HEAVY ODDS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 124, 27 May 1915, Page 8

HEAVY ODDS

IN THE DARDANELLES ALLIES' GREAT ACHIEVEMENT AUSTRALASIAN CASUALTIES. IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT'S MESSAGE. His Excellency the Governor has received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies the following official report (in code) of the fighting in the Dardanelles, which he has foi-warded on to the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) :—: — " 25th May. The following is for publication regarding the operations in the Dardanelles :—: — STRONGHOLD STILL UNCAPTURED. "On 6th May, after the arrival of fresh trpops, which included part of a Territorial division, a general advance of the Allied troops took place at 11 a.m. against the Achi Baba portion. A. heavy covering fire was maintained by ships of the Allied fleets, but, owing to high wind that was blowing, aeroplane observation wa-s extremely difficult. During the night of sth-6th May a considerable portion of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps had been transferred to Kapa Tepe in order to take part in attack. Very severe fighting took place all day, and by nightfall the whole Allied line had been advanced from 1000 to 1500 yards. On the left the allied advance was stopped by a strong Turkish redoubt, manned with machine guns, with the result that after the conclusion of the day's operations the village of Krithia and the Achi Baba ridge still remained in the enemy's possession. Just at dusk, however, French troops obtained possession of an important tactical point, which was thoroughly fortified "during the night to serve as a pivot for the further operations on the following day. FRENCH BAYdNET ATTACK. On 7th May the attack upon the Achi Baba position was continued. French troops on the . right of line improved their position and carried several Turkish trenches, while, on the left, a brigade of infantry which had relieved the territorial brigade succeeded just before sunset in driving back the enemy nearly into Krithia village. The main position of Achi Baba, however, remained in Turkish hands. On Bth May the attack was again resumed after heavy artillery, machine gun, and rifle* fire. French troops and British troops commenced to advance at 5.30 p.m., and a fine advance in the face of very heavy fire took place. French troops attacked the Turkish trenches with the bayonet, and the whole line, excepting on the extreme left, advanced steadily This advance was carried out successfully, but the main object, namely, the capture of Achi Baba, again failed. During the night the Turks attempted a counter-attack, which was everywhere repulsed with heavy loss. AUSTRALASIANS' GALLANTRY " During three days' fighting against Achi Baba the Australian and New Zealand corps at Sari Bair, in spite of having sent strong reinforcements to support the main attacks, successfully held their own and resisted all attacks of the enemy in that part. The fighting which took place on these three days caused 3000 casualties to British troops, of which, fortunately, a large proportion wore only slight cases, and these will return quickly to their places in. the ranks. It' wa-s clearly demonstrated that the Turkish defences were strongly constructed and that to carry the position by open assault was a' very difficult operation, arid that the capture of Achi Baba, which had been ' converted into a veritable fortress, must be achieved by slow methodical methods of trench warfare. . FRENCHMEN'S MAGNIFICENT COURAGE. The French forces throughout these operations had fought with magnificent courage and dash and had suffered heavy losses. ' During 9th May the ground gained was everywhere consolidated and all progress achieved made good. At 10.45 p.m. an attack was brilliantly carried out by the 15th and 16th Battalions of the 4th Australian Brigade of Infantry, who attacked and carried with the bayonet three lines of Turkish trenches on Sari Bair and established themselves therein. AN OBSTACLE OF DEAD. "A heavy Turkish counter-attack was launched at dawn of 10th May, which drove the Australians back to their original trenches. The guns of the corps were in readiness, and at 5.30 a.m. opened fire on the enemy, beginning at a range of 1100 yards, and .coming down to 500. The execution done was terrible, and the Turks lay so thick upon the ground as to form an obstacle. "During 10th, 11th, and 12th May further reinforcements of French, British, and Australian troops arrived at the Dardanelles, the men from the Australian and New Zealand mounted troops having volunteered to serve on foot in support of their comrades at the front. Some much-needed rest was obtained by the troops, who had been fighting incessantly for four days. TURKS' DETERMINED ATTACK. "On the night of 11th May the Turks launched a determined attack on the Indian Brigade, which was repulsed with heavy loss. On the night of 12th May troops of the 29th Division, under MajorGeneral Hunter- Weston. undertook an attack on the extreme right of the Turkish front, which had so far proved impregnable. One brigade of infantry, and the artillery on the left centre of the Allied line, made a demonstration. Under cover of this double a company of Ghurkas crept under the precipitous sea cliffs, and occupied a cleft in front of the Allied line, where they dug themselves in with their machine guns. The Turks opened heavy fire, but only made a half-hearted attack. i AT CLOSE RANGE. "On the night of 13th-14th May the Turks made three strong attacks on this advanced position, and established themselves within eighty yards of the Indian Brigade. On the night of 13th and 14th May, however, the left of the Allied line was further advanced and straightened, and the position of the Indian Brigade made secure. On the night of 14th- 15th May the Turks made an attack on French troops on the right of the Allied line, but were repulsed with loss. The Territorial division further advanced their trenches, and gained several hundred yards of ground. NEW ZEAiLANDERS HOLD THEIR OWN. "On 17fch May the 29th Division again worked forward and established themselves in another line of trenches 200 yards in advance. This had the effect of rendering the position held by the Ir.dian Brigade very much stronger than it was before. French troops on the right of the Allied line were attacked, but this was easily repulsed. The enemy also attacked the Australian and New Zealand Corps without success. The

