MINE-SWEEPERS IN DARDANELLES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2421, 29 March 1915, Page 5

MINE-SWEEPERS IN DARDANELLES

DANGEROUS WORK RESUMED BIG SQUADRON OF FIRST-LINE SHIPS By Telegraph—Frees Association—Oopyiigm, Athens, March 26. The forts of Chanak, on the Asiatic side of the Dardanelles, are manned almost entirely by Germans, a thousand of whom are in the forts on both sides of the Narrows. The Allied Admirals have decided that special warships shall sweep the coastline yard by yard, owing to the danger from shore torpedo tubes. Forty-eight thousand Turks' have been concentrated on the Asiatio side of the Dardanelles, and ten thousand near Gallipoli, under German officers. 'The bad weather enabled the Turks to effect important repairs to the Dardanelles forts and replace damaged guns. ■ TWENTY-FIVE FIRST-LINE SHIPS TO BE ENGAGED. (Ilec. March 28, 3,30 p.m.) Athens, March 27. The equinoctianal gales in the Dardanelles have ceased, and mine-sweeping operations ha,ve been resumed. Twenty-five first-line vessels will participate in the coming attack in the Dardanelles. The delay is partly due to the weather, and partly pending the arrival of further vessels. DESPERATE SITUATION AT CONSTANTINOPLE ONLY A FEW DAYS' SUPPLY OF AMMUNITION. (Rec. March'2B, 3.30 p.m.) London, March 28. ' Eeuter'a Vienna correspondent states that large numbers of German officers who have returned from Constantinople report that the position in Turkey is desperate. The Army has only a few days' supply of ammunition, and the Young Turks are against everybody, and divided among themselves. VON DER GOLTZ FORESAW THE CATASTROPHE. Rome, March 27. 'A telegram from Sofia states that Field-Marshal von Der Goltz has arrived there. He admits that his mission to Turkey has ended, and that he foresaw the catastrophe of which the Turks would be the victims. Travellers arriving at Sofia report that complete anarchy prevails at Adrianople. [It was suggested some days ago that Field-Marshal von Der Goltz, with his staff, had been assassinated.] THE LAST TURKISH VISIT TO EGYPT DETAILS OF THE CASUALTIES. London, March 27, 1.50 p.m. The High Commissioner reports:— An official report from Cairo states that the British losses in the skirmish in the desert .ten miles east of Kubri on March 23 were three men killed and sixteen Wounded. "We had no officers' casualties. The enemy left fifty killed, and two hundred and fifty rounds of' three-inch gun ammunitoin. They carried away all their wounded. "An aeroplane reconnaissance shows that the Turks have retreated to Kalaat en Nakal (75 miles east of Suez) GREECE WAITING FOR BULGARIA NEW CABINET NOW INCLINED TO INTERVENTION. (Rec. March 27, 6.10 p.m.) London, March 26. The "Times's" Athens correspondent states that M. Gounaris's Cabinet is inclined to abandon the neutrality .policies as soon as Bulgaria takes initiative, thus guaranteeing Greece against any danger of attack.—("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) BULGAR FORCES CONCENTRATING NEAR IMPORTANT • POINTS. Geneva, March 26. A censored message from Bucharest states that large Bulgarian forces are concentrating near Adrianople and another army near Philippopoiis. [Adrianople is a Turkish city on the Maritza, River. IDS miles from Constantinople. Philippopoiis, the capital of Eastern HoumoHs. or Southern Bulgaria, on the Msißm, is 110 milen b.v Mil from Adriaunfiis. In 1013, i([Ut a five months' tiepe, the Sulgamiisi cspturtd AdnantpU.3

Athens, March 26. The Turks, fearing a Bulgarian onslaught, are hastily fortifying the Marikeui-Lule Burgas line. [The Thracian village of Lule Burga; is 87 miles west-north-west of Constantinople, and is the scene of the Great Turkish defeat, by the Bulgarians, in the first Balkan war.] WARLIKE SIGNS ON THE AUSTRO-ITALIAN FRONTIER SUSPICIOUS CHOLERA ZONE IN ITALIAN LINE OF ADVANCE. London, March 2". Dr. Dillon (the "Daily Telegraph's" special correspondent in the l Near East), iiua message from Rome., states that the' whole of the frontier from Lugano to Lake Garda, has been dynamited for strategical purposes. The whole of the west end of Roveroto has been cleared of inhabitants, the streets razed, and batteries placed in position. Sympathisers with Italians arc being rigorously treated. Cholera is raging north-east of Udine, where Italians will advance in the event of war. Many deaths have occurred. Although this is well known in Vienna, no measures have been taken, and tilt. Italians place a sinister construction upon this official passivity cn the part of the Austrians. "AN ITALIAN PROTEST IGNORED BY THE TURKS. Delhi, March 26. Despite a protest_by the Italian Consul at Jeddah (on the Red Sea), the Turkish authorities seized a cargo of barley intended for pilgrims.