A DARDANELLES DISASTER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 169, 22 March 1915, Page 5

A DARDANELLES DISASTER.

IRRESISTIBLE, OCEAN AND BOUVET. THE INFLEXIBLE DAMAGED. IN THE DARDANELLES. Press Association— Copyright. (Reed. 3.15 p.m.) . The Admiralty announces that the • battleships Irresistible, - Ocean and Bouvet have been sunk in the Dardanelles. • . The Inflexible has been damaged. An official message states that the Battleships Irresistible, Ocean, and Bouvet were sunk by mines in the 1 Dardanelles. All the ships sank in deep water. There were few British casualties. The majority of the lost were Frenchmen. H.M.S. IRRESISTIBLE. The Irresistible wa s a Pre-Dread-nought battleship of 15,000 tons displacement, and a complement of 780. She had a length of 411 ft., and maximum draught 29ft. She carried four 12-inch and twelve 6inch, besides smaller guns, and had a speed of 18 knots. She cost £1,000,000 to build,! and wa s cf the Formidable class, the Formidable and Implcaable being sister., ships; " H.M.S. OCEAN. The Ocean was of the Canapus class, a pre-Dreadnought, and was built in 1898. She had a displacement of 12,950 tons, and a complement of -750. Her length was 400 ft, beam 74 feet, and her speed was 18 knots. She carried four 12inch and twelve 6inch guns. . . THE FRENCH WARSHIP BOUVBT. The Bouvet is a French warship, built in 1896, with a displacement of 12,295 tons, and a complement of G3O. Her length is 397 ft, her beam 70 l-6ft, i and her speed 17 knots. She carfries two 12-inch guns, two 10-inch, and eight s.sinch guns. H.M.S. INFLEXIBLE. The Inflexible is a battle-cruiser of the Invincible class, the Invincible and Indomitable being sister ships. She was built in 1907, has a displacement of 17,250 tons, and a complement of 750. Her speed is 28.4 knots, and she carries eight 12inch and sixteen 4inch g'uns, and cost £1,752,000. At full speed she burns 500 tons of coal a day, plus about 125 tons of oil, and her machinery cost £472,000. ROW THE IiOUVET SANK. BRIIVIH SI-IPS, RUSH TO ASSIST. «R-;cd. 8.35 a.n.) LONDON, March 21. "Eyewitness,"writing from Tenedos, sa/s i.. »Mck okud of smoke Wotted out th* Bouvet, then, as it thinned, her grey bow pointing .*;lv> ward, was seen, h)r stern subn-drged r.nd before the snoke passed t'c e sank jusi. as two British ships rushed up to her rescue. j. A-TRENCH REPORT. PARIS. March 2.1. It is unofficially stated tlint the Gaulois lias been put out of action temporarily. The Henry IV. will replace the Bouvet immediately. Though the losses are painful they will not arrest the progress of onorations. SURVIVORS PROM THE BOUVET. PARIS, March 20. Official: There are (54 survivors from the Bouvet. . The casualties on the other ships were slight. The vigour with which the French division performed its honourable task won the liigfi appreciation of the Brtish sailors.

THREE BATTLESHIPS SUNK, TWO OTHERS DAMAGED. FEW BRITISH CASUALTIES. FRENCH BATTLESHIP SUNK. VERY FEW SURVIVORS. ZEPPELIN RAID ON PARIS. FEW CASUALTIES & LITTLE DAMAGE. AEROPLANE RAID ON ENGLAND.

