The Dardanelles.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 300, 28 May 1915, Page 5

The Dardanelles.

CAINS AND LOSSES. ■ NARRATIVE OF RECENT FIGHTING. THE STRUGGLE FOR ACHI BABA. ! HEROIC' ALLIED EFFORTS. ; THK SOLID TURKISH DEFENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. • The following are extracts from a cable from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor relating to the operations at Gallipoli: On May Otli, after the arrival of fresh troops, which included part of a territorial division, a general advame of the Allied troops took place at 11 a.m. against the Achi Baba portion. A heavy covering tiro was maintained by the ships of the Allied fleets, but owing to the high wind aeroplane observation'was extremely difficult. During the nights of May sth and May iith a considerable portion of the Australian an 1 New Zealand army corps had been transferred from Gaba Tope in order to take part in the attack. Very severe /uhting took place all day, and by nightfall the''whole Allied line had advanced from 1000 to 1500 yards. To the left the Allied advance was stopped by a strong Turkish " '-doubt, manned with machine-guns, \.-' ! i the result that after the conclusion <:■ the, day's operations the village of Kr.'iiia and the Achi Baba ridge still rcm.ibed in the enemy's possession. T ust at dusk, however, the French troops obtained possession of an important tactical point, which was thor-c-'.ghly fortified during the night to serve as a pivot for further operations. On the following day, May 7th, an attack upon the Achi Baba. position was continued. The French troops on the right of the line improved their position, and carried several Turkish trenches, while 011 the left a brigade of infantry, which, had relieved the territorial brigade, succeeded just before sunset in driving back the enemy nearly into Krithia village. The main position of Achi Baba, however, remained in Turkish hands. A FINE ADVANCE. On May Bth the attack was again resumed. After heavy artillery, machinegun, and rifle lire, the French and British troops commenced to advance at 5.30 p.m., and a fine advance in the face of very heavy lire took place. The French troops attacked the Turkish trenches with the bayonet, and the whole line, excepting 011 the extreme left, advanced steadily. This advance was carried out successfully, but the main object, namely the capture of Achi Baba, again failed. During the nig><t the Turks attempted a counter-attack, which was everywhere repulsed with heavy loss. During three days fighting against Achi Baba the Australian and New Zealand corps at Sedd-cl Balir, in spite of having sent strong reinforcements to support the main attacks, successfully held their own, and resisted all attacks of the enemy in that part. The •fighting which took place on these three days caused 3000 casualties to the British troops, of which, fortunately, a large proportion were only slight cases, and these will return quickly to their places in the ranks. It was clearly demonstrated that the Turkish defences were strongly constructed, and that to carry the position by open assault was a very difficult operation, and that the capture of Achi Baba, which had been converted into a ■ veritable fortress, must be achieved by slow methodical methods of trench warfare. The French ' forces throughout these operations had fought with magnificent courage and dash, and had suffered heavy losses. During May 9th the ground gained everywhere was consolidated, and all the progress achieved was made good. At 10.45 p.m. an attack was brilliantly carried out, and the 15th and lfith battalions of the 4th Australian Brigade of Infantry, who attacked, carried with the bayonet three lines of Turkish trenches on Sedd-el Balir and established themselves in tliein. A heavy Turkish counter-attack was launched at dawn 011 May 10th, which drove the Australians back to their original trenches. The guns or corps were in readiness, and at 5.80 a.m. opened fire on the enemy, beginning at a range of 1100 yards and coming down to 500. The execution done was terrible, and the Turks lay so thick upon the ground as to form an obstacle. REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE. During May 10th and 12th further reinforcements of French, British, and Australasian troops arrived at the Dardanelles, the men from the Australian and New Zealand mounted troops having volunteered to serve 011 foot in support of their comrades at the front. Some much needed" rest was obtained by the troops,, who had been fighting incessantly for four days. On the night of May 11 the Turks launched a determined attack on the Indian brigade, which was repulsed with heavy loss. On the night of May 12th the troops of the 29th Division, under Major General Huntcr-Wcston, undertook an attack on the extreme right of the Turkish front, which had so far proved impregnable. One brigade of infantry and artillery 011 the left and centre of the Allied line made a demonstration,, and under cover of this a double company of Ghurkas crept under the precipitins sea, dill's, and occupied a cleft in front of the Allied line, where they dug themselves in. With machineguns the Turks opened a heavy fire, but only made a half-hearted attack. On the night of May 13th the Turks made three strong attacks, and established themselves within eighty yards of the Indian brigade. However, the left of the Allied line was further advanced and straightened, and the position of the India 11 brigade was made secure. On the night of May 14th the Turks made an attack on the French troops on the' right of the Allied line, but were repulsed with loss. A territorial division further advanced from their trenches, and gained several hundred yards of ground. On .May 17th the 29tli Division again worked forward, and established themselves in another line of trenches 2!)ll yards 'in advance. This bad the, effect of rendering the position held- by the Indian brigade very much stronger than before. ' I

