DARDANELLES

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9045, 17 May 1915, Page 8

DARDANELLES

DESPEBUTEJIGHTING ALLIES’ COLOSSAL PREPARATIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Received May 16, 4 p-m.) ATHENS. May IdOn Friday there was a ''desperate sis hours’ fight. . ' , , The Allies dislodged the Turks from the heights of Kritbia and entrenched themselves therein. The heavy lighting on the hills behind Kilid Uahr and Muidos continues, the Allies pushing the Turks steadily The preparations at Tenedos and Lemnos to reinforce the Allies aro described as colossal. so.caa Turks - wounded By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 10, 4 p.m.) LONDON, May 16. The “Daily Mail’s” Athens cor- ■ respondent ways that advices from Constantinople report that fifty thousand wounded from tho iJardaneuos have arrived. TERRIFIC TURKISH LOSSES His Excellency the Governor has received the following telegram from the Secretary of State for, the Colonies: In continuation of the statement made by the Prime Minister, as reported in my telegram of May Otli, the advance of our troops in the Gallipoli peninsula is being slowly, but surely, pushed forward, tho guns of the Navy continuing to give valuable help to the land forces. On tho night of May 2nd the enemy counter-attacked all along the lino. The engagement lasted till midnight, and the Turks were repulsed with very heavy losses. On the morning of May 3rd our troops again made a short advance, capturing several hundred prisoners. On tho night of tho 4th the Turks again attacked, but could make no impression upon our troops. Wo again made progress on the 6th in face of an obstinate defence. Fighting continued on tho 7th and Bth, and by tbe morning of tho 9th the enemy’s advanced trenches on tho Achi Baba ridge wore carried, but the main position, where the enemy are very strongly entrenched, remained uncaptured. Tho ground gained has been consolidated. ( Tho Australian and Now Zealand troops are strongly entrenched on Sari Bair. - On. May 6th portion of tho Australian and New Zealand Corps was sent to reinforce tho attack on. the Achi Baba position. On the night of the 9th, the 15th ■And 16th battalions, Fourth Australian Infantry Brigade, attacked the Turks on Sari Bair hill,, taking three rows of trenches with tho bayonet. The Turks counter-attacked at dawn in great force, but came under fire of the Australasian artillery, which was in readiness for them, with the result that the 'Turks suffered terrific losses, and reports state that they lay so thick on the ground that they form a.considerable obstacle. COmUAL~ADVANCE ( -(sy Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright ATHENS, May 14. The Allies in the Gaba Tope sector are advancing continually, crushing tho Turkish desperate resistance. tum Tricks B> Tolwrrnoh—Press Assentation—Copyright SYDNEY, May 15. Captain Bean mentions instances of 'Turkish trickery. Just os two . battalions had started to charge, the order came “Cease firing. ' Some, of the men ceased. Offioeis t/ucstioned the order, and inquiries brought the reply that it had been issued by headquarters because the French and Indians were getting behind the Turks, and there was a fear of hitting them. The officers knew this to bo impossible, and ordered a renewal of the attack. Meantime tho Turks had used the pauso to fire into the undefended men. The same trick was played along another part of the line. SEVERAL TURKISH, HIGH! ATTACKS By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyrlffi (Received May 16, 4 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. Reuter’s Dardanelles correspondent states that after the landing at the western end of Gallipoli, there were several Turkish night attacks, the .most important whereof was on the first of May from id.3o p.m. to dawn. It was a, wonderful starry night, with a full moon. Seaward were the oldsters of lights on the transports, and shoreward the guns and howitzers of tho British,-French, and Turks flashed the whole night long. The rifle-fire was incessant, but the deeper, boom of the guns rose over all. Star-shells, time after time, lit up the scone. The Turks fought stubbornly, and repeatedly reached the Allies' lines, but they suffered. terribly from the bayonet. Many penetrated behind tho lines ond were killed or captured. At daybreak the Turks had probably lost tbreo thousand men. The Allies' losses were slight. Fresh attacks were' made on several succeeding nights. They were less prolonged and determined, and all were ineffective. EXILED BRITISHERS tty Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 16, 4 p.m.) LONDON, May 16. Tho “Daily Telegraph’s” Athens correspondent states that thetwentyfive Britishers exiled to Gallipoli have now been transferred to Broussa, in Asia Minor. AMERICAN PERSISTENCE. (Received Mav 16, 5 p.m.) ATHENS, May 16. Router reports that, thanks to American persistence, the fifty British and French subjects deported from Gallipoli for the danger zone liavs been brought to Constantinople. goebeTlarly HIT By Telegraph—Press Association— Copy right (Received May 16, 5 p.m.) TENEDOS, May 16. The Goobcn, in attempting to shell the Australians on tho beach at Gaba Tope, was twice nearly hit by tho Lord Nelson. In a few minutes she hurriedly steamed off.