CLOSING THE NET ROUND KRITHIA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 16 July 1915, Page 5

CLOSING THE NET ROUND KRITHIA

FRESH FIGHTING IN GALLIPOU ENEMY'S FOOD SUPPLY SYSTEM HAMPERED . (By Telegraph.—Press Aesn.—Copyright.) The Allies, after four attacks, occupied two hills covering Krithisu^ FLEET BOMBARDING • THE TURKISH FORTS. . , . . , Athens, July 14. The fleet is bombarding positions across the Gallipoli Peninsula, including Kilid Bahr and the Asiatic forts. The latter do not reply unless the warships approach close to tliem. IMPORTANT GROUND GAINED IN RECENT BATTLE): Paris, July 14. The "Marseillaise" was sung on the whole front during the successful attack oil tho Turkish positions, which has been confirmed. Tho British right, in conjunction with the French left, gained important ground, inflicting heavy losses on tho Turks and Germans. GERMAN REPAIR SHOPS- AT CONSTANTINOPLE. (Rec. July 15, 8 p.m.) Paris, July 15. The "Temps" states that the Germans have constructed an aeroplane repairing workshop at Constantinople, a dry dock at Sterna Bay, in which to assemblo submarine parts received via Bulgaria, and also a sliell factory at Chichli, almost entirely staffed by Germans. ENEMY'S SUPPLY SYSTEM IN DIFFICULTIES. ("Times" and. Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, July 14. An Athens message states that, anticipating an attack by tho Allies' submarines, the Turks havo installed defence stations on the European and Asiatic shores of the Sea of Marmora. The Turks are experiencing difficulty in revictualling their troops on tho Peninsula on account of insufficient communication, THE GERMAN HAND IN TURKEY. ! ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) , London, July 14. Tho "Cologne Gazette" unconsciously reveals the tyrannic Gorman methods of governing Turkey. There are German officials throughout the country, and gendarmes aro guarding the railways at all important points. JUNE 28 AND AFTER A DISPATCH FROM MR. ASHMEAD BAMLETT. (Rec. Ju'y 15, 9.15 p.m.) LonaonJ July 15. Mr. Ashmead Bartlett, tlio war correspondent, writes"The successful advance of our .left-wing on Juno 28 seems to have seriously alarmed, the enemy, and caused him grave anxiety for the 6afety of his right flank. Having brought up fresh troops, of which soma are raw levies from Asia,' he has been counter-attacking vigorously ever sinco, piaking most desperate efforts to recover his lost trenches. "Enver Pasha came fom Constantinople to stimulate 'he faithful to fresh exertions, and a. great banner was doistcd at Achi Baba, symbolical of his arrival. There are also dissensions in the Turkish camp, for the generals on thu spot, who had gained experience from the futility of massed counterattacks against tlio entrenched Britishers, opposed any attempts to recover tlio lost ground, arguing that it is better to await our fresh advance. But Enver Pasha insisted on a general attack along, the whole lino. Simply Faded Away. "It is reported that thirty fresh battalions were engaged on this move. Tl}o enemy was particularly severely handled on our left-wing, being caught between our field guns and howitzers, and the enfilading fire, of the destroyers. In fact, the enemy's massed advances simply faded away before our artillery, aud the accurate infantry fire. In our centre and right-wing the Turks oil occasions sapped up close, and fought on more even terms, but in not a single instance were'they able to maintain a lodgment in our trenches. "Their artillery was inactive. They have .apparently now received fresh supplies, and fired largely during the last three days, but their . fire has been without effect. The Asiatic batteries huve also been active, and our .troops had a bad time at tlio beach, and the Lancashire landing, hut we aro too well dug in to suffer except,from direct hits. How the Turk Fights. "Our officers are loud in their praises of the extreme gallantry and' indifferenco to death shown by the Turkish infantry. Superlative as ho has proved himself in defence, his method of attack is crude and wasteful. He does not possess the scientific knowledge for carrying out an attack like our infantry when supported by artillery. Tho Turk is clever at sapping, and uses bombs, of which lie possesses a large supply, hut when he attempts to carry positions at the bayonet point he -is invariably beaten with enormous loss. Before theattack ho masses several battalions in the natural' features of the ground, under cover, and hidden from view. Then a mass surges forward in irregular formation, slowly, and without apparent enthusiasm. At last our artillery, with early information of these break up the gatherings before they have a chance of leaving cover. Sometimes a few of the bravest and most determined reach our parapets, only to be ( shot down. Tho majority sputter, leaving the snipers amongst the broken ground. These cause thomost' of our casualties. ' ' _ . ■ "fiie net result of ths Turkish efforts has been the enormous number of his killed and wounded. During tho last week, all along our line, their dead have been lying in hundreds, while thousands of wounded have gono to Constantinople. From' our standpoint Enver Pasha's intervention has been a happy inspiration. His activity is possibly only. temporary. Hp has taken the opportunity of General von Sanders being wounded to try liis own meth- ! ods of driving us into the sea. '•

We are Fighting Their Whole Army,

"The Turkish recklessness in throwing away thousands of lives points to their having unlimited troops on the Peninsula. ' In fact, it would seem that we aro fighting the whole of the Turkish army, which has been withdrawn from elsewhere" an<f concentrated in Thrace and Gallipoli. From captured orders it is evident that tho Turkish commanders are worried by tho facility with which wo have taken the trenches in the last fiwo adavnees. Drastic steps have beon taken to prevent a repetition of these losses, and men have been sbviefcly forbidden to retire, officers having been ordered to shoot them if they do Any officer "refusing to shoot men will be shot himself. "Meanwhile tho Turks have constructed four now lines of trenches, of great'strength, 1 in front of our left wing, whilst men are digging all round Achi Baba and Krithia.