THE STORY

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2732, 31 May 1915, Page 3

THE STORY

Of the Dardanelles Another Chapter Part Played by the French BI ELECTKIO TELEGRAPH. —COPYRIGHT. PER TRESS ASSOCIATION. (Received May 31, 9 a.m.) Paris, May 30. Tho official report of the operations in the Dardanelles states that the Allies' plan was to land a large force on a coast which was without natural cover and having as possible landing places only a few small beaches dominated by heights in the immediate rear. According to an army order found on a Turkish officer, the Turks were convinced that a landing under fire from the treuches and redoubts rising from the shore was out of the question. The British forces undertook the. principal action against the Peninsula, the French carrying out a demonstration on the Asiatic coast until tho British disembarkation had been effected. Details aro given of the landing of the French marine and Senegalese forces on a few square yards of ledge under the overhanging black mass of Kuni Kale, which was bristling with rifles and machine guns. The windmills iv the vicinity were crowded with mitrailleuses, while batteries at Intepe commanded the coast. A shell put out of action the occupants of the first boats. A captain jumped into the sea and waded ashore, the Senegalese from a string of boats following, and the ledge was instantly oc- j cupied. j '

MeanAvhlle, a warship's guns had destroyed the AvindmiTls Avith their mitrailleuses, and the enemy were driven out of the forts. Furious coun-ter-attacks daily ensued, in * which hundreds of lho enemy Avere killed, and the rest became so demoralised that they made no attempt to interfere in the Avithdrawal of the French when their brilliant demonstration was terminated.", • London, May 30. Reuters"- Athens correspondent states that it is estimated the Turkish losses at the Dardanelles total 60,000. The force holding the peninsula iioav numbers 80,000. The Turks have remained on the defensive in the Caucasus and Sinai in order to concentrate their efforts at the Dardanelles and Constantinople. Reinforcements hastily brought from Syria are arriving on the coast of the Sea of Marmora, famished after their long marches. HOW GENERAL BRIDGES DIED. (Received May 31, 10.0 a.m.) Sydney, May 31. Caiitain Beau cables that General Bridges Avas Avounded en route to the firing line. He Avas usually careless of his personal safety to the point of recklessness. He Avould stand in-full" view of the enemy's position, and often chaffed the more careful members of his staff. The first day of the fighting a man standing alongside the General Avas shot dead, and latterly ho became more careful and consented to take cover when shrapnel -Avas breaking right over him. The morning of his death he was noticed to be specially cautious iv approaching the position he Avould inspect. Acting in advance, he Avould run across the exposed position, and it Avas in making one of these runs with his staff that he ivas hit by a bullet Avhich cut tAvo large arteries in the leg- Help was instantly to hand and. he was brought to cover. But for the presence ol a doctor, he would have died iv a few seconds, so great ivas the loss ol blood.

The General's first Avords Avere: "'Don't carry me down. I don't want any of you fclloivs to run into danger." But his opposition Avas overcome.

While the party Avere returning to the base, the Turks, perhaps realising that they carried a Avounded man, did not fire upon them. Captain Beau adds that he has noticed, Avhile not always a scrupulous and humane fighter, the Turk sometimes acts very fairly and humanely. General Bridge's last words were: "Anyhow, I commanded the Australian division for nine months." Captain Beau pays tribute to General Bridges as an able and strong commander, Avholly Avithout fear. - Brigadier-General Walker, originally chief of General BirdAVood's staff, has succeeded to the command of the Australian division. (Received May 31, 10 a.m.) , . Athens, May 30. The Turks, strongly reinforced, attempted to regain their lost positions at Gaba Tepe, but were repulsed.