THE LANDING ESTABLISHED.

Northern Advocate, 8 May 1915, Page 5

THE LANDING ESTABLISHED.

When the sun had fully risen we cculd see the Australasians had actually established themselves on tho ridge and were trying to work their way northward along it. The fighting was so confused and occurred in such broken ground that it was difficult to follow exactly what happened on the 25th; but the covering forces' task was so splendidly carried out that it allowed the disembarkation of the remainder to proceed uninterruptedly, except for the never-ceasing sniping.

The Australasians, whose blood was up, instead of entrenching, rushed northwards and eastwards, searching for fresh enemies to bayonet. It was difficult country wherein to entrench and they therefore preferred to advance.

The Turks only had a weak force actually holding the beach. They relied on the difficult ground and their snipers to delay the advance until reinforcements came.

Some of the Australasians who pushed inland were counter-attacked and almost outflanked by the oncoming reserves and had to fall back, after suffering heavy losses.

The Turks continued to counterattack the whole afternoon, but he Australasians did not yield a foot on the main range.

Reinforcements poured up from the beach, but. tho Turks enfiladed the beach with two field guns from Gabatepe. This shrapnel fire was incessant and deadly. The warships i'or some hours vainly tried to silence the field guns. The majority of the heavy casualties during the day were from the shrapnel which swept the beaches and tho ridge where tho, Australasians were established.

Later in tho day the guns were silenced or forced to withdraw, and the cruiser, moving close inshore, plr.stered Gabatepe with a hail cf shell.

Towards dusk the attacks became more vigorous, the enemy being supported by powerful artillery inland, which the ships' guns were powerless to deal with. The pressure on the Australasians became heavier, and their line had to be contracted. General Broadwood and staff landed Pi the aTfe'rnod'ir*and devoted their energies towards securing the position so as to hold it firm until the next morning, when it was hoped to get field guns into position.