.

I MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

[United Press Association.] London, August .15.

The Times’ correspondent in Paris says the news of further successes in the Dardanelles is awaited with great eagerness. It is felt that the Balkan negotiations will be without result unless the Allies demonstrate by more vigor in reinforcements and action nob only their determination to force the Dardanelles, but the certainty of success. Various reports indicate that the Germans share this view. They are concentrating troops and stores in the Temessvar, Neusata, and Orsova region, presumably with the object of an offensive against Serbia, in the hope of arriving to the aid of the Turks before their resistance at the Dardanelles is overcome. In the circumstances it is felt here that arguments supplied by the Allies’ troops in the Dardanelles are weightier in Bulgaria than those of the Chancellories. Athens, August 16. A quarrel between Turco-German staff officers at Gallipoli resulted in an outbreak against the Germans. Fortynine Turkish officers were arrested and

taken in chains to Constantinople ami gaoled. This has increased the indignation against the Germans throughout the whole army. Greek refugees predict a revolution.

Londonj August 16,

I. Lanesep, French ex-Mimater of Marine, proclaims the necessity for the Allies disembarking troops at the farther end of the Gulf of Saros, in order to develop an attack on the mainland. Constantinople, August I<>.

Official.—Our counter-attack repulsed an attack against the right wing northward of Arihurnu, and the artillery compelled an infantry battalion on Anaforta plain to retire in the direction of Homi Kliliman. Our artillery on the left wing of Siddnl Bahr also destroyed a bomb-throwing inst

lation. Hostile airmen bombed Aribnrnn, wounding nine soldiers. BOMBARDMENT OF COAST OF ASIA MINOR. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Athens, August 16.

It i.s reported that the Allies’ bombardment has done considerable damage to the coast towns in the Smyrna region. The Turkish encampments dispersed and the Mussulman population panicked and fled into the interior.