THE DARDANELLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES.

WORK OF THE SHIPS. Tllli FLEET'S TRANSFORMATION. ARIUVAL OF THE MONITORS. London, Oct. 18. Mr-. Ashmead Bartlett, in the Daily Telegraph, describes the navy and the efficient transformation of the Dardanelles fleet when the risk of losing valuable warships became too great. It is obvious that unless we carried the Straits by a coup-de-main our fleet would be unalble to remain indefinitely off the coast, because hostile submarines were certain to come. For three weeks after the first landing the fleet was left in peace; then the trouble began. Rumours rippled down the Mediterranean from Gibraltar, Malta, Cape Matapan and Smyrna, and the mighty Queen Elizabeth left for the North Sea.

Then, after the Triumph and Majestic had been sunk, the fleet retired into sheltered harbors, protected by booms and nets. The Turks exulted and issued the famous manifesto to the Allied troopa, declaring (that the fleet had deserted them and offering to welcome them to Constantinople. But they forgot the old maxim that the Anglo-Saxon race is always surprised, but never (beaten. We were never ready, but they have a marvellous talent for improvisation.

The brains at Home worked out a scheme to recover the command of the Mediterranean, and designed craft carrying the gun 3 of battleships without their vulnerability to submarine attack. More rumours rippled down the Mediterranean of strange craft sighted making for the Levant. The first arrived in July. It was almost flush with the water, carrying a 9.2 inch gun in the two bows and a C-in gun astern.

Another smaller vessel followed, carrying two brand new 6in, guns, the Bamc as those of "Lizzie." The Turks were probably amused, after comparing her with the Queen Elizabeth, but sang a different tune when they found this baby threw 1001b of high explosives twelve miles.

The next arrival caused a senßa-tion, both for the enemy and the Allies. An amazing-looking object wobbled into Kaphalos harbor. It was apparently round-shaped, with a huge tripod across the centre of the deck. With great difficulty, and steering vilely, she entered the crowded harbor. Her like had not been seen before. Then the crew began to bathe. In fact they seemed to possess the power of walking on the Water. We set off in 'boats to investigate, and found that below the surface the sides bulged out ten feet and then curved under, forming a\platform awash. In the bulge is provision to defeat a submarine. If a torpedo strikes it will explode among a variety of substances which I must not mention, and the hull escapes. These huge monitors carry two Hin. guns and antiaircraft guns. Their speed is alow, but the development is only in its infancy.

The monitors soon settled down to work, .and the Turks and Huns realised that we were regaining the command of the sea. Later the cruisers Endymion and Theseus arrived, fearing no submarines, as they wore protected by waistbelts hung to their sides by stanchions and wire ropes.

The last big monitors aro a great success. The new fleet played an important part in the Suvla landing, covering the advance at Anzac, Suvla and Helles. The rapidity of the fleet's transformation is marvellous, giving an insight into the extent of British maritime resources and ' the navy's ability to meet a new and 'sudden situation.

SUPERSEDED. GENERAL HAMILTON RECALLED. . GENERAL MONRO TO COMMAND. Received Oct. 19, 9 p.m. London, Oct. 19. The War Office notifies that General Charles Monro has been appointed to the command at Gallipoli, and that General Sir lan Hamilton is returning to England to report. General Birdwood is now in command, pending General Monro's arrival. (General Charles Carmichael Monro, C.8., entered the army in 1879. He was made Captain in 18S9; Major, 1898; Lieutenant-Colonel, 1903; and Colonel in the same year. He was BrigadeMajor at Gibraltar during the period 1398-99, and served in the South African war, when he was mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the Queen's medal with three clasps.) PRESSURE KEPT UP. ALLIES BEING REINFORCED. A RATHER PARTI-COLORED STATEMENT. Received Oct. 19, 11.30 p.m. London, Oct. 19. The Daily Mail's correspondent at Athens says that a high military authority characterises the reports of the depletion of the Dardanelles forces, or slackening of operations in order to assist the Serbians, as purely fantastic. The Allies at Gallipoli are being reinforced and holding their positions stubbornly. The pressure is such that not a Turk can he spared to assist Bulgaria.

CONDITIONS AT CONSTANTINOPLE. A GERMAN KKPuRT. (Times and Sydney Sun Swvicis.) London, Oct. IS. A fierman wireless from Constantinople reports that the autumn equinoctials have begun with the? utmost violence at Gallipoli. If they continue, the landing of troops will be impossible. A correspondent reports that the morale of the population of Constantinople has greatly improved. All kinds of food are arriving from Bulgaria and are cheapening the prices. The Turkish pwss is preaching the conquest of Egypt and the reawaken.ing of Mussulmans in India,