THE DARDANELLES

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 177, 31 March 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

THfi DARDANELLES. CHIEFLY MINE-SWEEPING. Press Association —Copyright. (Reccl. 5.55 a.m.) ROME;, Ma,rc|h 30. Except for 24 hours’ bombardment, which commenced on the night of the 27th and to which several forts did not reply, and warships were undamaged, operations in the ' Dardanelles haVe been chiefly confined to minesweeping. A TURKISH DECREE, YON SAUNDERS GIVEN COMMAND IN THE DARDANELLES. (Reed. 9.15 a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, March 30. The Sultan has deerfeed that Von Sanders should command the forces in the Dardanelles. RIGID CENSORSHIP ENFORCED. LONDON, March 30. Rigid censorship has been established over the Dardanelles operations at the request of the British Admiral. No news will be permitted hereafter. The Admiralty has arranged for three accredited corresoondents to accompany the forces —Ashmead Bartlett representing the London papers, Lawrence the provincial, and probably Bean (Australian war correspondent) the Dominion papers. RUSSIAN BOMBARDMENT. THE BOSPHORUS FORTS. TURKISH GUNS INEFFECTIVE. (Reed. 9.15 a.m.) PETROGRAD ,March 30. Russian bombardment is forcing the Turks to divide their fortress engineers. The ships are several miles at sea and waterplanes are directing the Km fire. The forts have mostly h .guns, too near the water to y effective, but the Germans are constructing new batteries on higher ground. The Russians are specially shelling two forts on the Asiatic shore, on e a European which has large guns. : LONG-RANGE BOMBARDMENT. (Reed. 9.25 a.m.) PARIS, March 30. The Russians are bombarding the Bosphorjus at a distance of letevien miles. A BERLIN REPORT. OF KILLED AND CAPTURED. (Reed. 8.55 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 30. A German official message claims that they captured 1000 at Taurqggen and killed 2000 in the Kaasnopolauwalk district, and captured 3000. RUSSIANS’ FURHTER PROGRESS. AUSTRIAN ATTACKS REPULSED. (Reed. 8.55 a.m.) PETROGRAD, March 30. Persistent Austrian attacks between GorlltZa and Bartfleld were all repulsed, and the Russians progressed in the district, capturing many prisoners and guns. 'DUTCH STEAMER MINED. I CHEW ALL SAVED. ' LONDON, March 29. The Admiralty announces that the thitch steamer Amstels wa 3 mined, and sunk off Flamborougli. The crew were saved. Twenty-six are missing from the Aplla. ■ • * ;* v |.p

ABSOLUTE SECRECY RUSSIAN SUCCESSES GERMANS CHECKED OUR BOYS GOING TO TURKEY HEW ZEALANDERS ON THE PHILOMEL AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE TURKS A THRILLING STORY OF BRAVERY

