THE DARDANELLES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15489, 17 January 1916, Page 7

THE DARDANELLES.

THE EVACUATION. TURKISH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. PICTURESQUE DETAILS. (By Cable.—Ppm« Aasocifction.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 14. A Turkish communique contains a highly-coloured description of the evacuation of Capo Helles by the Allies. It says:— "The fast firo of -warships replacing the activity of the enemy's land batteries, and the presence of numerous transports at the landing places, showed that flight was imminent on th& night of December Bth, and all measures were taken to inflict greater losses this time upon the Allies. "Wo exploded mines, and sent out strong reconnoitring parties. The enemy's war vessels vigorously bombarded our advanced positions, but at three o'clock on the morning of the 9th wo advanced along the whole front. Portion of tho enemy's forces fled to the landing places under th© protection of their warships' lire, whilo others exploded automatic mines to delay our advanco. "Meanwhile tho Turkish long-range guns and mountain batteries opened fire on tho landing piers, and, regardless of the automatic mines, our troops fell upon tho rearguards. The latter were unable to escape, and offered a desperate resistance. Tho booty secured in guns, ammunition, and horses has not yet been counted." KAISER'S CONGRATULATIONS. SWORD FOR THE SULTAN. AMSTERDAM, January 14. Tho Kaiser in congratulating tho Sultan on his sreat victory at the Dardanelles, announces the gift of a sword commemorating the victory. ITALIAN COMMENT. A PERTINENT REGRET. i ~ | ('Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services.) ROME, January 14. The "Tribuna," whilo echoing the gratification shown, in the British Press at the skill rovcaled in tho retirement at the Dardanelles, says that it is a pertinent regret that this skill was not displayed until the retirement becamc necessary. The historical truth is that .England loses nearly every battle except the last. REVOLUTIONARY PLOT. VAST MOVEMENT DISCOVERED. ESPIONAGE RAMPANT. (Received January 16th. 0.0 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, January 15. The German secret police have discovered a vast revolutionary plot to overturn the Government and expel the Germans from Turkey. Numerous arrests have been made, and many Turkish officers are compromised. Tho police force has been doubled. Constantinople has been transformed into the centre of espionage, which paralyses the commercial and private life of the country.

FURTHER OFFENSIVE OPPOSED.

TURKEY IX NEED OP BEST. (Received January 16th, 11 p.m.) SALONICA. January 16. Now that Gallipoli Peninsula has boon abandoned and Constantinople is not threatened directly, tho Germans I are chagrincd to find that many influential Turks are actively opposing any offensive, arguing that Turkey is greatly in need of a rest. It is pointed out that, though considerable forces of Turks have been sent to Palestine, tho season for an attack on the Suez Canal is getting rather' late. ATROCITIES IN ARMENIA. MASSACRE OF PEASANTS. (Received January IGtli, 5.5 p.m.) LONIDON, January 14. Lord Bryco has received tho following message from a friend in Armenia, writing from Elistan on January 10th; "Refugees arriving from Mush state that as tho outcomo of an amnesty 1500 Armenians in the vilayet of Sassun, forced by famine and cold, surrendered to tho authorities at tho end of November. By order of tho--Governor of Mush, the men wcro massacred and tho women and children drowned in tho Euphrates." Tho "Westminster Gazette" points out that this message shows tho destruction of tho Armenian peasantry who fled to tho mountains. These* peoplo led a peaceful and secluded life* in tho remote valleys of Sassun. Sassun is a vilayet in Asia, Minor, . west of Lako Van. It is notorious on account of the massacre of Armenians by Kurds in 1894. Mush is a city to. tho northward of tho border of' Sassun. ANZAC MAGAZINE. PROCEEDS FOR A GOOD CAUSE. ("Times" and "Sydney Sun" gerricea.) •(Received January 15lh, 6.35 p.m.) LONDON, January 14. Captain C. E. W. Bean, officialcorrespondent -with the Australian Expeditionary Force, lias arranged with Messrs OasselL and Co. for the publication of the "Anzac Magazine," of two hundred pages. It will bo sold at half-a-crown, tho profits going to tho . Anzac Corps Red Cross Fund. Tho magazine contains a remarkable selection of drawings and sketches and poems written in the trenches at ■ Anzac. SIR THOMAS MACKENZIE. CONGRATULATED BY WAR, CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION. (By Cable.—Frees Association.—Copyright.) - (Received January 18th, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 14. The New Zealand War Contingent Association congratulated Sir Thomas [Mackenzie on (the honour conferred upon him. \ Lord Plunkot, Sir James Mills. Mr' Douglas McLean, and Mr Gilbert An- , dorson spoke of the thorough organisation of Sir, Thomas Mackenzie's officer to meet the demands of the war. The speakers remarked that until Sir Thomas Mackenzie took up .Dominion trade and -finance problems, they -were frequently misunderstood. Tributes wero also paid to Lady Mackenzie's kindnesses to wounded' Now Zealand soldiers. \' . ■ IN THE CAUCASUS. A RUSSIAN SUCCESS. The High' Commissioner reports• - IX)NTK)N, January 15 (5.5 p.m.). . In the Caucasus, north-west, of Ards- - (PArdanutch) 300 Turkish askans' and four guns were captured. IN EGtPT. CAIRO-SUEZ CANAL RAILWAYS. TAKEN OVER BY MILITARY ! AUTHORITIES. , CAIRO, January 14. The military authorities have taken orer all the Cairo, Port Said, Suez, and Ismailia trunk lines. IN PERSIA. A TURKISH REPORT. KERMANSHAH OCCUPIED. (Received January 16th. 5.5' p.m.) AMSTERDAM. January 14. A message from Constantinople says:— 'Turkish troops have entered Kermanshah." Kermanshah is the capital of the province of that name, and is situated eighty miles south-west of Hamadan and a similar distance from tho western frontier of Persia. It lies about 14-5 miles north-east of Kut-el-Amara on the Tigris. Situated on tho main caravan route between Bagdad and Teheran and almost equidistant from the latter city and from Ispahan and Tabriz, it commands roads to each of these places, and is therefore invested with considerable commercial and strategic importance. RUSSIAN ADVANCE. NEABTNG KERMANSHAH. (Received January 16th, 11 p.m.) PEntOGRAD, January 16. An official communique says "We occupied, Kangavar, on the road from Hamadan. to Kermanshah." Kangavar is a small town on the main road, half-way Hamadan and Kermanshah.