The Dardanelles

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 24, 4 January 1916, Page 5

The Dardanelles

TURKISH ACTIVITY AT SEDDUL BAH R.

United Press Association.. (Received 11.25 a.in.) Constantinople, Januaiy 3. A Turkish official message states: Our artillery were active near Seddul Bahr and an enemy cruiser and monitor were obliged to retreat. A j'urk hydroplane dropped bombs on the enemy camp.

AS EVENTS OCCURRED.

MALCOLM ROSS’S STORY.

Pee Press association

Wellington, January 3

The following is the continuation of Mr Malcolm Ros’s story of the evacuation :

A bell on some ship across the water has just struck midnight, the same clear sound we used to hear over the water at nights, and which brought

some distant reminiscences of the bells in some country church, long remembered. Bomb flashes at The Neck and rifle fire seemed to increase ever so little opposite Lone Pine, but it may have been imagination. “Beachy” has fired one shell, but we cannot see the flash, and probably it Avent into the sea. A destroyer on our right is firing a feAv rounds at the apex. A bomb at Chatham Post and two bombs at The Neck Avere folloAved by a certain amount of Turkish firing, exactly as on other nights. 12.39 a.m.— The moon lias been clouded for some time, but it is still so bright that T can read Avhat I am writing.

1 a.m.—A transport is moving, and another is stealing out. It is getting very near time when the withdrawal of the last party with certain positions of the line will begin. 1.30 a.m.—Bombs ou the Apex are evidently the last demonstration of the party at the Apex, and from this moment the Apex (the highest point on the ridge of our line, won by the Wellingtons of 712 out of 763 men) is. free held throughout at a cost to'the Wellingtons of 712 out of 763) men is free to the enemy/ His fire 'ti'ehch there is 59 yaf-ds away from our. 1 45 a.ih.L-‘ ‘Beachy” has fired again and the shell hurst in the supply df■pot near Brighton Beach,'so he is »f lifs'old {lathe. That supply depot is a favorite target of '“Beachy” shells at night, and this is the first night nobody is there. Two bombs have land-' ed at the Apex, hut our men had gone from there a quarter of an hour, and those bombs have been thrown by Turks at empty trenches.

1.55 a.m.—We have just steamed silently past a small warship which 1 know contains the Commander of our army corps. General Bird wood is ashore at Anzac amongst the men. To-day they' are in splendid heart. It has been a splendid time /or the men on Anzac lately, as there have been all sorts of small luxuries to eat because the messes wanted to get rul of stock. 1,57 .app— Another bomb at the Apex. We had two tunnels far beneath a Turkish trench here in case of need, and into these the Engineers put what explosives remains. The biggest mine we fired before contained less than 5 cwt., hut this time is of 3 tons. If we decide to fire it. it should rend the Neck to pieces, an extraordinary ending to the fine history of Quinn’s —the trench the Turks could never take at whatever cost we have quietly left in the night, and it lies open to them now. At this moment we have left the old Anzac line open to the Turks along every part. Desultory firing continues as on other nights from the far right to the far left. , 3.26 a.m.—There was a great huak just now. A huge red cloud rolled low across the Neck, and there was a low rumble. Presently a still largei cloud curled low across the further slope of the same ridges, angry revolving fumes glowing orange for an instant and then fading into the night. There had been two mines at th e Neck where the Light Horse once charged. The rattle of rifle fire has started from the centre, and is spreading quickly ou the flanks and growing steadily into a roar. The lurks evidently think they are being attacked, and have started tiring all along the line.

3.3.3. —Firing is heavy on the extreme southern end of the lino. A message received front Anzac says that the wireless station is closed and the last party on tin; left are safelv in the boats. 3.45.-—Firing is still heavy, including that from machine-guns. The Snvla wireless station has closed also. The navy must have timed the embarkations perfectly. 4 a . m ,—The fire at An/.ac has almost ceased, except for the normal sniping by the Turks along the "hole line, except at Snipers’ Nest. I can see no Hashes from the lilies, so they must hp in the trenches. 4.1 a.m. —The tents and stores at Snvla have begun to burst into, flames, which are spreading swiftly along the line of beach, f can sec the torch of a man who is lighting them going just ahead of the line of flames.

The line of men’s folder panama hats at 19s ocl at the Melbourne titd, is proving an excellent seller. These hats arc extra fine plait of a very even texture, and the bleach is extremely white—altogether, a worthy hat, considerably underpriced.

