DESTROYERS ABLY ASSIST.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1915, Page 5

DESTROYERS ABLY ASSIST.

SPIES AMONG COLONIALS. MAN WHO KILLED HIS OWN OFFICERS. Received July 2, 8.30 p.m. Sydney, July 2. Capain C. W. Bean, "the official correspondent for Australia at the Dardanelles, reports that since the withdrawal of'the main naval force from the Dardanelles operations destroyers have jumped at the chance of using their guns, and are doing really fine work in supporting the land forces. London, July 2. Renter's Cairo correspondent, recounting stories of German spies in the Australian ranks at the Dardanelles, says a most disconcerting instance of treachery is related about one .of our own men enjoying the reputation of a, firstclass sniper. He used to go dally to the enemy, and suspicions were aroused. He was followed ,and was discovered sniping his own officers. The man was born in Australia of German parentage. While the troops were at Cairo several men were suspected as spies, but this particular man appears to have cleverly disarmed suspicion. The. correspondent mentions that a telephone wire at the Australian headquarters tapped the wire of the Germans, who sent a message saying: 'We are going to drive von Australian devils into the sea." The headquarters were moved owing to their being shelled. Next day the Turks concentrated their fire on the new quarters, proving that information had been conveyed by spies to the enemy. TURKS''AMMUNITION SCARCE. SUPPLY OF RIFLES FAILING. Received July 3, 1.45 a.m. ondon, July 2. The Daily Chronicle's Constantinople correspondent says that during the last four weeks two plots were discovered by the secret police, who made Kilt arrests. The arrested were either summarily sentenced to death or internment in Asia Minor. . The number of wounded 'in the city defies computation. Not only/ arc small arms and ammunition scarce, ibut the supply of rifles is failing. The second line of troops are armed with a variety of weapons, and they are truly amusing. The Home Guards at critical point* jof the railway proudly shoulder shotguns. " THE BRITISH LOSSES. TURKISH LOSSES ENORMOUS. RECENT FIGHTING DESCRIBED. London, July 1. Mr. Asquith, in the House of Commons, said the naval and military casualties at the Dardanelles to Mav 31 were: Officers: 43« killed, 1134 wounded, 02 missing; men: U!)27 killed, 23,542 wounded, 0445 missing. Paris, July 1. A French naval officer describes the Turkish losses as enormous. Masses of corpses are lying between the lines. The Turks are humiliated by the manner in which the Germans have assumed all control and suppressed discontent. London, July 1. Mr. Asquith, in the House of Commons, said that Sir lan Hamilton's Dardanelles despatch would be published in a few days. Athens, July 1. Knver Pasha has returned to Constantinople bringing 35 Turkish officers handcuffed. They are accused of participating in a mutiny against the Germans. The ringleaders were hanged. London, July 1. Renter's Dardanelles correspondent says that hand grenades and machineguns are becoming increasingly important in trench encounters. The Turks rarely await the bayonet, but cause much trouble with bombs of a cricketball type, which the British, throw back if tiny have not exploded. An Australian recently organised a bomb-throwing competition against the enemy's trenches for prizes, under elaborate rules, one disqualifying the competitor for exposing himself. Machine-guns are the Alpha and Omega of the Turkish defence. If both sides were deprived of them the campaign would be as good as won, because the Turks could not stop attacks. It is doubtful if the Turks would attack at all but for the German-served machineguns in the second line trenches, which would be turned on them if they wavered in the attack. Their front trench is practically empty unless our trench is very close, the Turks waiting in the rear trenches and passing through deep communication trenches when an attack is feared. The trenches are often cut ten feet dee]), with parapets loop-holed every yard. Signs exist that the enemy's reserves arc giving out. as prisoners include old and untrained men. The enemy's enliladiiig lire from the Asiatic shore lately has increased in intensity. 'She Turks have mounted several din. guns behind the ridges overlooking the Plain of Troy, probably from the Goebcn and Ihvslnu. The Aliies regard them in a sporting spirit, the shells providing occasions for races to dug-outs. Five hundred fell on the southern end of the peninsula in a single day, but our loss was ridiculously small. A Daily Telegraph .wrespniidont at the Dardanelles says the whole coast from Nagara to Kum Kale is a vast fortress. The banks of the Straits bristle with mills and new defences. He considers the Allies bombardment of attacks on the Asiatic positions is a mistake, as it leaves the Turks in possession of their base-: to operate against .in advan. (he Gallipoli Peninsula. ,\n Englishman who left Constanti- '. le in Ihe middle of .lone says:- "food supplies wen- 'lear. but ('here were relatively plentiful sl'u-e-i. There ivas a .-horla-.' of .-on!. !!' vas unin-r thai a e,,ndilio!i ,o' pa-h- '-.■■.!-led a g !!'■■ Tur!;-."