The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 22, 1915. THE LOSS IN THE DARDANELLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 242, 22 March 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 22, 1915. THE LOSS IN THE DARDANELLES.

The difficult and dangerous nature of the task set the Allies in forcing the Dardanelles is forcibly brought home to us by the news cabled on Saturday afternoon that three of the battleships engaged in the operation—two of our own and one French—had been sunk by floating mines in the Narrows. In a way, were prepared for news of the kind, for that very morning came a warning frora London that the most dangerous part of the work was'beginning, and that the fleet would eome within range of the shore batteries and possibly of concealed guns and torpedo tubes. It appears from cabled accounts that the area in which the throe vessels met their doom had previously been swept clear (if mines. The enemy,- however, had sent down mines with tl»e current, which is fairly swift in the Narrows. Fortunately, the loss of life was not as great as it might have been. Practically the whole of the British crews were saved, but the casualties on the French battleship were considerable, only sixty-four being saved. The three vessels were of an old type, and for that very reason were, no doubt, employed in the hazardous enterprise. That the Admiralty anticipated losses is shown <by the fact that vessels had left England some time ago to make good any casualties that occurred. With the exception of the Oueen Elizabeth, the monster battleship that has done such terrific execution •with its 15in. guns, all the battleships are practically obsolete. It is noteuorthy that these vessels ;wc armed with howitzers, high-angle fire guns that are more suitable for reaching elevated forts than the ordinary 12in. naval gun usually carried by the battleships. The latter have a "flat" trajectory—tin- she,] <n its flight docs not rise This accounts for the firing of the Queen Elizabeth and Agamemnon at long distances. The attack in the Narrows in which the casualties were sustained must have been of a ti.rrlfic description. Two thousand shells were fired, the object being to force the channel. T! 10 Turkish batteries seemed to be better served than before, for several of our vessels were hit, one shell that exploded on the Inflexible killing forty and wounding many. Besides the three vessels sunk, at least two other vessels were damaged by the Turks' fire. The naval attack was supported bv landing parties, but with what result is not vouchsafed. This we know, the loss of the ships is not deterring the Allies in the slightest degree. Tt is regarded as but an incident—an unfortunate one. of course—in Die important plan of capturing the enemy's stronghold. \y e are J told that thero aro ample military and <

naval forces on the spot. The reduction of the great forts dominating tlie Narrows—tlo strongest point in the Dardanelles, is but a matter of time—but a short time, in our opinion. The cables we publish this morning siiow they have been very severely damaged, but the main forts are acknowledged to be the most difficult to reduce. They are built in rocky fastnesses, offering little target space, whilst the warships are necessarily exposed and therefore easy marks for the Turkish guns. Besides this advantage, the enemy ✓an unmolestedly strew the sea with the deadly mines that, we can see from the present losses, are an ever present danger. To aehie.-e their end, the Allies must take risks; they have done so all along, and thoy will, we may be sure, do so again. )t is not to be expected that they can tal:e a hitherto regarded "Impregnable" channel without serious loss. The prize— Constantinople—is worth not three but ten old vessels of the kind employed, but the recent losses will naturally redouble theii precautions, just as it will redouble their energy and determination' to achieve the end in view. There is this consolation, too, the loss of life may have been very much greater than it 'it. Boats can be replaced, Tmt trained seamen of the calibre engaged in this important naval enterprise cannot.