TURKISH FORTS BLOWN UP. LONDON, March 21, An account of the Dardanelles affair , from Renter's Tennedos correspondent [ shows that a small crowd watched the i operations on the 18th from the summit of Mount Elias. The warships steamed from their anchorage ne;.r the island and entered the Strait in single file. They spread out in semi-circles. The first notable hit was made by the Queen Elizabeth. After an hour's bombardment, a great balloon of smoke leapt hundreds of feet in the air from the magazine at Chanak. Within the next twelve minutes, four shells dropped into the ruins, but the Turkish batteries continued to reply. Firing was eratic, though" there were many good shots. Shortly after noon, a watorplane left the Arkroyal and flew along both shores of the Straits. The Turks ; vainly shelled it. More heavy explosions at Chanak followed. The ships in the meantime steamed constantly up and own the two miles stretch. Then two approached the Narrows. The Turks opened a furious bombardment,' and several shells tools effect on both ships. The Queen Elizabeth's shell at ?> o'clock caused a terrific explosion at Kidilbahr, a gigantic spurt of flame and cloud of smoke being seen. Two batteries, apparently movable, suddenly opened near Kephezburma, but the Queen Elizabeth soon silenced them. At nightfall Chanak was in flames and the warships still in the Straits. STATEMENT BY OFFICER. ATHENS, March 2.1. A British officer states that the purpose of the six hours' bombardment of the Dardanelles was to pave the way for forcing the Narrows between Kilidbahr and Chanak. Two thousand shells were fired. There was no idea on the 18th of completing the enter prise. Many were killed and wounded within the forts, which suffered great damage. The Allied squadrons re-entered the Straits at 9.30 on the 18th., and the bombardment is proceeding. QUEEN ELIZABETH'S RECORD. MALTA, March 21. The firing of the Queen Elizabeth is the talk of the whole fleet. While at anchor she frequently shelled the forts effectively at a distance of 15 mile.-:. When landing parties from the naval division went ashore to complete the demolition they were fired upon h\ strongly entrenched Turks, whom aeroplanes failed to discover. Nineteen naval men were killed and a number wounded. The Turks were later driven out. THE GAULOIS AND INFLEXIBLE. ATHENS, March 20. Repairs to the Gaulois will take only a few, days. She is now anchored at Tenedos. The Inflexible was struck in the bow by a shell. She left the Straits and was convoyed by two cruisers. A shell also exploded on the Inflexible's deck, killing forty and wounding many THE AMETHYST'S DASH. MALTA, March 20. The object of the Amethyst's dash was to cut the Kilidbahr-Chanak cable. She succeeded, but was detected when she began the return journey. She was obliged to run. the gauntlet of several forts. ! IRRESISTIBLE 'S CASUALTIES. WELLINGTON, March 22. The Premier has received the foil ,w----ing: LONDON, March 21, 1.20 a.m. The Admiralty announces the following casualties to the officers of the

Ilrresistablo in (lie Dardanelles operations: —Throe killed, one missing (believed dotal), and one seven'];. vvonuded. THE SUNKEN KARLSRUHE. DISAPPEARED LAST NOVEMBER. The Prime Minister received the following from the High Commissioner under date London, March 20, 1915, 3.40 a.m.: The Admiralty announces thofre is every reason to believe that the Karlsruhe was sunk in the neighbourhood of th-3 West Indies in the beginning of November, and those of tha crew rescued reached Germany early in December in the Rio Grande, which had been acting in concert with the Karlsruhe. THE REICHSTAG MEET. WOMEN CRY FOR BREAD. SOCIALISTS SUPPORT WAR VOTES. (Reed. 9.5 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, March 22. When the German Reichstag opened a crowd of poor women forced their way to the front windows, wringing their hands towards members and crying for bread. Schnei.dem.an, in the Reichstafe, intimated that Socialists still had the same grounds for voting war credits as on August 4th and December 2nd. After the Army' s splendid work they ware strongly confident of victory and a lasting and honourable' peace. They would vote for the Budget. WILD SCENES IN REICHSTAG. BIG SUCCESS OF LATEST LOAN. BERLIN, March 20. There were wild scenes in the Reichstag on the second reading- of the Budget. Ilerr Ledebour (Socialist) pro tested against the military trying to Germanise portions of Russia. Tie wtu horrified to learn that the Germans intend to destroy three Russian village: for every German village burned. Herr Liebknecht interposed: Tin's i* barbarism. This caused a general disturbance and erics of ■"Treason." Herr Lidebour continued: Thistrikes the Poles and Lithuanians, whose co-operation we want. Members sprang to their feet excitedly calling '"'Order," and "Shame." Herr Delrueek said he would be unworthy of his present position if he replied to the speech. Herr Bassermann explained on be half of the. Socialists that Herr Ledebour was only invited to speak on the language question. The remainder of his remarks were made on his own re sponsibility. Herr Delreuck declared that Herr Ledebour's criticism was unconstitutional and insulting, and was directed against a most honoured army leader The war had set aside everything dl viding them .in peace times. This duty was an imperishable success, afford!nj: the enemy new proof of Germany'; economic and moral invincibility. Other speakers, eulogising the navy, hoped the intensity of submarine o*orations would be continually increased, and that the navy would go fonvird until victory was gained. Herr Naeken, reporting on the Estimates, said the financial situation was as bright as at the beginning of the war. All obligations would be fulfilled, however long the war. Herr Helflerich said the result of 'lie loan was splendid. It totalled 350,000,000 sterling, greatly surpassing the success of the first loan. With bt-th loans, Germany exceeded England by four to five thousand million murks, proving an unbreakable economic and financial strength, and a determination to hold out to the end. DESPERATE NIGHT ATTACKS REPULSED. GOOD WORK BY THE FRENCH ARTILLERY. POSITION CARRIED AFTER TWO DAYS' STRUGGLE. PARIS, March 20. Official: We repulsed night attacks at La Boiselle. inflicting heavy losses. Our artillery caused heavy losses west of Perthes. We carried the greater part of the German position at Lesparges after a two days' struggle. The enemy thrice counter-attacked unsuccessfully,. __ leaving many dead. Our artillery blew up .\ blockhouse and several ammunition waggons and stores at Bois Mont More in the Woevre district. GERMANS CAUGHT IN MARSHES: .PETROGRAD. March 20. Official: A Russian squadron has approached the Bosphorus. There is panic at Constantinople. We captured Vysel, on the left bank of the Niemcn, and repulsed a counterattack in the Voyli region. The Germans suffered heavy infantry losses. They sent four squadrons of cavalry through the marshes to support the infantry to envelop the main flank. Our artillery suddenly attacked and killed and wounded most of them, and dispersed the remnant.

GERMANS CLAIM VICTORIES. BERLIN, March. 20. Wo captured a group of houses at St. Eloi, drove the French from a position at Dain De Lorette, captured then' trenches at Beaseejour, and repulsed attacks in the Woeuvre and at Cambrai. with heavy French losses. PETROGRAD, March 20. The Germans in Poland have devastated 05 towns and 4500 hamlets, of which 1000 were burned to the ground The damage is estimated at £100,000,000 sterling. TRENCH REPULSE GERMANS. PARIS, March 20. Official.—We repulsed a German ut tack on hill 170 with heavy losses. CAPTURE OF MEMEL. GERMANS ROUTED AT PRZEMYSL ENORMOUS LOSSES INFLICTED. PETROGRAD, March 21. Official: Memel ( a seaport in Ens) Prussia) was captured after street lighting, in which inhabitants participated. . The Russians advanced so rapidly on the German frontier that tin Guards lost heavily before taking refuge in Memel fortress. Germans attacking in close order near Mysyniec, north-east of Przemysl, were routed with enormous losses The 39th Divison was severely de feated southward of Ciezkowice ii Galieia. A sortie from Przemysl was driven back with serious losses. CIVILIANS AND TROOPS " PARTICIPATE. RUSSIANS TAKE POSSESSION. (Reed. 9.5 a.m.) i PETROGRAD, Maftoh 21. Official: As the Russians advanced two regiments of Landstrum defending Memej were driven back. They mingled with the population and the Russians on entering at 8 in the evening encountered fire from houses and barricades, civilians equally with trocps participated. Russians were then withdrawn and Memel was subjected to a short bombardment, which ended the resistance. The town was then evacuated, the inhabitants refuging towards Konisberg. ANOTHER RUSSIAN SUCCESS. 4000 PRISONERS, BESIDES GUNS TAKEN. (Reed 8.35 a.m.) FKIROGRAD, March 21. Official details state: We repulsed fo-ir reg.mencs that sortied from Przemysl. We captured 107 officers, 3,954 mult and sixteen machine guns. Prisonous • '••iciiMO the losses in killed and w-vj'i-ioj a<s ei or me as. Advices from the Caucasus state tart Russians r-ra marching westward and will trout u-long the Black Sea cent Jin.? New Turkish formation.-. itreuCtd to replace the E;o:etout igar•rl ion" will bo pimply cxndcmred to a fate settled by our putting an end to all sources of supplies. The Germans put up a stiff fight at T.i in-;. .;• but wore repulsed over the fr-,n ci. , Th i .diicia 1 -e-piy to tha German ih.