COVEEIM THE LANDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15944, 15 June 1915, Page 4

COVEEIM THE LANDING

TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT.

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MANY WARSHIPS AT WORK.

FLAME-RACKED FORTS.

A graphic account of the operations of the allied warships which covered the landing of the troops »at the Dardanelles is given by Mr. C. Kcnwiek, special correspondent" of the Loudon Daily Chronicle. Writing from Rabbit Island, off the Dardanelles, on the night of Monday, April 26 ho says:— The final assault upon the outer gates of the East has begun. Yesterday mowing at dawn the most powerful fleet ever engaged in warlike operations assembled at the entrance fo Hid Strait, and began the work of hammering down the Hellespont defences. All day firing continued, and night brought no cessation of tlio bombardment. The darkness was lit lip by the alternative flushing of the search, lights and the big guns, while the roar sounded thunderously across the waters. The noise of the bombardment was heard even in the villages on the north coast of the island of Milylene, 45 miles away. I loft Oho town of Mitylono at midday yesterday in a powerful motoi'-caiquc. and having passed the night at MolyvoS (on the north const of Mitylene) was off the Dardanelles early in the forenoon of today. As we sailed up tlio strait between Tenedos and the mainland I had my first view of the bombardment. This was about mid-day, and by this time tho noise had bocome terrific. Overhead the sky n .« perfectly clear save for a heavy cloud that rested high above the entrance to the Strait. Beneath it hung a curtain of dull grey smoke.

This heavy pall of smoke was a curious sight. Ere long the ships came fully into my view. The tall masts and smoking funnels could he seen distinctly, and smoke was belching forth. The scene looked like nothing so much as a corner of Sheffield at its smokiest. After mid-day the firing grew heavier, and about half-past ono o'clock a tremendous column of smoko began to pour Up from Kum Kale. A minute later the village of Yeni Shekr near by was pouring forth smoke and flame. At half-past one o'clock I was opposite the entrance to the Dardanelles, and could sen four large ships which wore heavily encaged. Far beyond, where the Narrows lay in a garb of grey, tall columns of smoke could plainly be observed rising into the air and indicating that the work of our gunners was proving effective. A quarter of an hour later a big fire hurst out on the heights above Sodd-el-Bahr, and for ft considerable time smoke ascended in thick, dense masses from the spot.

A Fascinating Spectacle. About two o'clock I landed on this island in the Rabbit Group, and from its cliffs nearest to the Dardanelles and the entrance to' the Strait six miles away I watched tin fascinating SOectacle of the bombardment until nightfall. From this point of vantage I could see right up the Strait to the Narrows. Away in the distance several small ships could just be made out. They were evidently directing the (ire of the big units on the Kilid Bahr and Chanak forts guarding the Narrows.

' Across tho low Kum Kale ridge I could see a couple of largo ships lying in Ercnkeui Bay and firing heavily on Kilid Bahr and tho mountains beyond. Continuous Thunder. The largest warships stood at the entrance by the European side. The lend thunder of their firing up the Strait on Chanak rent the air at rapid intervals. Often the discharges followed one another at the rate of 20 in the space of a minute. Away to the left outside the entrance stretched a line of transports. About half-past two o'clock the bombardment became still more intense. The great warships sent forth shattering salvoes of sound. New fires could be seen at several points along the Asiatic, shore. The pall of smoke grew thicker, and fev a time obscured my vision up tho Strait. An English warship, evidently ono of the Lord Nelson type, and the Jeanne d'Arc, kept up a continuous cannonade. Bright flashes of flame spurted from the mouths of the guns. The roars which followed were almost deafening at times. Several shots from the French warship seemed to be directed against the batteries in and near Kum Kale, and one shell 1 saw took a huge mass of masonry and rock, out of tho cliff-side there.

Warships' Deadly Fire. For some time the bombardment of this particular spot right opposite to where I stood continued. Shells were hurled at it at the rate of about 20 a minute. When the smoke cleared it was evident that all resistance was ended there; for the ships moved from their places and directed their fire higher up the Strait. This movement of the warships enabled mo to get an excellent view of the Sedd-el-Bahr fort, which appeared to bo utterly knocked to pieces. Then the two French warships took up the game, and distant streaks of smoke told me that Kephez Point and Chanak were feeling the effects of their deadly fire. About three o'clock the atmosphere became clearer, and enabled mo to sec a number of ship 3 at work not. far from Kephez Point. A little later I could distinguish two battleships still farther in.

The Turkish Retort. This I regard as showing that all serious opposition on the shores up to the Narrows had been definitely battered down. Towards four o'clock the firing reached its maximum of intensity. The big battleships lying in Erenkeui Bay were now particularly active.

Up to this time 1 had seen no indications of a Turkish reply to the fire of the warships, and it was not until ten minute,'! part four o'clock that I first observed a great splash of water in the middle of the Strait. It was followed by three others, while small clouds of shrapnel smoke dotted the sky above the entrance.

Between 4.30 and 5.30 p.m. the warships at the entrance were particularly active. The Jeanne d'Arc, cruising far up the waterway, made a splendid picture, firing briskly as she went. An Incident. Shortly after six o'clock the Turks provided a diversion. Early in the morning— so I learn late to-night —a hostile battery was driven back from near Sedd-el-Bahr by artillery that had been landed at TapeHelles by the allies. It was this battery which I saw returning down the road towards Sedd-el-Bahr, obviously from Krithia.

Before it could open fire it .had been observed by one of our warships, which found the range' with its first shot. A great cloud of smoke and earth shot upwards. Another shell quickly followed, playing right into the midst of the Turkish gunners, who, however, stood bravely by their guns, and managed to fire thre'u shots in reply—ineffectively, as far as I could see. Then the warship poured seven shots on the spot, and a long belt of grey smoke obscured the battery, which did not again give any sign of life. Allied Troops Landed. Meanwhile, allied troops had been landed on the coasts opposite and the Peninsula. Between , 5.45 and 7 p.m. a very fierce artillery duel took place between the guns of the forces landed and the Turkish artillery posted on the heights beyond Eski Hissarlik. A great British battleship, standing well out from the shore, joined in the duel, which ended in the silencing of the Turkish batteries.

The result of the operations up to His evening appears to be that die allies ore now in complete possession of the extreme tongue of the Gallipoli Peninsula, and of the flat shores of Suvla Bay—less than ten miles from the Narrows across the peninsula. Meanwhile, good progress has been made by the fire of the warships towards the reduction of the Narrow forts.