The Dardanelles

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 256, 8 April 1915, Page 5

The Dardanelles

SMYRNA FORTS BOMBARDED. Athens, April 6. British warships bombarded the forts at the entrance to the Gulf of Smyrna on Sunday, Hydroplanes dropped a number of bombs.

THE DARDANELLES LEADER. The officer now commanding nava; operations in the Dardanelles, Rear-Ad-miral John Michael de Roheck, has had 38 years' service in the British Navy. He is now in his 53rd year, but throughout his long connection with the service he had not had the good fortune to previously see any war. He is an example of the steady, persevering type of officer who consistently does his duty with all his energy, and, though he has had no active service, that is not his fault. On his promotion to be Rear-Admiral in 1911 his previous commander in the destroyer service, in which he was a distinguished squadron leader, immediately suggested his pecular qualification for the post of Admiral of Patrols, in which position he was in charge of all destroyer flotillas. This post he retained until war was declared, when he immediately hoisted his flag on the Amphitrite, presumably still in charge of the patrols. According to the January navy list, the Amphitrite is still his flagship, but in all 'probability his flag has now been shifted to one of the battleships operating in the Dardanelles.