FAILURE OF A GREAT EFFORT. PETROGRAD, March 30. A communion says the German counter offensive west of the Niemen i has everywhere stopped. The German attached enormous importance to the Niemen offensive. The 31st Division with three reserve regiments and much cavalry was • ordered to push to Lodzie at all costs. -The Germans made prodigious efforts ■ attempted to envelope the Russian right north of Lodzie by crossing a frozen lake at Doussia. A large number penetrated to the Russian rear, and were entirely annihilated. ROUMANIA AND GERMANY. LONDON, March 30. Reuter states that Germany recently the forces —Ashmead Bartlett reprepermit a German army cordis to pass en route to Turkey. Roumania refused, ATTACK ON WESTERN FRONT. TIMED FOR TO-MORROW. LONDON, March 30. Basle states that the Germans are preparing for a great attack on the western front on April Ist, the centenary of the birth of Bismarck. AUSTRIA AND ITALY. CEDING OP TERRITORY. NEW YORK, March 30. The Tribune publishes a Berne message stating that a Swiss who has recently returned from Vienna reports that the Kaiser, in the strictest incognito, visited the Emperor Franz Josef and succeeded in inducing him to cede territory to Italy to ensure her continued neutrality. The Austrian press was enjoined to absolute silence. CLOSING PUBLIC HOUSES. SHIPBUILDERS ’ PETITION. LONDON, March 30. A deputation representing the leading shipbuilders of the Kingdom urged the closing of public-houses and club areas were munitions were manufactured. They asserted that the average time worked in most yards despite day and night work on seven days-was below the normal before the war. Eighty per cent, of the loss was due to drink. In one instance, a battleship requiring immediate repairs was delayed a whole day because the rivetters were drinking. Mere curtailment would not meet the problem. Mr. Lloyd George said his own information was equally startling. The greatest of these deadly foes is the drink. Excessive drinking is seriously interfering with the output of munitions, which, enormously increased, would enable us to win. DRINK THE GREATEST FOE. LONDON, March 30. A deputation from the Shipbuilders Employees’ Federation urged Mr. Lloyd George to totally prohibit the sale of excisable liquor during the war. , Mr. Lloyd George, in reply, said he ’ had a growing conviction that nothing but root and branch methods were of the slightest avail. Drink was the greatest of our foes. He would lay the deputation’s views before the Cabinet. WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA. GENERAL BOTHA’S DIFFICULTIES. CAPETOWN, March 30. The Assembly passed the third reading of the Indemnity Bill. Germans in the Aus district dynami- ! tod the railway. ■ General Botha is facing a waterless desert and each march increases his difficulties. The enemy is well ! equipped, probably more numerous | * ban is supposed.

DASTARDLY PIRACY SINKING OP THE FALABA. TORPEDO FIRED WHILE PASSENGERS GETTING OFF. LONDON, March 30. The Falaba sighted the U3(i at noon on Sunday. The steamer was going Ft knots, and the submarine followed like a greyhound. She sent up a rocket as a signal to stop, and also a wireless message to come within hailing distance. After three quarters of an hour’s chase the submarine trained a gun on the Falaba and Captain Davis seeing no chance of escape, stopped. He was given ten minutes to launch the boats. Lifebelts were distributed. The passengers were getting into the boats in an orderly fashion when the submarine, a hundred yards away with her nose pointing amidships launched a torpedo. One boat was half-way down the davits, and full of passengers, when the davits broke, and it fell into the water. Many aboard the Falaba seeing the torpedo coming ran forward and escaped. CREW’S PERFECT DISCIPLINE. TERRIBLE SCENES. LONDON, March 20. Throughout, the crew of the Falaba behaved with perfect discipline. Tincaptain remained on the bridge and gave three blasts on the syren as tin vessel sank. Later he was picked up still grasping the ship’s papers, but he did not survive. The wireless operator stayed at his post till the end, endeavouring to eoinmunicate with Land’s End. He succeeded, and reported to the captain that two destroyers were coming to the rescue. The submarine watched the ship sinking, and circled amid the drown inr I people. The sailors on deck waved their hands, jeering. When the drowning people came up in the choppy sea they tried to grasp boats and wreckage. When the Falaba sank the subI marine submerged and disappeared, going towards Ireland. | Some of the passengers were swimming for an hour before being picked up. The torpedo struck between the third and fourth hatches, exploding a quan- | tity of ammunition. Bundles of mails ! were blown into the air. A stewardess was killed outright. Fifty people wer> standing on the poop ,and were unable to escape. Many must have been killed outright. 1 Terrible scenes followed. Many of the crew were still below. The crew got out seven boats, which were in the water before the torpedf struck and launched safely. The others were swamped or smashed against the sides and leaking badly, sank in 20 minutes, drowning 20 out of 30 occupants. Nine women were aboard the Falaba Six were saved. The others, despite entreaties, refused to get into the boats before being lowered. Ten were thus drowned. The survivors were in boats foi three hours. The fact that the Eileen Emma had been following alone enabled the 135 to be saved. The Eileen Emms picked up 310 and another trawler 25. The survivors were later transferred to a destroyer. The 110 passengers were chiefly traders, merchants, and Government officials. The passengers state that they owe their lives to the self-sacrifice of the officers and crew. An outward-bound boat may have picked up a few survivors. The total death-roll is unknown, but at present it is believed to be 100. A SURVIVOR’S STORY. (Reed. 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, March 30. A survivor states that a wireless message was sent to Lands End stating that the Falabar had been torpedoed, and that all hands had taken to the boats. The submarine then interrupted with her wireless and forbade sending more messages. THE FALABA INQUEST. MURDER AND PIRACY. (Rec. 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 30. At the Fabala inquest, the chief officer stated that submarine without any number first flew a white ensign, then the German flag. The submarines' crew were dressed in khaki. Witness was placing the last twenty in a boat when an explosion blew the boat to pieces. The coroner said the act was one of piracy and murder, and he hoped that if the submarine was captured those aboard would bo eommensnrately punished. The Aquilia’s boat containing 13 of of the crew and two passengers has been picked up. A TURKISH REPULSE. THEY FIRE THE TOWN. (Reed, noon) PETROGRAD, March 29. A communique states; We repulsed the Turks in the vicinity of Artvin. The ehemy set fire to the town.

