THE DARDANELLES

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

AT SARI BAIR. AUSTRALIANS IN THE TRENCHES. Received August 28, 5.5 p.m. London, August 27. iteuters Dardanelles correspondent states that the night march of the Australians and New Zealanders to Sari • lr wll U ivo in the '''story of the cain- • TJ 1 ® S To,m< l gained in the attack is the Lonesome Pine plateau, right in front of the fortress. The object was to prevent the Turks reinforcing else* where, and involved some of the severest fighting in the campaign. The Australian storming party charged over sixty yards of open ground; none of them wavered, and none tried to get back. Deed 9of bravery were so numerous that is is impossible to recount them. The men climbed the trenches, and searched for spots where ihey could pull up the heavy squared logs forming roof poles, in the face of a terrific machine-gun fire. The Australians jnmped down ten feet into the trenches, where the Turks were Waiting with bayonets, bombs, and rifles. The Turks fought desperatelv amid piles of dead. One hundred and twenty were captured) and six hundred have been buried. AT LONESOME PINE. APPALLING SIGHTS IN THE GULLIES. Received August 23, 2.10 p.m. London, August 23. Lonesome Pine is the merest incident in the main operations wherein the Australians and New Zealanders gained elbow-room. Many thousands were taken from the crowded Anzac trenches and dug-onts, and sent to the hills forming the northern boundary. The newly occupied position has an important advantage in that there is now fresh water within the position. TCie Turks, on August 9, swarmed down from the ridges in an effort to sweep off the AustraHans, New Zealanders, and British from the hillside, but were driven back with frightful losses. We retain our footing on Rhododendron Ridge, despite the Turks' occupation of the main ridge above.

The Turks lost here, between July 31 and August 10, five thousand men, whereof 2600 were killed at Lonesome Pine. The dead lie thickly on the slopes. The Turks, being unable to bury them, throw the corpses from the crests, and they roll down the slopes, choking the gullies. The stench is appalling. Narrow strips of sand at the bottom of the glillies are piled with dead, making a horrifying sight, viewed at even a mile distant. The Turkish eight-ineher is still shelling the beaches at Anzac, but work pro ceeds smoothly. IRISHMEN'S GALLANT CHARGE. ON CHOCOLATE HILL. There was a stirring bayonet attack on August 19, on the left of the Suvla position. The Irish division which captured Chocolate Hill crept round the base of the Turkish position, and under a heavy fire reached a ridge facing the Turkish ridge. The battalion, cheering, charged with the bayonet. The Turks came out, and a desperate conflict ensued between the ridges. The Irish bayonets stabbed and flashed for several minutes and the Turks fled over the crest while the Irish stood on this top and fired down the hillside at tie fleeing enemy. ----- -

THE SUVLA LANDING, HELLENIC LEGION CO-OPERATES. Received August 29, 3.30 p.m. Paris, August 28. Le Gaulois states that the Hellenic legion, including many Cretan and Greek volunteers from France, co-operated in the Suvla landing. They made a feint at another landing place, and the Turka, completely tricked, pushed troops to the spot. There was a lively combat, in which the legion lost thirty-two men. LITTLE ADVANTAGE. A TURKISH STATEMENT. Received August 29, 2.10 p.m. Berlin, August 28. A Turkish wireless says that the British on August 21, made a violent attempt to improve their position at Salt Lake, but were foiled, despite a terrific naval gunfire and several well-sußtained infantry charges. The ground hitherto gained is of little value, if an attack on the Dardanelles forts was the objective, since every advantage of position remained to the Turks. IRRITATION IN STAMBOUL. GENERAL ANXIETY OF THE POPULACE. Received August 29, 4.10 p,m . Athens, August 28. The population of Stamboul is irritated at the sight of thousands of wounded arriving day and night. Many officers and public functionaries openly express views against the Germans, and do not conceal their conviction that the moment when they will be driven out is approaching. Prices of provisions are exorbitant, owing to the suspension of coastal trade through fear of the Allies' submarines. A TURKISH REPORT. Received August 28, 5Ji p.m. Copenhagen, August 27. A Turkish communique states: The enemy is keeping up a strong artillery fire on Anafarta, Ariburriu, and Seddulj Balir, wasting great quantities of am-1 munition. Weak forces on 'Wednesday attempted to break our left wing. AN UNLIKELY STORY. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received August 28, 7.25 p.m. London, August 28. According to an Athens paper, an English officer, wearing a Turkish uniform, and speaking the national language, recently appeared at Pera, where he purchased provisions to the value of £2OO and had tliem taken to Galata, put them on a boat, and at the point of a pistol made the boatman go to an island where ,a British submarine was waiting for him*