TURKEY AT WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16793, 22 February 1915, Page 8

TURKEY AT WAR.

DARDANELLES BOMBARDED. ANGLO-FRENCH FLEET SILENCES FORTS By Telegraph—Prees Association—Copyright, (Received February 21. 4.20 p.m.) LONDON. February 20. The Admiralty reports that a strong Allied battleship squadron bombarded the Dardanelles on Friday and Saturday and silenced the European forts. The Press Bureau states that the bombardment of the forts at Cape Helles and Kum Kaleh was commenced at eight o'clock on Friday morning by n British fleet of battleships and battle-cruisers, accompanied by flotillas and aided by a strong French squadron, the whole under Vice-Admiral Carden. Deliberate long range lire produced considerable effect on the two forts and two others were frequently hit. but being open earthworks it was difficult to estimate the damage. The forts wore outranged and wore unable to reply. A portion of the battleship force at three o'clock in the afternoon was ordered to close- in, engaging the forts at closer range with their secondary armament. The forts on both sides of the entrance then opened fire and were engaged at moderate ranges by the Vengeance, Cornwallis, Triumph, Suffren, Gaulois and Bouvet, supported by the Inflexible and Agamemnon at long range. The forts on the European side apparently were .silenced. One ou the Asiatic side still was firing when operations were suspended owing to the failing light. Firing was renewed in the morning after an aerial reconnaissance.

FORTS DESTROYED

MANY GUNS PUT OUT OF ACTION ATHENS, February 20.

It is reported that twelve battleships and twenty torpedo boats took part in the bombardment. Forts El Hamidieh and Kum Kaleh were destroyed, a powder magazine was exploded, and many guns were put out of action.

THE TURKISH VERSION. ATHENS, February 20. A Constantinople official report states that tho outer forts were shelled. Four hundred shots were fired. The attack was unsuccessful. One soldier was wounded.

NON-MOSLEMS IN PALESTINE.

THREATENED MASSACRE AVERTED.

CAIRO, February 20.

Certain Turkish authorities in Palestine published pamphlets urging Moslems to stone non-Moslems to death. The German Ambassador at Washington was informed of the danger, and telegraphed to his colleague In Constantinople, Thanks to the American Ambassador's intervention, the Porte instructed the Jerusalem authorities to protect non-Moslems. Moreover, the disastrous defeat of the Turks at the Suez Canal has salutarily impressed the pamphleteers, who have relinquished the idea, of massacre.