DARDANELLES BOMBARDMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 162, 13 March 1915, Page 5

DARDANELLES BOMBARDMENT.

A GERMAN VERSION. ALUES’ WARSHIPS DAMAGED. A HOPEFUL SIGN. Press Association —Copyright LONDON, March 12. A Berlin official message states that the result of the bombardment of the Dardanelles has been negligible, and that several ships Were damaged, espcially the Queen Elizabeth. A French cruiser was put out of ■action and two mi*e sweepers were sunk. The British were defeated in Mesopotamia losiitp numerous; and three guns. The resignation of Venezlos is regarded as a hopeful sign. Times and Sydney Sun Services. an open city. TURKS MAKING PREPARATIONS. LONDON, March 12. Refugees arriving at Bucharest declare that the Turks are dismounting tguns in order that the Allies, on entering the city, may regard Constantinople as an open city.—Times and Sydney Sun Services.

TURKISH FIRE WEAKENING. CRUISERS IN THE FAIRWAY. 'PARIS, March 12. The Turkish artillery at-Mt. Elijah is weakening daily. . Two big cruisers for the first time passed the night in the Dardanelles, protecting and illuminating the minesweepers. CONSTANTINOPLE'S SAD PLIGHT. • ' RIOTING AND LOOTING. 1 PEOPLE SEEKING REFUGE. "" GOEBEN A USELESS HULL. TURKISH REGIMENTS MUTINY. (Reed. 11.30 p.m.) Mr Martin Donohoe, reporting from Constanza ,says there has been frequent rioting at Stamboul. Shops in Galata and Pcra has been closed, and their owners have fled. Soldiers are guarding Pera against looting. The coal supply is banely adequate tor the naval needs. Wealthy residents are taking refuge in Therapia and Soutari. The Gcoben i.s lyinjg stripped and disabled ,as it is impossible to tow her to the dockyards in the Gclden Horn, owing to her draught. The German commander declares that he will blow her up if the Dardanelles are forced. Two German officered Turkish regiments have mutinied. The leaders were executed and the mutineers Imprisoned. In Scutari the seteds of an anti-Ger-man rovlution are comiag to fruit.

INTENDED EVACUATION OF DARDANELLES. ' "FOR STRATEGIC REASONS." ) (Rod. 12.30 a.m.) CAilROj, March 12. The Turkish authorities rave posted: notifies in Smyrna that they may have to evacuate the Dardanelles for strategic reasons. TERRIFIC CANNONADE. DARDANELLES GETTING IT HOT. SOFIA, March 13. Dedegatch reports a terrific cannonade in .the Dardanelles and the Gulf

of Saros, violent explosions exceeding anything yet heard and audible for miles inland. The -exodus of foreigners from Constantinople continues. The families of the German and Austrian Ambassadors have gone to rbillrppnflolis, which is crowded with refugees A conspiracy against the Young Turks was discovered, two hundred Armenians arrested and a depot of bcmbs also seised. BLACK SEA OPERATIONS. COAL FAMINE IN CONSTANTINOPLE, PETROGRAD, March 12. The operations of the Black Sea fteet will materially weaken the small fleet of Turkish transports, without which it is impossible to rapidly convey troops to the Anatolian coast. The destruction of the port buildings at Zuguldak deprives Constantinople of an. important coal supply. A. coal famine is threatened.

SHORTAGE OF FOOD. LONDON, March 12. Berlin' has issued potato tickets, entitling the holders to twenty pounds weekly. GERMAN DECOY STEAMERS. ASSIST THE SUBMARINE BLOCKADE. (Reed. 9 a.m.) LONDON, March 12. A passenger boat, the- Great Southern, bound from Rossdale to Fishguard, noticed a two funnelled steamer endeavouring to head her off. The -steamer than flew signals of distress. Meanwhile a German submarine appeared, but the Great Southern escaped by putting on high speied. The decoy steamer then sailed away. ; GOD PUNISH ENGLAND. ON ALL PRINTED MATTER. I (Reed. 9 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, March 12. All letters and letterpress work from Germany is now stamped "God punish | Er^land." GIANT STRUGGLE IMMINENT. HALF-MILLION ON EACH SIDE. V (Reed. 10 a.m.) PETROGRAD, March 12. The con»entration cf half a million men en either side near Prasnys:',, indicates that a gigantic struggle is imminent.