4.15 a, lll. —A wireless just received says that the whole embarkation is completed. A naval officer who is next to me turns' round, holds out ins hands, and says: “Thank Clod.” (i a.m.—Messages arc still coming As far as we know only one man was wounded at Anzac. Every man ij believed to bo oil, but in case any have been left behind through losing their wav a couole of naval steamboats and some cutters have gone right in to the beach near the flanks to await daylight. If there had been any wounded it was intended to leave about fifty stretcher-bearers ashore, with two medical men and equipment for two hospitals, complete with stores, but I hear that all the medical units have now been brought off.

All this time ordinary sniping by the Turks has gone on all along the whole line. Our fires are still burning, and the little lamp at the Neck, which shows our destroyers the point, beyond which to fire, is still glowing. “Beachy” is still firing occasionally on the deserted depot, and astern the black shapes of ships stand out against the red glare of the Suvla fires, which is reflected in the sky and on the surface. Surely that fire must have given our departure away at last.

7 a.m.—A quarter of an hour ago the Turkish batteries suddenly opened a furious bombardment on the ridges along which the old Andae line runs. The firing is extraordinarily hurried and wild, some shells bursting low and others wildly high, six and eight fit a time. AVe very seldom have seen the Turks indulge in such fireworks. 7.5. a.m.—Shelling, continues as fast as it can bo put in along the empty lines.

7.15 a.m.—Watching the old Anzac trendies througli my glasses 1 saw what 1 took to be a line of small pine trees growing over the crest of them. I thought the scenery somehow was strangely changed, when 1 saw some of the “trees” move along the parapet. My “pine trees” were Turks. Evidently the Turks have been making attacks, and then 'charged across' the silent parapets. They must have attacked from Johnston’s Gully, north of Lone Pine, or perhaps even from Quinn’s ; and worked south. They are swarming over the parapets on the skyline and are standing still for a moment, but now they are swarming further south., an 7.20 a.m.—This ship has let go two salvos, straight into the Turks on the skyline. They quickly disappeared intp our drenches. We Ifayp now turned with the rest of the fleet to bombard the fdv remaining stores on the beach. The valleys are quickly filled with smoke and

7.30. At 7,15 our bombarment ceases and the fleet slowly turns towards the west, and Anzac is smoking. The dust which our own guns lias made is receding behind, and a huge five is smoking at Suvla. Even now a Turkish battery is bombarding the .point of the beach where on c of our batteries, used to be. ■j 7.45—*-A message has been Received that all wounded'have been brought off, a s well as several more guns than was intended. Only five; guns were left, three Australian and two old howitzers.; The picket boats which went to the beach did pick up! one or two stragglers. One boat went straight to Anzac beach and steamed about calling, “Is there anyone here?” December 20.—The German flag this morning is flying over Suvla. London, January 3.

The censor has released details of the evacuation from Anzac, cabled on December 31st. . The Fifty-Fourth British Division was removed prior to the eventful Sunday, leaving General Godley’s mixed division and the new Australian division.

eye-witness stories.

Loudon December 31

Jive-witnesses of the Anzac evacuation state that the calmness of the weather counted as an immense part in the success of the undertaking. When the order was received from. Home which set the evacuation machinery in motion the moon was within two days of the full. The only fighting in connection with the embarkation occurred between an Australian brigade in order to determine who should have the' privilege of staying .to the last. Many of the men paraded before their officers to protest against boarding the transports' while men who arrived at the peninsula after themselves were allowed to stay an houi oi two longer. Two hundred who formed the ultimate rearguard at Snvla were the first to land in August at the very spot whore they held the final barrier until the embarkation to the last details was completed. Eighty-five- thousand Turks were so ignorant of the true position that they shelled Lala Baba and Chocolate Hill, where there was not a soul ; and they were still plastering the hill, which

had been much bombarded, with a battery of iS-poundors, with high explosives, when the battleships left the bay at nine o’clock, mid they did not realise the pain) id irctli at Suvla until eleven o’clock.

The Turks were a litllo more spry at Anzac, and climbed out ol the trenches and peeped into ours soon attei davlight, but a few shells from tin

ships soon sent them back. Our casualties were an officer auq two men wounded at Suvla, and two men wounded at Anzac.

A tremendous southerly gale sprang up on Monday night, flooding the trenches, and the landing-stage at Anzac was washed away. Our heritage to the Turks consisted of a few picks and shovels, and a number of hospital tents, but these latter were so conspicuous on the landscape that it was impossible to remove them without exciting suspicion. The guns destroyed were three field guns and two worn-out howitzers.

TURKISH BOMBARDMENT.

Amsterdam, January 3

A Turkish communique states; —Orir batteries at the Narrows bombarded the landing place at Sedd-ui-Ba.hr. The French warship Suffren, which was covered by five torpedo boats, replied unsuccessfully.