The Dardanelles.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 292, 19 May 1915, Page 5

The Dardanelles.

THE FIGHT FOR ACHI BABA. DIFFICULT AND SLOW TASK. MORE MEN WANTED. IHUTLSU POSITIONS IMPRKGNAISL!-; OKDKAL OF TIIK RRITISIiFRS. London, April 18. Received Mav IS, -I.IM p.m. Mr. Ashmead Ha'rllett (the war correspondent at the Dardanelles), telegraphing on the llttli states that the Liritish are not yet in possession of Aehi Baba, but they forced the Turks to disclose their strength and eluiracter of their defences. We are in a position to estimate the dilliculty of the task, and there are other oiniullv formidable positions behind Aehi Baba, all of which must be taken hid by hill and valley !>y valley.

When the fleet is past the Narrows the end has come, but victory will only be gained by more men and a continuous supply of ammunition. The Turks know our positions are impregnable, but hope we will hurl our-

selves against their entrenchments. Our successful landing administered a staggering blow to the Turks and the Hermans, who, not without reason, regarded the peninsula as impregnable. The more the positions are examined the, more apparent is the extraordinary fo-.it of arms of April 25th. The superlative merit of achievment lies with the same men who went through the dreadful ordeal and maintained their positions without reinforcements for several days. The Turks fought with extreme bravery up to the 2Stli, when they pressed our thinly held lines in close formation, hoping by sheer weight of force to make a way through the enfeebled khaki line!, but everywhere they were repulsed. Long lines of their dead lying in perfect military formation in front of our trenches reavealed the high-water mark of their futile ell'orts. Since then the enemy's ell'orts were only spasmodic, and were mainly directed against the French at Kiim Kale. The Turks attacked the French in mass formation on the night of (he 2Sth, but meltid away before rapid riiie, fire and they were routed by a fierce bayonet attack. The Turks returned to the attack on the Saturday fed'owing There was desperate lighting on the part of the French, trenches falling momentarily into their hands. Prisoners stated that the enemy was largely reinforced from Adrianople and Asia Minor. The Allies allowed the Turks to break themselves in waves of dead and wounded against our defences, and meanwhile the Allies prepared a great counter-stroke, which ended tlic first phase. Mr. Asbmead Bartlett praises the •'sp'ondid work of the Army Service Corps, which carried out its duties under the Turkish guns, which were continually shelling the landing places.

AUSTRALIA'S LEADER. GENERAL BRIDGES WOUNDED. Received May 18, 9.15 p.m. Sydney, May 18. General Sir lan Hamilton caTilos that General Bridges lias been wounded. (General Bridges was in command of the Australian troops at the Dardanelles and before war broke out he was in command of the forces in Australia. He. served in the South African war, after which lie went to Australia.) Received May 111, 2 a.m, 'Sydney, May 18. General Bridges' wound is seriuus.

TWO TOWNS DESTROYED. BAD TIMES IN CONSTANTINOPLE. Athens, May 17. A message from Dedoagatch " states that Maidos and Bulair have been destroyed. Smyrna, May 17. Fugitives report that the city is in sore straits from lack of food and ammunition. The Turks are moving troops to Miilia, on the dilaek Sea, fearing a Russian landing'. London, May 17. Mr, Martin Donohoe, writing from Athens, reports that the Turks obtained an armistice to bury the dead. While tile Allies were removing the wounded the Tiirco-Gennans treacherously fired, killing several of our men. The Allies' advance is much hampered byj entanglements. The liriti-h are ming hand grenades ell'cclivcly. The Turks on Thnrsdav stampeded a number of transport animals towards the liritisli lines, following it up with an attack, which was repulsed. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) London, -May 17.

A Times' correspondent recently at Constantinople talked with Talaat P.'y, who said there was only one political party in Turkey, and that party was desirous of victory and would make the utmost use of the exceptionally fine opportunity which Germany was affording, lie would like the people outside to know that Turkey went to war of her own will and was not urged. Since the last war she had been waiting the opportunity for revenge, and now it had come.

The military, situation was us good as tliu political one. Turkee was able to resist tin; Allies' fleets indefinitely, and it was probable the Powers would desist from tlie foolish attempts when they saw that they were losing warships ami prestige in the East. Arrivals at Athens declare that the situation in 'Constantinople is lamentable. The suburbs are short of provisions, ami wounded from the Dardanelles are constantly arriving and stagger to the mosques to pray. Many din from improper treatment. The authorities, fearing a panic, have forbidden relatives to visit the wounded. A correspondent who witnessed the Sultan's visit to a mosque said lie looked tired and feeble. His fare was pale aim his skin hung loose, and lie walked with an effort. Jl'e acknowledged with a sad smile t l !.' "bows of the people. The onlv decoration he wore was an Iron Cross.

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