The Dardanelles

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 272, 27 April 1915, Page 5

The Dardanelles

NARROWS CAN BE FORCED. damage to forts only slight. GERMAN GUNK-ICRS' ASSISTANCE. Received April 20. 10 p.m. London, April 20. Mr. Aslmieail Bartlett is representing the London Press at the Dardanelles. The trial made on March 18 convinced the navy that the Narrows can ho forced, but that it was essential that a powerful army should be ready to occupy the Gallipoli Peninsula, otherwise the navy would he again obliged to clear the minefields and force a way out. Naval men are surprised at the small damage done to the forts, though the fire completely silenced them. Landing parties found many guns intact. Tlie warships' fire drove the gunners iv-to the forts at the Narrows from th\jr guns to bombproof shelters, but It is i»"proba)ile that many guns were knocked out.

The silence of the German gunners is greatly helping the Turks, otherwise the fleet would already be before Constantinople. The chief obstacles in the future are. the mines that are carried by the four-knot current, and the torpedo tubei tiiat have been placed on both shores in concealed positions. Batteries of hestvy howitzers, and batteries of field guns, which are able to move along tlie hills, attack the warships from unexpected places. They also inflict serious damage to tlie trawlers and , destroyers while mine-clearing. A battleship lias to score a direct hit on a gun before the gun is put qut of action if protected by well-constructed emplacements.

, The expeditionary force required many field howitzers in order to occupy Gallipoli, which, fortunately, commands the lower Asiatic shore.