FRENCH WAR REVIEW, CONTENDING PARTIES COMPARED (Reed. 11.15 a.m.) PARIS March 30. The French war review sums up the position to January 10th: Germany i tailed to crush France and sustained ; a severe defeat of high significance. . France established an impassable bar- . rier against the most formidable effort ; that was ever attempted. France will . make its effort in its own time, when , necessary means are ready. The German s at Ypres showed that : they Insufficiently prepared for' an of- , fensive. France is daily strengthening and the British are heavily reinforced, the number in training in En|?- : land being very large. Russia continues to draw on on its immense reser- ■ voir of recruits. Hitherto they had only used five per cent. France was superior to Germany because the lather’s wastage was greater and their losses double ours, and because Germany’s resources ware largely expended, scarcely enough left to offer a defensive. France will begin her offensive with the entirety of her forces. KHEIMS BOMBED. TWO CIVILIANS KILLED. (Roc. 1.10 p.m.) PARIS, March 30. A communique states that a German aeroplane dropped bombs on RJieiius, two civilians being killed. Our artillery compelled the Germans to evacuate Hendicourt. north-east or Saio Misiel. MR LYTTELTON’S SERMON. CIRCULATED IN GERMANY. (Reed. .110 p.m.) BERNE, March 30. Germany is circulating Mr Lyttelton’s sermon throughout neutral countries. BRAVE NEW ZEALANDERS. A THRILLING STORY. MEN OF THE PHILOMEL. SEVENTEEN TO A HUNDRED. WELLINGTON, This Day. A stirring story has come to hand egarding the officers and men of the Philomel, which was recently in action against the Turks. It is still inadvisable to mention th’e locality in which h e operations took place, but the . whole story from beginning to end is ne of bravery and resource, such as New Zealanders may well be proud of. Men were landed from the cruiser at for the purpose of discovering what was being done with a number of pack animals. There were in the landing party 17 officers and mien, and they very soon found themselves surrounded by a party of from 80 to a 100 of the enemy. They had to fight their way throu'gh this ,greatly superior force, and thi s they did, with . hie shiplS guns supporting them, the retreat being carried out with the utmost sanjj fro id under most trying conditions. Quit e a number of casualties occurred through men exposing themselves in order to assist the wounded until darkness should come to their further aid. Lieut, F. Millar, who was in command of the landing party, carried out his duties with great ccfalhess and ability. Lieut. P. Gordon was also specially mentioned for devotion to duty, and for saving a wounded man; and petty officer Hollanby for great coolness under fire, and devotion to duty. Plerhaps th e most moving incident in the whole operations relates to the wounding and rescue of A. B. John T. Moreton, who Avas left in a cutter, but subsequently endeavoured to follow his comrades ashore. He Avas wounded before reaching them and subsequently found to be missing. The landing party did not discover the fact until ' after they left the shore. It appears he had been shot Avhilst running across an open field, and Avas subsequently , located under the ship’s searchlight. . Men on the ship, under a bright light, . saw him moving once or twice* so . they knew h e Avas not dead. Immediately a volunteer search party set off • in the dark Avith a view of rescuing him, and after tAvo attempts and four hours on shore in .the locality of the enemy, they brought hint in, dangerously wounded; Avithout any further casualty. Unfortunately, he died two days later. Our men inflicted considerable loss upon the enemy, and a lesson Avas • taught them which is said to liaA r e had a very noticeable effect upon the : Turkish authorities. In confirmation of the cqolnelss of the m;en, it is noted as a remarkable fact that only tAvo rifles Avei’e lost, one being shattered by a bullet, and one Avas belonging to Moreton, avlio avr s mortally Avounded. Advice has been received in Wellington that Private John Malinck.who 1 at the outbreak of war, Avas a resi-1 dent of Pctone, has been killed in! I action. He Avas a reservist and pro-1 . ceeded Horn's, prepared to go to the 1 front. His AvidoAv resides at Petone.

