LATE WAR NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 205, 11 May 1915, Page 3

LATE WAR NEWS.

HEROES ALL. AUSTRALASIANS AT GABA TEPE. THRILLING STORY OF MAGNIFICENT ACHEEVEMENx. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.; (Reed. 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 9. Continuing the story of the Australasians' landing- at Gaba Tepe (publish, ed on Saturday morning), Mr Ashmead Bartlett, the war correspondent, says: Throughout the night of the 26th the Turks harassed our lines, creeping up to snipe the Australians in their sheltered trenches, but never daring to press the attack, although in overwhelming, numbers. THE TURKS PAID DEARLY for their temerity. One section of New Zealanders charged with the bayonet, driving them off in disorder. It was obvious on the morning of the 27th that the Turks had not recovered from the terrible hammering they got on the 26th, for they had no stomach for another big attack. The entrenchments were now firmly established in a semi-circle along the whole foreshore, which was being used for the disembarkation of the troops, supplies, guns and ammunition. The Colonials' position was also immeasurably improved by the landing of field guns and several Indian mountain batteries.

ENEMY'S MISCALCULATIONS. The Turks evidently intended to drive the Australasians into the sea on the 26th by a great concentration of infantry and unceasing shrapnel fire, expecting to find tjhe line thinly held and th e men exhausted by their losses and exertions during the landing. They were soon disillusioned of this, the Australasians being determined to die to a man rather than surrender the ground so dearly won. Every man knew that the only hope of safety lay in victory, as it was impossible to re-embark the army once the rim of hills commanding the geach was lost. Most troops, when under fire for the first time, especially volunteers with a few months' training, keenly feel losses at the beginning, especially if they occur beore there is time to settle down, but these Colonials were the exception to the rule. Despite their heavy losses, the , surviors were as keen as ever. Th« enemy throughout tho 27th resorted to new tactics in the hope of driving the Colonials off the shore and preventing supplies and reinforcements reaching the beach. The enemy on the night of the 26th brought up many field guns, with which they opened a TREMENDOUS BOMBARDMENT on the foreshore and sea. They kept up an incessant rain of shrapnel on the trenches, but could no longer enfilade th e beach, as every at. am pi to place guns was in l mediately checked by a few well-aimed salvos from the warships. The Turkish gunners tried ■v,'- M]- c-n?» i-.o'--,-v >-,,- v/arships and the transports and the shore. It

was an amazing sight, scores of shells bursting and churning up the water like a great hailstorm. Some shells fell far out, but others made a great danger zone through which the boats and trawlers ha,d to pass. This hail of lead did no t make the slightest difference to the gallant crews of the pinnaces, boats, lighters and tugs, who took as much notice of it as if it were a tropical thunderstorm. The spectacular effct of th e bombardment wa s magnificent: the damage was practically nil. The warships throughout the 27th incessantly fired on any of the enemy's infantry attempting to advance. HYDROPLANES DID EXCELLENT WORK,

directing the fire on the guns inland. The ships' indirect firing is daily becoming mor e efficient, and ig now so afcurate that nothing can live provided the target is accurately spotted. The Turks frequently fire heavy guns from the other side of the peninsula, hoping to hole the transports, but have not yet succeeded. If a Turkish warship in the straits makes an attempt, a salvo from the Allies' ships speedily forces her to fly up the channel. THE SCENE ASHORE. The scen e ashore is one of interest and activity. One lands in an avalanche of shrapnel, and finds regiments waiting en the beach before moving up to the trenches, fatigue parties unloading boats and lighters, mule teams sndeavouring to drag field guns into position, Indian s conveying mountain guns, dressing station tending to the wounded, and telegraph and telephone units laying wires. Meanwhile, landing parties from the warships have been busy building bombproof shelters. 'Hh'ui sands of hardy New Zealanders and Australians are CONCENTRATED ON THE NARROWS shore, each engaged in some occupation, for as soon as one leaves the front trenches he is required for fatigue. Few have had more than a few hours' sleep for days past. The General's staff officers fare no better than the men. HIGH PRAISE OF THE COLONIALS. General Birdwood told Mr. Bartlett that he could not sufficiently praise the courage, endurance and soldierly qualities of the Colonials. The manner in which they hung on to their position day and night was magnificent, considering their heavy losses, the shortage of water, and the incessant shrapnel to which they Avere exposed (no cover being available), also the enemy's incessant infantry attacks. After they retired to a contracted line, they set their teeth and refused to budge a foot. These Colonials were extraordinarily good under fire, often, exposing themselves rather than take the trouble to keep under the shelter of the cliff. One of the strangest sights was te see a number „ BATHING. IN" THE «EA, with shrapnel bursting nil round them. ••••• •: <-:t will' rof.ds. du-. outs .. '■■ : township is springing o;i .■.'* >.':" troops

slowly dig themselves in and make themselves comfortable. We are holding a semi-circular position of trenches, well made and providing ample cover, but the slightest exposure is almost certain to result in a hit from a bullet. This INCESSANT SNIPING greatly puzzles the men in the trenches and is really a problem at present. Apparently, even if an advance post be thrown out, the enemy's sharpshooters remain behind and snipe at the unwary. Volunteers venture nightly in order to hunt snipers, but so far have been unable to keep them under. The cheerfulness of the men in the trenches is most marked. They feel that they have overcome the initial difficulties, They have paved the way to success. Tehy now occupy such a position, so thoroughly entrenched, that all the Turks in Thrace and Gallipoli will never turn them out.

THE SEDDUL BAHR LANDING. THE TOMMIES' TERKILE TASK. DESPERATE ASSAULTS REPULSED LONDON, May S. Reuter reports that the British landing at Seddul Bahr was of the bloodiest character. The enemy's position was particularly strong. The beaches were anked by a fort on the right und a high cliff on the left. The landing parties encountered a terrific fire, but they ran the gauntlet for a hundred yards. The survivors entrenched in the sand and remained there for the rest of the day. There were countless deeds of the utmost bravery by men bringing the wounded struggling to the water across the beach to shelter. Soon hundreds of wounded were lying at. the eastern end of Seddul Bahr and struggled up the cliff into the village, which was a jumble of broken, gaping : walls. It afforded shelter for Turkish riflemen. The British were compelled to withdraw. Meanwhile a force landed at Helles, carried wire entanglements at the point of the bayoiet and stormed a promontory. A magnificent infantry fight at the top of the plateau lasted till nightfall, when the Britishers reached an old fort ridge behind Seddul Bahr beach. The remainder of the force landed after dark. The enemy at midnight opened a terrific but harmless fire on the ships, wdiose guns all day kept down the batteries' fire. The British shattered a strong attack during the niftht on the ridge above the beach at Cane Helles. At daybreak we occupied the whole seaward edge of the plateau. The Britishers displayed the utmost coolness throughout, and overcame an awkward series of wrie fences. The infantry on the crest advanced to the ridge. The troops on the beach stormed a louff hill, joined their comrades on the ridge, and captured Seddnl Bahr. also trenches at the top of the ridge. Many of the enemy dead, who had been killed by the ships' lire, were found in ; he trenches. | Tito French landed at night and joini ed the Britishers on the ridge.