-ea: < f reprisals points cut that Memel is defended with a-med forces ivhils- the ii habitants also larticipatei. DASH AND GALLANTRY. UNAFFECTED BY TRENCH LIFE. (Reed, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 20. Sir 'John French says the gallantry and dasli of troops in last week's operations in the vicinity of Neuve Chapalle under Sir Douglas Hash's able and determined leadership, proved conclusively that four months' sedentary work in the trenches had in no wise impaired their original fighting qualities, ZEPPELINS BOMB PARIS. considerable damage done, three: persons injured. (Reed. 9.5 a.m.) PARIS, Maxell 21, A Zeppelin raid occurred at one this meaning. On the approach of three machines being signalled the inhabitants were warned by bugles; the city was plunged in darkness. Several in incendiary bombs were thrown on tha city and many in the western suburbs, including seven on Asieres. three persons were injured elsewhere, and there were some fi-re's but no serious damage was caused. ANOTHER ZEPPELIN RAID. SEVERAL TOWNS BOMBED, LITTLE INJURY DONE. (Reed. 11.25 a.m.) PARIS, March 21. Four Zeppelins wer'e sighted near Compiegne. Guns drovla back two, the remainder reachicf* the outskirts of the city. Search lights revelled over the raiders, and guns attacked, apparently hitting one, as it was soon

driven eft. Little du;iifige v'c,?. douo to pre: i !y. Ei.thi i.-evKcns v,c.c - iy injured, and cue soiiously. Ac:oplanes, participated in the defence. Mist hampeied them. Later the Zeppelins bombed Rulecourt and Dreslincourt without any result. A communique stales that the position is unchanged. WOULDN'T RISK IT. RECEPTION TOO LIVELY. diced. 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, March 21. Tha ac-Loplane seen ever Deal was one of four. The other three noticing t!i e lively reception the one was getting turned back. ITALY ON THE VERGE. HOSTILTIES ALMOST CERTAIN. LONDON. March 20. Dr. Dillon reports from Rome that tho Minister of Education is ascertaining tin 1 military status of all professors, teachers and educational employees in Italy, also what the beds in schools uul colleges are capable of containing. It is stated that several Gernnri i.-iu' Austrian Consuls are removing +lieir archives. Austria is hastily strengthenirg the defences of Trentino. and is oirrb-yiug Russian prisoners and Galician refugees to remove snow from the highlands. Much artillery and ammunition, arc proceeding to mountain forts, and new batteries are being erected. Aus tria appears to be willing to cede Trentino, and territory to the river I'sonzo but refuses guarantees for the political and economic treatment of Italian nationals elsewhere. Italy persists in immediate cession, and Austria favours postponement until the end of the war. Prospects of settlement are -slight. SINKING OP THE NAVARRO. (Reed. 8.35 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 21. The He.rald says the Navarro was sunk off the River Plate on November 11. She tried to avoid a fight. After an hour's chase the Orama opened fira and the Navarro's upp-erworks were soon ablaze. The fire destroyed all boat s except four, by which the ' crew escaped just before an explosion. All were prisone/red. The Navarro turned turtle. A BULGARIAN RAID. GREEKS DROVE THEM OFF. (Reed. 8.35 a.m.) ATHENS, March 21. A strong Bulgarian band attempted to raid Demirhidsar. Greek troopsdrove them off. Three Bulgaro were killed and several Greeks w-31'e wounded. ANOTHER DUTCH SHIP CAPTURED. TAKEN TO ZEEBRUGGE. (Reted. ,9a.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 21. Germans seized tha Dutch steamer "Batavia," bound from Rotterdam to London. She \va s taken to Zeebruj(ge. GERMAN IRON CARGO. CAPTURED OFF THE GOODWINS. (Reed. 9 a.m.) * LONDON, March 22. A Spanish ship laden with iron ore aid bound for Germany was captured off the Goodwins and brought to ;Jarrcw. A SOCIALIST'S VIEW. UNSUPPORTED IN BRITAIN. (Reed. 9a.. m,) LONDON, March 22. Mr Hyndman, in a letter to M. Clemenceau, virges a pro-German attituda. Mr Keir Hardie', J. Ramsay McDonald and Andersen, members of the House of Commons, and Mr Glasier, editor of the Socialist "Review," say Hyndman dees not. reflect the attitude of British workers, whereof a crushing majority are in favour of the war. QUITTING CONSTANTINOPLE. GOLD GOES TO BERLIN. (Reed. 9 a.m.) SOFIA, Maxell 21. Fifteen German aviators quitted Constantinople, going to Germany. I Some Turkish branches of German banks have sent their gold reserve' to Berlin. EGG-LADEN DUTCH SHIP. SEIZED BY GERMANS. (Ro/;d. S-. 55 o in A AMSTERDAM, March 21. German warships seized the Dutch st iarr.tr 'Zaanstroom," laden with egss, going London wards. She was ta'cji to Zeebrugge. A BERLIN REPORT. A RUSSIAN SUCCESS. (Reed. 1.15 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 20. An official Berlin message states: Weak Russian divisions entered ' Memel and counter-measures were taken.

