RENEWAL OF THE BOMBARDMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 69, 22 March 1915, Page 5

RENEWAL OF THE BOMBARDMENT.

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S GUNS CAUSE TERRIFIC EXPLOSIONS. CHANAK AND KILID BAHR IN FLAMES. LONDON, March 21. A message from Tenedos says that a small crowd watched the operations on March IS —the day following the sinking of the warships—from the summit of Mount Elias. The warships steamed from their anchorage near an island and entered the straits in single file, and then spread out in semi-circles. The first, notable hit was made by the Queen Elizabeth, after an hour's bombardment. A great balloon of smoke leapt hundreds of feet in the air from the magazine at Chanak. and within the next twelve minutes four shells were dropped in the ruins. The Turkish batteries still continued to reply. Their firing was erratic, though they made many good shots. Shortly after noon a watcrplanc left the ships and flew over both shores of the straits. The Turks vainly shelled it. Two more heavy explosions at Chanak followed. FURIOUS BOMBARDMENT FROM THE NARROWS. Two ships, which had been steaming constantly up and down a two-mile stretch, then approached the Narrows, and the Turks opened a furious bombardment. Several of the shells took effect on both,ships. A shell from the Queen Elizabeth at three o'clock caused a terrific explosion at Kilid Bahr, and there was a gigantic spurt of flame and a cloud of smoke. Two batteries, apparently movable, suddenly opened fire near Kephez Bcrnr, but the Queen Elizabeth soon silenced them. At nightfall Chanak was in flames, and the warships were still in the straits. Another message from Tenedos says that observers on Mount Eliaa saw a terrific explosion and immense flames at both Chanak and Kilid Bahr, and both places were afire ill several quarters. The Allied squadrons re-entered the straits at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday. The bombardment of tbe Turkish forts is proceeding. LANDING PARTIES FIRED ON BT ENTRENCHED TURKS. When landing-parties oi the naval division went ashore in tlie Dardanelles to complete the work of demolition they were fired upon by strongly-entrenched Turks, whom the aeroplanes had failed to discover. Nineteen naval men were thus killed, and a number were wounded. The Turks later were driven out. The Admiralty announces that the casualties among the officers of the Irresistible in the Dardanelles operations were three killed, one missing— believed to be dead —and one severely wounded.