THE DARDANELLES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15486, 13 January 1916, Page 7

THE DARDANELLES.

THE EVACUATION.

LAST DAYS AT CAPE HELLES. TUKISH ATTACK REPULSED. REPORT FROM SIR CHARLES MONRO. The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON, January 12 (1.50 a.m.). General Sir C. C. Monro reports that tho Turks attempted a heavy attack on our lines at Capo Hellcs on Friday. Our trenches were continuously 6helled, the bombardment being intense. The Turks opened a heavy musketry fire. They sprang two mines near the western "birdcage" and Fusilier Bluff.

' Later they fixed bayonets all along our front. Their officers were eccn apparently endeavouring to make their men move to the assault, but were only successful opposite "Fifth Avenuo" and Fusilier Bluff. The Staffordshire Regiment completely repulsed tho attack, a largo proportion of Turks being killed and wounded. Our casualties were five officers and 130 men killed and wounded. Our aeroplanes reported that the fire of our ships on the left flank was most accurate, and it is probable that the enemy suffered considerably. The night of the 7th-Bth was fine,* the evacuation and other operations being quietly and successfully continued. On Saturday there was a calm sea, but the weather suddenly became worse, and at eleven at night tho wind increased in force to thirty-five miles an hour. The Turkish artillery was practically silent the wholo night. Tho Turks fired red lights all along tho .line, and opened a heavy shelling until after daybreak.

The French embarkations were carried out by their Fleet.

"COMPLETE FAILURE."

GERMAN NEWSPAPERS GLOATING. (By Cable.—Prcea Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 11. Tho German newspapers commenting on the evacuation of Gallipoli, say that Mr Winston Churchill's dream of a victorious march to Constantinople is now destroyed. Tho campaign .has ended in "complete failure for proud England." Tho evacuation means the release of large Turkish forces for operations elsewhere. Now that Russia is denied access to Constantinople her interest in the -war should decline.

THROUGH RAILWAY TRAFFIC. A GERMAN ANNOUNCEMENT. ('Times" and "Sydney Sua" Service*.} LONDON, January 11. Berlin reports that railway traffic to Belgrade find Constantinople will commence on Januarv loth.

THE ZEALAND TROOPS.

7TIL AND BTH. REINFORCEMENTS JOIN MAIN BODY. THE MAORIS AT CAIRO. SAVING THE GUNS AT ANZAC, WELLINGTON, 12. The following special message, dated Cairo, January 11th, has been received from tho Official New Zealand War Correspondent:— ''Tho Seventh and Eighth Reinforcements aro joining the Main Body in their new camp. Six hundrod Maoris aro encamped at Cairo. Tho troops aro in splendid fettle. Every precaution is being talcen to securc tho Suez Canal ngainst the threatened attack.

"All the New Zealand guns wero got off Gallipolj Peninsula, a team of horses being left to gallop in the last gun on tho Sunday night. This was safely accomplished, even tho horses, which it was thought would haro to bo killed, being evacuated. Tho Officer Commanding was determined that no New Zealand would be exhibited in Constantinople, even though some, which had been used against General Cronje in the Boer .War, wero not worth saving. The Artillery aro naturally proud of this splondid feat.

"Tho gunners love their guns, especially those they brought with them, and fought through the campaign. On December 17th, when one sub-section of tho Artillery left without a builetmaivkcd howitzer, which it was then thought would have to be blown up, the limber gunner in charge broko down and cried. Two nights later this gun was got off by another section, and the gunner's delight may be imagined.'

1 ,"The successful evacuation of Cape Helles puts tho coping-stone upon an operation which is unique in military annals."

IX THE CAUCASUS.

TURKS REPULSED. - -

The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON, January 12 (3.45 a.m.). In tho Caucasus a Turkish attempt to cross tho Arkhavay was repulsed.

A previous message announced that the Russians captured a bridge and an island at Arkhavay. Arkhavay is a port on the coast of Trebizond at the mouth of tho river of the same name, close to the Russian frontier and about thirty miles south-west of Batoum.