At The Dardanelles

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3, 1 September 1915, Page 2

At The Dardanelles

RECENT BATTLE. Commenting oh the recent fighting in the Dardanelles "Shrapnel," the military critic of the "Otago Uailj Times," draws plain and bare conclusions, life says:Correspondents to the English and 'American papers seem to have overestimated the results of the surprise landing and attacks at Suvla Bay. The report of Mr Ashuiead Baftlett and later reports show that the Turks had largo reserves on the Peninsula. That probability was pointed out last week when it was said that large Turkish reserves would be encamped somewhere near Kojadere and Bogiiali. It has now been discovered that the Turks were there and were being prepared for a heavy attack on the (Anzr.c positions !'or the purpose of 'driving the Australians and New Zealanders into the se- or destroying them. The surprise landing at Suvla May anticipated the Turkish movement by a day. and instead, of the Australasians being surprised the Turks were. The fact that the Turks were able quickly to (brow 75,000 men against the British as soon a s they discovered what had happened at Suvla Bay shows that the Turks were largely reinforced and ready for launching their attack near Gala Tope. The British forces advanced from Stivlh Bay, around the north and south of the Suvla lagoon, or salt lake, towards Kucbuk. Anafarta, and Biyuk Aanafarta, and wheeled southwards across the low valley of the Kasa Bore towards Pari Bnir. If they had moved southward quickly enough, the important ridges and summit of Sari Bair would have been Dow in their possession, for the Australasians, assisted by some Indian troops, had already seized the summits. The British, however, did not arrive in,time, and the colonial troops were compelled to retire before the heavy forces that were thrown against them.

The capture' of the summits of the ridges was a great feat, for the j summit of Sari Bair is between 950 and 970 feet high, and commands; the Kbelia Valley, which runs down to the Narrows opposite Nagara at the head of that part of the straits; The misfortune will prove costly, for the Turks will now have strengthened their position on the summit and ridges. The only result of importance that has been achieved is that the British and colonial forces have effected a junction along a narrow strip of the coast on the lower slopes. That position is, however, not at all a satisfactory one. The Turks have the satisfaction of knowing that, though their losses were great, they have held up the advance and prevented the British from reaching their objective, for the road to the south, is not controlled by the positions now held by the Allies. A* far as can be seen, the Turks still hold :<1! the best of the positions, and. if they are properly supplied with ammunition and food, will still give a lot of trouble. Someone apparently blundered either tlie Australasians attacked too soon or the British were too slow; The .work will have to be done over again by tlie slow and costly prongs ill' supping and siege warfare. The Australians and New Zealanders, including the Maoris, covered themselves with glory and proved that they iife the proper sort of men for warfan' in rough country. If (hey could only hove held the ridges of Sari Bair it would have been one of the greatest and most valuable captures on the Peninsula. The twelve-mile front now held by the Allies has one advantage—namely, J that it will increase flip, difficulties of the Turks and thereby make heavier demands on the slender Turkish re-

sources. Moreover, there is a possibility, along a twelve-mile front, of suddenly delivering a strong attack at a given point where it is least expected. In the meantime the submarines in tlie Sea of Marmora and the aeroplanes will continue to make it difficult for the Turkish authorities to supply the demands of the forces that are now working on an extended front. Tlie extension of tlie operation's, of the Allies was tire last thing that tlie Turco-Germnn officers wanted just now. Every extension of the line in Gallipoli destroys the power of Turkish resistance by increasing the demand lor supplies. I