AUTIfJ.TTUY W'nllK. The French troops (Hi (lie vifjht of the. Allied ] i i < r. > were attacked, but. ill is was vastly repulsed. The enemy also attacked tlu» Auslralian and New Zealand corps without success. The .Allied artillery was kindled with ;;reat success, aided iiy aeroplane observations, and destroyed by direct hits a. Turkish din. howitzer <iu 11 and exploded waggon loads of heavy film ammunition. and also demolished some new Turkish trenches and gun emplacements. On this day General Itridges, commanding the, Australian Division, was

wounded mortally. His subsequent ili'iitli caused irreparable loss to his command.

On the night of May I7th the territorial division advanced its line of trenches by 500 yards. This advance was thoroughly consolidated, and a further advance was made, 011 the night of May 18th by the French troops, supported by a Royal Naval Division on the right extremity of the line, and by the 29th the territorial divisions in the centre. These advances were consolidated. On May 23rd the French troops attacked the enemy's advanced trenches, which they gallantly carried by assau.-t, hut, being heavily counter-attacked alter a severe bombardment, they with difficulty« maintained themselves. The enemy also made determined attacks upon the Indian brigade, and temporarily secured a footing in an advanced portion of the Indian trenches. A counterattack was immediately organised, and the enemy driven back', and every mail who had reached our trenches was'killed, including three German ollicers.

BRITISH WARSHIP LOST. SINKS THK TRIUMI'iI. Received May 27, 8.15 p.m. London, May 27. Official: A submarine sank the battleship Triumph oil' Gallipoli. The captain and most of the ollicers and crew were saved. The Triumph was operating in support of the Australasians. Destroyers chased the submarine until dark. A report received at Amsterdam from the Turkish headquarters states the Triumph was torpedoed and. sank in the Gulf of Saros, off Ariburna. (The Triumph, which has been most conspicuous in the Dardanelles, taking an important part in most of the activities of the, fleet, was a battleship of 11,985 tons, built in 190-1. S,he had a speed of mj knots, and carried four lOin. guns and fourteen 7.5 in. guns.)

FIERCE FIGHTING.

THE TURKS IN RETREAT.

Athens, >Mav 2(1. Mitylcne reports fierce fighting 011 the Peninsula. The Turks are retreating. English officers who landed at linbros asked tho Government to put a veto on the landing of all who presumed to be Turkish officers. Soldiers from the Smyrna garrison continue to desert. Paris, May 20. The recent Turkish attack near Uaba Tepe was carefully prepared by General von Sanders with the object of'inflicting a check on the Allies, thus raising the spirits of tile Turks and reassuring the public,' which has been profoundly, impressed by the heavy Turkish losses. General von Sanders brought up tho First Army Corps, a crack organisation, which had been reserved for the defence of Constantinople.. Their landing was greatly hampered by a bombardment from aeroplanes. Two divisions attacked the Australians and New /lealamlers on the. night of -May 18, but the Turks were completely beaten, losing two thousand killed and five thousand wounded.

At the south end of the peninsula the French were faced by strong defensive works. In the fierce bayonet and hand grenade fighting a, colonial infantryman named Laborte took the, lead. Entering a Turkish trench, be threw grenades, stopped a counterattack, and prevented the quick-firers being used, until he fell wounded. Athens, May 2G. The Balkans News Agency states that a British submarine in the Sea of Marmora on Monday sank three Turkish transports carrying troops and ammunition, and also two torpedo boats. The submarine returned safely to Tenedos.

TURKISH REINFORCEMENTS. Received 27, 11.5 p.m. Athens, May 27. Owing to heavy losses at Gallipoli, the Turks are receiving incessant reinforcements from the Caucasus.