OPERATIONS AT GALLIPOLI.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 28 May 1915, Page 5

OPERATIONS AT GALLIPOLI.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S . DESPATCH.

SOME INTERESTING EXTRACTS.

THE ATTACK ON ACHI BABA

ALLIES WORK THEIR WAY

FORWARD

WELLINGTON, May 27. The following are extracts from a cable from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor relating to the operations at Gallilooi:— ' On May 6th, after the arrival of fresh troops, 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 the ships of the Allied fleets, but owing to the high wind aeroplane observation was extremely difficult. During the nights of May sth and May 6th a considerable portion of the Australian and New Zealand army corps had been transferred1 from Gaba Tepe in order to take part' in the attack. Very severe fighting took place all day, "and by nightfall the whole Allied line had advanced from 1000 to 1500 yards. To the left the Allied advance was stopped by a strong Turkish redoubt 3 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 tho enemy's possession. Just at dusk, however, the French troops obtained possession of an important tactical point, which was thorcughhly fortified during the night to serve as a pivot i for further operations. On the following day, May 7th, an attack upon the Achi Baba position was continued. The French trbops on the right of the line improved their position, and carried several Turkish trenches, while on the left a brigade of infantry, w-hich 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 hards.

On May Bth the attack was again resumed. After heavy artillery, ma-chine-gun, and rifle fire, the French and British troops commenced to advance at 5.30 p.m., and

A FINE ADVANCE

in the face of very heavy fire took place. The 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. During three days' fighting Against Achi Baba the Australian anw New Zealand corps at Sedd-el-Bahr, in spite of having sent strong reinforcements to support the main attacks, successfully held their own, and resisted all attacks of the enemy iv that part. The fighting which took place on these three days caused 3000 casualties to the British troops, of which, fortunately, a large proportion were only slight cases, and these will return quickly to their places in the ranks.

It was clearly demonstrated that the Turkish defences were strongly constructed, and that to carry the position by open assault was

A VERY DIFFICULT OPERATION, and that the capture of Achi Baba, wh:ch had been converted into a verit? able fortress, must be achieved by slow methodical methods of trench warfare. The French forces throughout these operations had fought with magnificent courage and dash, and had suffered heavy losses.

During May 9th the ground gained everywhere was consolidated, and all the progress achieved was made good.

A'' ■ - - > -At 10,45 jmb. an attack was brilliantly carried out, and the 15th and 16th •battalions of the 4th Australian Brigade of Infantry, who attacked, carjried wath the bayonet three lines of lurkish trenches on Sedd-el-Bahr and ■established themselves in them A heavy Turkish counter-attack ' was launched at dawn on May 10th, which drove the Australians back to their original trenches. The guns of the corps were m readiness, and at 5.30 a.m. opened fire on the enemy, beginning at a range of 1100 yards and commg down to 500. The execution done was terrible, and the Turks lay so thick upon the ground as to form j an obstacle.

During May 10th and 12th further reinforcements of French, British,'and Australasian troops arrived at the Dardanelles, the men from the Australian and New Zealand mounted troops having volunteered to serve on toot :n support of their comrades at the front. Some much needed rest was obtained by the troops, who had been fighting incessantly for foor On the night of May 11 the Turks launched

A DETERML^ED ATTACK

on the Indian brigade, which was repulsed with heavy loss. On the night of May 12fch the iroons of the 29th J>ivis:on, under Major-General HunterVVeston, undertook an attack on the 6 u-rt m? right of the Turkish front, which had so far proved impregnable. One brigade of infantry and artillery on the left and centre of the Allied line made a demonstration, and under cover of this a double comnan-7 of Ghurkas crept under the precipitous sea cliffs and occupied a cleft in front ot the Allied line, where they due themselves in. With machine-guns the Turks opened a heavy fire, but ■ only made a half-hearted attack On the night of May 13th the Turks 'made three strong attacks, and established themselves within eighty, yards of tho Z? d:an lv bri£ade. However; the left of the Allied lme was further advanced and straightened, and the position of the Indian brigade was made secure. 0"- the night of:.May i^th^the Turks made an attack on the French troops on the right of the Allied line, but were repulsed with loss. A territorial division further advanced from their trenches, and gained several hundred £of? S r? f .Sround- On May 17th the 29th Division again worked forward, and established themselves in another hue of trenches 200 yards in advance. Ihis had the effect of rendering the position held by the Indian brigade veiy much stronger than before. The 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 Allied artillery was handled with great success, aided by aeroplane observations, and destroyed by. direct- hits a lurkish 6in howitzer gun and exploded waggon loads of heavy gun ammunition, and also demolished some new Turkish trenches and gun emplacements.

On this day General Bridges, commanding the Australian Division, was wounded mortally. His subsequent death caused irreparable loss to his command.

On the night of May 17th the territorial division advanced its line of trenches by 500 yards. This advance was thoroughly consolidated, and a further advance was made on the nignt of May 18th by the French troops, supported by a Royal Naval Division on the right extremity of the line, _.and by the 29th and territorial divisions m the centre. These advances were consolidated. On May 23rd the 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, and the enemy driven back and every man who had reached our trenches was. killed, including three German officers.