DARDANELLES BOMBARDMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 195, 27 April 1915, Page 5

DARDANELLES BOMBARDMENT.

RESUMED ON SUNDAY. THE. FORTS REPLIED. (Reed. 8.45 a.m.) ATHENS, April 26. Bombardment of the Dardanelles was vigorously resumed : on Sunday, large battleships participating. Th e foris replied. WAR CORRESPONDENT’S VIEWS. LODON, April 26. Mr. Ashmead Bartlett, representing the London press at the Dardanelles, said the trial on March 18th convinced the navy that the Narrows can he forced, but is is essential that a pawerful army should be ready to occupy Gallipoli Peninsula, otherwise to clear minefields and force its way out. Naval men are surprised at the small damage done to the forts. Though the fire completely silenced them, the landing parties found many guns intact. The warships’ fire drove the gunners in the f rts at the Narrows from their guns, to bomb-proof shelters,-but-it is improbable that many knocked out. The science of the German gunners is greatly helping the Turks, otherwise the fleet would already be before Constantinople. The chief obstacles of the future are the mines, carried by a fourknot current; torpedo tubes placed on both shores: concealed batteries, heavy howitzers and batteries of field guns, which are able to move along the hills and attack the warships from uncxpecteded spots, which inflict severe damage on the trawlers and destroyers engaged in mine-clearing. A battleship has to score a direct hit on a gun bcforce the gun is put out of action, if protected by a well-constructed earth emplacement. The expeditionary force will require many field howitzers to occupy Gallipoli, which fortunately commands the lower Asiatic shore.