success, aided by aeroplane observations, and destroyed by direct hits a Turkish 6-inch howitzer gun, exploded wagon loads of heavy gun ammunition, and also demolished ' some new Turkish trenches and gun emplacements. This day General Bridges, commanding the Australian Division, was wounded mortally. His subsequent death caused irreparable loss to his command. THE ADVANCE CONSOLIDATED. "On the night of 17th May the Territorial Division advanced its line of trenches by 500 yards. This advance was thoroughly consolidated. At midnight on the night of 18th May-19th May a determined attack was carried out against the Australian and New Zealand Corps by two Turkish Di\isions under the command of Liman Pasha, who had evidently newly_ arrived on the peninsula from Constantinople. This attack was repeated at 3 a.m., supported by artillery fire from guns of all natures. TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER. The enemy suffered very heavy losses in these attacks, which were renewed at intervals during 18th May. More than 2000 Turkish dead, remained in front of the Australian and New Zealand trenches, and their wounded are estimated at 5000 more. The Australian (? Australasian) losses did not exceed 500 in all. An aeroplane of the Allies did good work, and successfully dropped bombs on the Turkish reinforcements landed at Ali Bashi Liman, causing damage, loss of life, and confusion. A further advance was made on the night of 18th May by the French troops, supported by the Royal Naval Division on the right extremity of the line and by the 29th and Territorial Divisions in the centre. These advances were consolidated. AN ARMISTICE WANTED. "During the night of 19th May a continuous fire was maintained against the lines of the Australians and New Zealand Corps, as if an attack were imminent, but no attack was delivered. Many of the Turkish shells this day were picked up and found to be fitted with driving bands of lead. At 6.15 p.m. on 2lst May a large number of Turks, followed by unarmed men carrying red crescent flags, appeared in front of the Australian and New Zealand Corps, applying for permission to bury their dead. As the hour was late and the Turkish trenches were seen to be full of men, two deep and shoulder to shoulder as far as the eye could reach, permission was refused. Thereupon the Turks launched a fierce attack, which was repulsed with heavy loss. ANOTHER FRENCH ATTACK. " On 23rd May French troops attacked the enemy's advanced trenches, which they gallantly carried by assault, but being heavily counter-attacked after a severe bombardment they with difficulty maintained themselves. The, enemy also made determined attacks upon the Indian Brigade, and temporarily ' secured a footing in an advanced portion of the Indian _ trenches. A counter-attack was immediately organised, the enemy was driven back, and every man who had reached our trenches was killed, including three German officers. A temporary suspension of hostilities occurred on 24th May in front of the Australian and New Zealand corps to allow the Turks to bury their dead, and 3000 Turks were buried. These had been all killed in the attacks made from 18th May to 20th May. There was no suspension of hostilities on the southern front, where the French and British troops, with only a slight loss, made an appreciable advance."