THE WAS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1915, Page 8

THE WAS.

DARDANELLES. DETAILS OF THE LANDING. ' GENERAL HAMILTON'S REPORT CONTINUED. RECORD OF ANXIOUS MOMENTS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, July 0. General Sir lan Hamilton's despatch describing the landing at the Dardanelles continues:— Wo made a bold effort on the night of May 2 to seize a commanding knoil 1 in front of the centre of the line, but the enemy's enfilading machine-guns were too scientifically posted. Nine hundred mini were lust without g:unm;; any advantage beyond the inlliction m! corresponding loss on the enemy. An attempt on May 4 to seize Gaba Tepe was also unsuccessful, the barbed wire being something beyond belief, but a I number of minor operations were carried out, such as taking the Turkish observing station, strengthening the entrenchments, reorganising the units and perfecting the communication with the landing places. Also a constant strain was placed on some of the best of the enemy's troops, numbering 24,000, w'io were constantly kept firing, being killed and wounded freely, as the Turkish sniper was no match for the Kangaroo shooter, oven at his own game. The assistance of the Navy, here as elsewhere, was invaluable, and Admiral Thirsby proved a trusty and powerful friend to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

Meanwhile a French regiment had disembarked at Kum Kale and captured 500 Turks, and the main French force had disembarked at Sedd ol Bahr on tiuevening of the 26th. I ordered a general advance on the !7th to a line from Hill "236 to t!ie south of a stream two miles north of Cekke Burme. This was complete! rithout opposition and relieved the growing congestion on the beaches, bolides giving us several new wells afford.

problem, which was causing much anxiety. I decided on a further advance on tlie 28th in order to make what headway was possible be fort the enemy had recovered and bqen reinforced. General Hamilton records the courageous behavior of the 80th, 87th, and 88th Brigades. The few guns landed did not give adequate artillery support, and the small amount of transport did not suffice to maintain the supplies of cartridges, so hopes of getting a footing on Achi Baba had perforce to be abandoned for the moment. Had it been possible to push in reinforcements of men and artillery munitions Krithia should have fallen on the 28th and much subsequent fighting would Have been avoided. This reinforcing would have been feasible two days later, but. the), enemy meanwhile had received proportionately greater support, so I have no reason to regret 1 did not hesitate or delay, especially as tlu( line was appreciably advanced. The bulk of the artillery was landed by M-iy 30, when the line was readjusted, the French increasing their length. The Turks delivered a series of desperate attacks at 10 o'clock in the evening before the moon had risen. Their formation consisted of three solid lines, the men in front being deprived of ammunition so as to make them rely on the bayonet. ' The officers had pistols firing Bengal lights, red to indicate where the Turkish guns were to lengthen their range while our front trenches were stormed, green to show that the main position had been carried. The Turkish method of attack was to crawl on the hands and knees until the time for the final rush.

General von Zowenstein, in an eloquent exhortative to the Turkish attackcrs, called them to make one mighty effort to fling back the Britishers into the sea, He| said: "Attack the enemy with the bayonet and utterly destroy him. We shall not retire a step, otherwise our religion, country, and nation ■will perish. Soldiers, the world is looking on, and your only hope of salvation is to bring the battle to a successful solution or gloriously to die in the attempt." The first momentum of this ponderous onslaught fell upon the riylit of the 80th Brigade at an unlucky spot, as all the officers thereabouts were killed or wounded. The Turkish bayonet charge made an ugly gap in the lino, but it was instantly filled by the sth Royal Scots Territorials, who faced to their flank and executed a brilliant bayonet charge. The rest of the British lines held their own with comparative ease, and it, was not necessary to employ the reserves. The stijjrm next broke on the FrencTt left, where the Senegalese, after several charges and counter-attacks, began to give ground. The Worcesters were sent to hold the gap. The, counter-offensive began at five o'clock in the morning, and the whole line advanced at 7.30. The British left gained 500 yards, and our centre pushed back the enemy, inflicting heavy losses, but concealed machine-guns made It necessary to withdraw to the former trenches. The net result of the operations wis the repulse of the Turks and the infliction of very heavy losses. At first we had them fairly on the run, and had ;t not been for those inventions of the devil, machine-guns and barbed wire, which suit the Turkish character ami tactics perfectly, we should not have etbpped Short of Achi Baba. As it was all the brigades rqportnd a great number of dead Turks in front of their lines. We did not interfere with the Turks burying their dead under the Red Crescent. The losses, exclusive .if the French, to May 5 were: 177 officers and 1990 men killed; 412 officers and 7807 men wounded; 13 a officers and 3580 men missing. General Hamilton pays a high tribute to Admiral de Robeck and the Navy, who risked everything to give their soldier comrades a fair run in at the

