PREPARATIONS FOR ASSAULT ON DARDANELLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15891, 12 April 1915, Page 7

PREPARATIONS FOR ASSAULT ON DARDANELLES.

FRENCH FORCE GATHERED AT ALEXANDRIA. MINE-SWEEPING OPERATIONS CONTINUED EACH NIGHT. By Telegraph— Association—Copyright. ' (Received April 11. 8.30 p.m.) London, April 10. An. official report issued in Paris announces that the' French expeditionary force, tinder General D'Amade, has completed tho voyage to the Levant, under the best conditions. Tho force has disembarked at Alexandria, in Egypt, where it is preparing to aid the allied fleets and the British expedition. The Chronicle's correspondent reports from the island of Mitylene that the allies' warships bombarded the inner forts of the Dardanelles on the 4th and 7th inst. Fires were observed to break out in the forts. The French Admiralty states that mine-sweeping from the entrance of the Dardanelles to Chanak is continued nightly, the dragging vessels operating.under the protection of two large ships. The Turkish opposition is feeble and ineffective. A cablegram from London, published on March 10, stated that an expeditionary force was then concentrating in North Africa, and that it wis ready ta embark at a moment's notice In tho course of his address at Waiukn, on tho evoning of March 9, the Prime Minister, Mr. .Massey, read tho following telegram, which His Excellency tho Governor had received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies:—" The French War Office, on March stated that in view of the situation in the Dardanelles, the French Govei *■ <t had decided to concentrate an expeditionary force in Northern Africa." " That means," said the Pi\iv Minister, in making the announcement, " that instead of Belgium and the Ear .v, f-ont being tho only centres of operations, as they havo been up to the pr:>; 1. i French, and, probably, a British, force, will operate in the Dardanelles ..-«" * base will bo established in Northern Africa. It is a most important nv" <, nd the result will be of very great importance in the struggle. You can U1; I"- very stirring news from tho new centre of operations in the near future. .