THE TURKISH DEFENCES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 124, 27 May 1915, Page 7

THE TURKISH DEFENCES

GUNS CLEVERLY CONCEALED. CAIRO, 26th May. Reuters correspondent states that the Australian and Turkish trenches at Sari Bair are sometimes only thirty yards apart. In many cases the colonials catch the Turkish grenades ;\nd immediately fling them back bo that they explode in the Turkish trenches. The Australians are continually playing tricks. One filled a jam tin with cotton wool soaked in oil, set it alight, and flung it into a trench, and the Turks scattered in all directions amid the colonials' cheers. The greatest difficulty is experienced tt locating the Turkish artillery. Directly an aeroplane mounts the Turkish fire ceaees. Not a shot from a heavy gun is fired until night. It is believed the guns are run underground on rails to a given spot, a few shots are fired, and then the guns are diverted to another emplacement. The Turks never come to close quarters with the Australasians. Directly they see the bayonets they are off. The Turks are poor rifle ehote, but are fairly accurate with the machine guns, which alone are holding the colonials in check. Stories of atrocities must be accepted with reserve, as there is seldom any firsthand information on the subject. After the recent assault at Gaba Tepe the Turkish commander permitted the Brittish to bury their dead and carry off their wounded. The position at Gaba Tepe is very strong, being a mass of trenches. Tlio Queen Elizabeth continues her great work. In one case a lon§ line of camels was seen on some hills bixteen miles distant. The warship fired a single ehot, and the camels were not seen again. GERMANS EXPECT ITALIAN ACTIVITY. BERLIN, 26th May. German newspapers express the opinion that Italy will Bend 40,000 men to the Dardanelles, and that a force will be sent to Montenegro to assist in the capture of Cattaro.