enemy. "General d'Amade," adds the General, "has given of his wide experience of war and afforded me most loyal and energetic support. Xo troops, could have acquitted themselves more creditably under the trying circumstances and under their heavy losses than the French.' 1 General Birdwood was responsible for tlio execution of the difficult and hazardous operations connected with fhe Australian and New Zealand landings, operations which were crowned with very remarkable success. This fact speaks for itself. General Hunter Weston was untiring and resourceful as ever, and more cheerful as the outlook upon occasion grew darker. He possesses special qualifications as a commander of troops in the field. Major-General W. Braithwaite is tli? best Chief of General Staff it has ever been my fortune to encounter in war. I have many other names to bring to notice which will be the subject of an early separate report. GERMAN GENERAL WOUNDED. Athens, July 6. General Liman von Sanders has been wounded at tliei Dardanelles. MEN IN ENGLAND. ■London, July 6. The Australasian picnic at Hertfield

are thriving famously and are intensely satisfied with the treatment and surroundings. Roomy wooden annexes each holding 21 beds, are being built with feverish speed to accommodate the steady stream arriving in Knglaml weekly. They will shortly accommodate 500. It is possible that the authorities will have to build further annexes. The English neighbors are prodigal in their gifts, designed to improve the men's conditions. Wealthy .Australians are equally genwous. The men with one voice, tell their friends: "We are perfectly happy and will soon bo back in the trenches. Send as many as possible to join lis." London, July G. The Australian nurses arrived during the week, and are now proceeding to the vicinity of the Dardanelles, where a base hospital is being created to receive two thousand wounded. The Australians and New Zealanders at the, Dardanelles bitterly complain that mail matter does riot reach them, but Ls lying somewhere in Alexandria. There are altogether 1100 wounded men and a hundred officers in England, distributed in a score of hospitals. Sydney, July 7°. ■ Captain Bean explains the de.lay in his early cables by the fact that he was not authorised to communicate with the press owing to the Admiralty's delay in granting him permission to accompany the force. It was due to the kindness of General Bridges, General Birdwood, and Sir lan Hamilton that he was able to land at all. With reference to the alleged atrocities, he had only heard one gase in the least substantial, and that was concerning the mutilation of a British soldier at Cape Helles.

•A PROGRESS REPORT. Wellington, Last Night. The following progress report 'lias been' issued:— . DANGEROUSLY ILL. i (In Andrew's Hospital, Malta.) Auckland Battalion. (Private L. W. (Rennett. ■ • (Private N. E. Lcnoel. and Wounded in lilne Sisters' Hospital, Malta (improving):— , Auckland Battalion.—Lieutenant W. T. 11. Year, Second-Lieutenant L. Champion, Second-Lieutenant R. W. Wcstmaeott. Wellington Battalion.—Lieutenant TS. HI. "Morrison. Canterbury Battalion.—LieutenantColonel C'. 11. J. ißrown, Lieutenant A. C. Rout. Progressing satisfactorily in Andrew's Hospital, Malta: ■ Auckland Battalion—Private E. J. Hall, Private J. J. (Harding, Private S. Milgrew, Corporal A. (B. Fordyce, Private J. E. Hodgson, Private E. H. Jolin- | stone, Private C. T. Simpson, Private A. MdKinnon, Sergeant ID. A. Vincent, Private iS. Ward, frivate W. C. Letting, Private J. Willis, Private J. Duncan, .Corporal D. o®rien, Private H. T. T. Carter, Private W. Jamieson, Private T. E. Priston, Private C. Arns, Private C, M. Bambery, Private 11. Jones. * Auckland Mounted—Trooper P. L. j Johnston, Trooper H. Eiscnlmtt, Trooper L. J. Armstrong. ■ ■ Wellington Battalion.—Private T. J. Morgan, Private 11. V. Harrison, Private A. IF. Hodson, Sergeant E. H. T. Dunne, Private S. TJ. folding, Private H. 11. Freeman, Private E. J. Suff, Private. 11. R. Atkinson, Private J. Franklin, Private IP. E. MfcNicol, Private A. West, Private G. Lockwood. Wellington (Mounted.—Trooper A. M. Huntton, Trooper D. M. Morrison. Otago Battalion.—(Private J. McTlroy. CONVALESCENT. Auckland Battalion.—Bugler C. McDonald, Private A. E. Coakley, Private F. McEwcn, Sergeant 11. L. ftforgan, Lance-Corporal J. H. Pattullo, Private Tf. Riley, Private C. D. Yorkc, Private E. D. TKilawey, Lance-Corporal J. (FT. Lawn, Corporal P. Warbrick, (Private E. (D. Whitburn, Private H. C. Tamil, Private P. MciKay. Otago. 'Battalion— Lance-Corporal F. W. Roberts, Private L. 0. Xaylor, Private W. A. Marsh, Private J. 11. May, Private P. Plato, Corporal M. McCarthy. Otago Mounted.—Trooper H. Synnott. Wellington (Battalion.—'Private A. E. Pearson, Corporal S. J. 1 8. iPoss, Private J. E. Sewell, Private J. J. Ross, Private L. H. McSiveency,, Private R. Merritt, (Private A. Henry, Private 11. A. W. Gray, Private ll.' Pedersen. PROGRESSING FAVORABLY. Otago Batalion.—Private P. H, Holdway. Private IM. O'Connor. . Otago 'Mounted. —Lance-Corporal L. L. Cliirstic, Trooper L. Guthrie, Trooper P. G. Siiiels, Trooper C. Cowan.