THE DARDANELLES

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

AT CALLIPOLI. MAGNIFICENT WORK OF TROOPS. UNDER MOST DIFFICUT CONDITIONS. Received Auguat 20, 10.45 p.m. London, August 20. Reuter'sj in a review of the four months of the Gallipoli period, soys it has' beep a hard experience since the Australians and New Zealanders perched on the eyrie of Gaiba Tepe. Within the first week all hopes of a quick advance were abandoned. The Turk is not a runaway, but is the toughest fighting stock in Asia, fighting for all that makes them a Power. Nowhere have the British been called to make greater sacrifices, and nowhere have they responded with greater courage and devotion. Judged iby the gains of ground, the reward of thas magnifioent dffbrt seems small, but it has practically destroyed the flower of the Turkish first line army. The neat, glare, and dust are getting worse, and the Turks continue to shell the beaches at Oape Helles and SeddulBahr. The shells are more abundant as the weeks pass, and it is difficult to realise conditions under which the vietuailing of the Australians and New Zealanders, and Anglo-French is carried out. Wading ankle-deep in maid, sand, and acrid dust maJcss the skin smart and provokes an unquenchable thirst. It is done by the unending activity of the transport wagons and strings of bucking, screaming mules. An intermittent Turkish bombardment one day dropped seven hundred shells on the" trenches, but work proceeds busily, heedless of the shrieking shells. The most notable change of front is where a division of Kitchener's new army has been proving their worth. Tho trenches are the safest place on the peninsula.

BATTLE AT ANZAC. STRONG TURKISH DEFENSIVE. 1 London, August 19. Sir lan Hamilton reports recent heavy fighting at Anzac - with heavy casualties on both sides. The enemy's reinforcements brought to a standstill our advance from Suvla. The Press Bureau states tiiat the recent operations consisted of attacks along the southern and Anzac lines, including the fresh landing' of a strong force at .Siivla Bay. .Prisoners' statements show that the Turks received considerable reinforcements with a view to making heavy attacks, but our attacks forestalled the enemy's by twen-ty-four hours, consequently! the fighting was very severe and both sides had heaVy casualties. The landing at Suvla was well planned and carried out by tho navy, but, owing to the developing their greatest strength at Anzac, our troops from Suvla were unable to make satisfactory progress before the enemy had moved up considerable forces from the reserve, which brought to a standstill our advance. Within the past week wc have consolidated the positions won. The spirit of the troops is excellent.

A PRECARIOUS SEAT. AN AUSTRALIAN'S EXPERIMENT. Times ami Sydney Sun Services. London, August 19. Major Denton tells the story of an Australian in a trench. When a Turkish ■bomb was thrown the Australian in stantly threw a sandbag over it anil sat 011 it." The bomb exploded and the soldier was blown a few feet into the air and canie down unhurt. An olLcer indignantly rebuked the soldier, who replied, '"I didn't want tc see all you poor blighters killed." LETTERS TO THE TROOPS. London, August 10. Regarding the complaints of postal delays Reuter's Alexandria correspondent states that the Egyptian Post Office delivers the mail promptly to the base post office at Alexandria, where it is sorted into the units an;l dispatched with the minimum of delay to Gallipoli. Letters to wounded men who have returned to Alexandria are delivered as soon as their whereabouts arc traced. Mails are now expeditiously treated. KRUPP'S SHELL WORKS BUSY. Athens, August 10. There Is great activity at Krupps' worlks In Constantinople, which are turning out 2000 shells daily.