' iSIB JOHN FB&NCK'S . ! GENERAL &iTUAT!OM UNCHANGED. (Ilcd. 1.15 iun.) LONDON, March 20. Sir John French's report states that the general situati.cn is unchanged. There was an isolated attack at Saints Loi by 200 Germans which was easily repulsed and two-thirds ci tiie assailants were killed or wounded. ART ir i CIA L COUR AQ E. FO.RCED AT MUZZLES. (Reed. 9.H a.m.) LONDON, Mr<rch-22. A sailor en the destroyer which rammed Ul2 say:; that prisoners declared that when a previous submarin put into Kiel for repairs the crew was forced aboard Ul2 with a revolver. ANOTHER i-ftOPOSED PROTEST. AGAINST BRITAIN'S BLOCKADE. (Reed. 9.5 a.m.) WA S HINGT ON, Mare h 22. The Netherlands hag communicated with Mr Bryan informally outlining a protest to be addressed to Britain and France, describing the embargo on neutrals' commerce with Germany as an unprecedented step. The British Embassy denies that Russo-British repiesentations have been made to Japan regarding China. SUCCESS IN SOUTH AFRICA. GERMAN TERRITORY OCCUPIED. (Reed. 9.5 a.m.) CAPETOWN, March 22. An official message state's that the British have occupied Schnetuarift, Nebas, Ukamas and five other localities in the southern corner of German South-west Africa. PRISONERS AND GUNS CAPTURED (Reed. 11.25 a.m.) . PRETORIA, March 21. General Botha captured two hundred prisoners and two field guns on the 20th. . A MESSAGE FROM CAIRO. TURKS INACTIVE. (Reed. 9.5 a.m.) CAIRO, March.2l. Official: Aeroplanes show that there is little activity in the Turkish out- • posts, which are four days' march from the Canal. Locusts are causing great damage to • the cro.ps in Southern Palestine.AEROPLANE ACTrVITY. '.'••=- (Recd.,:9.5 -a.m.) LONDON, March 21. A Taube aeroplane was seen £OOO feet above Deal. The Admiralty pal ol fired at it and a dor.sn British ay.oplanes were scon in .pursuit, but the Taube was not afterwards seen. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT PRAISE FOR CANADIAN?. THEIR INDIFFERENCE TO DANGER - The Premier has received fhp following from the High Commh sicn.jr, : dated London. March 20, 4.3 J p.m.: The Canadians are very proud to be , the first troops from self-governing dominions to fight for Entgland in Europe. I was permitted to visit that part of the lines where for sour? miles they hold trend es against th. 3 enemy. We made the trip at midnight when they were und I ?,'' desultory fire and experience shewed that the "-y> nation of oversi as troops is quite s.Lc in their keeping. In the brisk fighting hi which they have engrjjed the ■ have shown dash and stead'less not. sur- ' passed by any regular !r - >p.: It is quite a '..Make to suppo- tJL-> war does not give opportune -< f fo- resource hi tin men and in the younger officers, w°. ; • 1 was a iea!\,'-> of the Dominion's t'reops in Sou-h \f r :'n In these siege- operations there id ceaseless call for yigilence, ingenuity and marksmanship from each individual soldier. The British hold the lowest lying, and wettest portion of tha whole western line, and there is the widest difference in how trenches are kept adaptable. Pioneering Canadians are accustomed to making tha best of the harsh winter conditions hero; they have proved themselves masters at contriving subterranean comfort, and they are better fed than any army in the past. The British soldier in this war has few troubles, provided he can get sleep. 1 'ln the Canadian trenches I frequent--1 ly heard happy soldiers loudi ly as their mates kept watch, quite unconscious cf the crack-of rifles ft cm the enemy's lines only two hundred yards away. When Australians come to Europe they will find Canada has set the standard high, careless of the . holiday spirit which was at times too much in evidence while the fo'/ce was in England, and which disappeared ;. completelp when the men came face to . face with the uncompromising realities of campaign.