SHELLING THE FORTS IN THE NARROWS

HOT FIRE AT CLOSE RANGE

DARING RECONNAISSANCE BY SEAPLANES

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright The High Commissioner reporte as follows (London, March 9, 12.30 a.m.): ' The Admiralty announces that the operations in the Dardanelles are progressing, favoured by fine weather. ; "On Sunday four French battleships entered the Straits to cover tha direct bombardment Of the defences at the by the British battleships Agamemnon and Lord Neisoii at from 1400 to 1&00 yards (?) The Mount Dardanos battery Was silenced by the French, end Forts Rumili, -Medjidie, Tabia, and Hamidi Tibia by the British. There were explosions in both forts< ■ 'The damage to the ships was not serious, three men of the crew of the Lord Nelson being slightly wounded. "Owing to the importance of locating the concealed guns ou r seaplanes had to fly very low. One was hit twenty-eight times." A Press Association meisage adds that One of the seaplanes dived on to the sea J both officers on board were hurt. Another was shot at, and Lieutenant Dbfcglas was woundedi V (Rec. March 10, 1.3-5 a.m.) > • _ , ' London, March 01 . The majority of the Turkish troops in Smyrna have been withdrawn, and the remainder are in a pitiable condition! Thd ex-German battle-cruiser Goeben's 11-inch guns have been mounted near, Nagara (in the.Narrows). ■ _ The Black Sea bombardment is likely to interfere with Constantinople's C ° S ' From Athens it is reported that Forts Erenkeny, Elidbahr, and Namazia were oft fire,- after vigorously replying to the Allies' bombardmeiit.

TURKISH VERSION OF THE BOMBARDMENT.

(Reo. March 9, 10.50 p.m.)

London, March 9. An official message from Constantinople, via Berlin, says that the enemy's armoured cruisers "bombarded the Dardatiellfta fortresses. A French cruiser was put out of action) and an English cruiser was damaged. The ships ceased firing and withdrew. The Turkish batteries suffered no damage of any descriptioni"

RUSSIAN STEAMERS NEAR THE BOSPHORUS

ASIA MINOR TOWNS NEAR SCUTARI SHELLED,

The Bi#K Commissioner., reports. (Loridftn, March 9, 0.30 a.m.)!— Petrograd reports: The Russian Fleet on Sunday bdmbarded Zotigiildak Koxlou, and Kili, three towns on the Asiatic side Of tie Black Sea, .6. fetr iniles east of Scutari, destroying all the structures and plarit for the output arid shipment of coal. ... A terrific explosiofi dcclUTetl, and a fire followed. Four batteries were silenced, and eight steamers Slid oiie sailing Vessel were destroyed. , The Russian,casualties were three wounded.

OPERATIONS Itt THEI GULF OF SMYRNA (Reo. March 9, 8.45 p.m.) London, Match 9. Rear-Admiral. Peirse, commanding the naval operatiflhs in the Gulf of Smyrna, reports that. he swept his way through the mine-fields until he drew the fire of the subsidiary batteries, which were armed with 6-iiich and 4-inch tuns and many smaller guns which were concealed along the shore. All were silenced after an 'hour's bombardment. The Euryalns' (armoured cruiser) and One of the battleships were hit by a G-itieh shell, and the mine-sweepers were hit by shell fragments, but the casualties were, slight. Tlie operations continue.

THE DEFENCE OF CONSTANTINOPLE

GERMAN GENERAL PLACED IN COMMAND

London, Mafch 8. Renter's Sofia dOfrespflndent says the defence Of Coiistanfcm6ple has been entrusted to General : >Vdh Sanders, while Bedri Bey, tho Prefect of Police, lias bebn irtv&tfed with pofrbrs equivalent, to those Of a viceroy All the troops at AdliiinOple aiid DihiOtika have been hurried to Oallipoli. •SULTAN, REMOVES HIS COURT TO ASIA MINOR. - Ldrtdon, M&rch 8 A Cairo advice reports that fOfnief residents of C'or)f.taiitili6f>ie do flftt believe the Gertiiafi story that the Pfifts iiitfefifla to MUM to AtlHrntftfil*. The* consider that this Turks, If they-piflWss to adobt n attitude,

will retire in the direotion of Koniya, in Asia Minor, 310 miles cast of Smyrna.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" services. Constantinople, March 8. Eight million sterling ha 6 been transferred to Koniya, and ulso large sums that had been deposited in German'banks, despite the latter's resistance. Reuter reports: Abdul Hamid, the ex-Sultan, lias removed to Koniya. LAND OPERATIONS IN TURKESTAN (Rec. March 9, 8.45 p.m.) London, March 9. Later reports of fighting in the Aswhaz district show that the enemy's losses were 600 killed, including several important sheiks.

GREECE STRONG FOR INTERVENTION

EXPECTED RETURN OF M. VENEZELOS,

London, March 8. Renter's Agency states that the Greek Crown Council, with two dissentients, faviurfid immediate intervention on the side of the Entente. Greeks in London and abroad favour intervention. They believe that M, Venezelos will soon return to office and his policy.

KING MUST GIVE WAY,

(Reo. March 9, 10.50 p.m.) , <iAl London, Mareh 9. The Times in a leading article on the Greek crisis says that the only probable explanation of the crisis is that M. Venezelos shared the opinions ,and desires of the nation to join the Western Powers, and advance on Constantinople. _ "The Times's" Athens correspondent says that M, Venezelos is convinced that Greece, without risk, would acquire prestige, also the right to demahd compensations completing her national unity by sending a military aild naval force to the Dardanelles. He wished'thus to make sure that Greece would have the support qf the Entente Powers in the event of an Austro-German attack through Servia.

; ■ i Athens, March 9. M. Zftimis has declined to form a and Kirtg ConStantine has summoned M. Goiinaris, a former Minister, of Finance. Opinion is current that the King must give way to the outburst of popular Sentiment in .favour of reinstating M. Venezelos and declaring war. Violent demonstrations are taking place.

ELATION IN RUMANIA' AND BULGARIA,

™ ~-k 4, >« „* , London, March 8. Tile "Daily Mail s Sofia dorrespondent says tie Allies' success in the Dardanelles has elated Bulgarians and Rumanians.

NEW WAR BASE ESTABLISHED

ALLIES CONCENTRATING IN NORTH AFRICA

(Rec. Match 9, 10.50 p.m.) m, n I-,."" ™ London, March 9. Die Expeditionary Forces are concentrating in North Africa, ready to embark at a moment's notice. His Excellency the Governor Has received the following telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies:— "The French War Office on March 6 stated that in view of the situation in the Dardanelles the French Government, had decided to concentrate an .Expeditionary Force in Northern Afrioa."

WHAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT MEANS. ' . Auckland, March 9. . When addressing & gathering of his constituents at Waiuku to-night, the Prime Minister (Mr ; Massey) read a copy of ft'telegram.received from the Secretary of State for, the Colonies with reference to the concentration Cf French, troops in North Africa. "That meaiis." said Mr. Massey, "tfaat instead of Belgium and the Eastern front being the two Centres of operations, as 'they have been lip to the present, a French, and probably 4 British, force will operate in the Dardanelles, and a base will be established in Northern Africa. "It is a most important move," added Mr. Mftssey, "and the result will be of very great importance in the struggle. You can look for very stirring news from the new centre 'of operations in the hear future."