“THE DAY.” AN AMERICAN CRITICISM. (Reed. 1.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 30. The “World,” conunentinjg cn the Falaba incident, denounces Germany’s decreeing deliberate slaughter at sea of defenceless non-combatant men, women and children. The “New York Herald” says it is “Tb c Day.” GERMAN WAR LOAN. SUCCESSFUL FLOTATION. (Reed. 1.10 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, March 30. Subscriptions to the Germans’ second war loan realised £453,000,000, whereof 404 million is in sums of a thousand mark s or under. Bankers contributed 307 million. TREASURY BILLS. TENDERS INVITED. LONDON, March 30. Tenders are invited for fifteen mil lions, six months treasury bills, to replace bills due on April 10th. THE AWAKENING OF GERMANY. KEEN HATRED OF ENGLAND. LONDON, March 30. A neutral correspondent discloses a marked change in the views of the German general staff, many of whom previously declared they would promptly take Paris, Calais, and Warsaw without effort. They now do not believe ir an absolute German victory, and are pondering on the probabilities of a drawn war. The Crown Prince’s private life during the war has not given satisfaction. All manner of rumours are afloat as to his failures on the battlefield and notorious allegations of looting in French homes. Joffre and General French are now objects of fear, the results of the wounded bringing stories of the bravery and tenacity of the French, and the imperturbability of the English. The Germans no longer make long-legged Highlanders the butt of cartoons. Industrial strikes, however, encourage the hope that Germany will prolong the war until she can gradually buy off one or more of her enemies, and then concentrate her efforts upon Britain. It was earlier believed that circles of mines and submarines would cut off the imports and compel Britain quickly to sue for peace. The efficiency of the blockade was not doubted. Geneva declares that the enthusiasm of the Germans is waning daily. The greater part of those called up refute leave. A BATTLE SYMPHONY. MURDEROUS MUSIC. AND THEN SILENCE. (Times and Sydney Sun Services). LONDON, March 28. An officer gives the following impression of the battle at Neuve Cbapielle: “It was night when we stood to our arms. Inky dart ness preceded the dawn. There was no sound except for the purring of the motor supply wagon churning mud on the roadside. Our men, heavy after only two hours’ sleep, stumbled cut into the roadway laden with ammunition and equipment. A sergeant walked briskly along the line tailing them to liven themselves up. “Suddenly there came th-e order to march. Nobody had breakfasted. We trudjged along a narrow road as dawn was breaking. Next w ; a went across sodden fields. A gun boomed miles away. Another answered. The business of the day had hagain. Bursts of riflefire whiz red across like a shower of rain. The noise increased. Onr shells screamed across the unending procession. The whole atmosphere quivered with shrieks and whistles. For 250 yards we were under a withering fire, men failing to the right and left. The ground wa s dotted wtih shell-pits. No cover was visible. The enemy were only 300 yards distant. “I felt a stiufj in my leg, and a sharp pain, and rolled over like a shot rabbit. After hours of waiting I was put on a stretcher, and after a swift run in a Red Cross car, reached a little French town. The music of the battle faded away, and was followed by an almost miraculous silence.”