MORE FORTS SILENCED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 228, 5 March 1915, Page 5

MORE FORTS SILENCED.

FLEET ADVANCES TWO MILES. Received 4, 9.25 p.m. London, March 4. Renter's Athens correspondent reports that nine of the Allies' ships on Tuesday silenced the forts at Dardanus, Hamidich, and Thimenlik, and advanced two miles. Fifty-two vcsels participated.

ALLIES' LANDING FORCE ARRIVES. CANADIANS AND RFENCH COLONIALS INCLUDED. Received 4, 8.25 p.m. Athens, March 4. The first detachment of the military expedition under General Damade, including Canadians and Senegalese, has arrived off the Dardanelles. Essad Pasha is commanding a hundred thousand Turks on the isthijius at (hillipoli. [Gallipoli is on the narrow isthmus on the lK.thern side of the Dardanelles.] FLEETS MAKING HEADWAY. MINE-SWEEPING EXTENDED. GREAT EXECUTION WITH LITTLE LOSS. - Received 4, 11.10 . .m. London, March 4. The Admiralty reports that the Triumph, Ocean, and Albion on Monday entered the Dardanelles and attacked fort 8 and the batteries at Whiteclif. The fort returned the fire, as also did the field-guns and howitzers. In the evening the seaplanes reported that several new gun position had been prepared, but no guns. A force of minesweepers on Monday, covered by destroyers, swept within a m'.L; and a lialf of Cape Keplez under firo. Only six were wounded. Meanwhile four French battleships operated on Bulair, and bombarded the batteries and communications. The operations at the entrance to the straits have already resulted in the destruction of nineteen guns, ranging from six to eleven inches, and eleven smaller guns.

The Canopus, Swiftsure, and Cornwallis on Tuesday engaged forts 8 and 1). The latter was silenced. All three battleships were hit, but the only casualty was a man slightly wounded. Sweeping operations were continued at night. The attack progresses. .The Russian cruiser Askold lias joined the Allies. Sofia, March 4.

The operations in the Dardanelles are engrossing all attention, particularly as it was believed that the advent of the Germans had rendered forcing a passage impossible. It is believed that if Tehanak falls the Porte will be obliged to retire to Koniah.