GALLIPOLI CONFLICT

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9091, 9 July 1915, Page 5

GALLIPOLI CONFLICT

MOST VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT YET EXPERIENCED TURKISH ATTACKS FAIL, WITH HEAVY CASUALTIES'. Sy Telegrapn.—Uress Association. —Copyright. (Received July 8, 3,30 p.m.) LONDON, July 8. General Sir lan Hamilton reports that the enemy m the northern section began a hoavv bombardment at four o’cvock in the morning on July the fourth. It died - uway two hours later, without inflicting much damage. “About twenty 11.2 shells were dropped from Turkish battleship© in thr •Straits in the southern section. * % xt* “The Turks kept up a heavy musketry fir© throughout the night *of the 3rd and 4th, but did not leave the trenches. Their batteries at four o’clock in the morning started the most violent bombardment yet experienced, throwing five thousand sheila. “This was preliminary to a general attack, on our front, with special effort at certain, points. “The principal effort was at the junction of the Naval Division with that of the French. Here the Turks drove back our advanced troops and assaulted a portion of the line held.by the Naval Division. “Fifty Turks gained a footing in our trench. The naval men held on, and our supports counter-attacked and. hurled the enemy out of the trench. “Another attack on the right was practically wiped out by our machine gun and rifle fire. “On our left the Turks massed in a nullah to the north-east of our newly captured trenches, and attempted several attacks, but failed owing to the steadiness of our troops and the effective artillery support.“The enemy's bombardment died down at eleven o’clock, though it was resumed at intervals. “Not only was the result a complete failure, but our losses were negligible. No impression was made on our line. The enemy added largely to his recent heavy casualties. _ # “It is plain from the disjointed nature of his attacks that he is finding it difficult to drive the infantry to face our fire.” TURKISH ATTACK THE MOST IMPORTANT YET MADE LONDON, July 7. At the Dardanelles the Turkish general attack on Xionday last was tha most important made yet. At 4 o’clock in the morning the Turks opened an extremely heavy artillery fir© against our first line, and was followed by attempts to make several infantry attacks, none of which reached our trenches. Our artillery decimated the enemy, and rifle fire and machine guns mowed down most of the .Turks, who were strewn about the field Ihe Turkish batteries on the Asiatic side continuously co-operated, also aeroplanes, which dropped bombs in our lines. A Turkish battleship kept firing while cruising between Maidos and Chanak. Fifteen Allied aeroplanes at nightfall bombed the aerodrome at Chanak. hitting the principal shed. OFF GALLIPOLI : ALLIED SHIPS HAVE LEFT “Times" and tjydnev "Sun” Services LONDON. July 7. A French officer at Gallipoli writes:—“The Allied ships have all left our shore. We have started using a small, roughly-made mine-thrower. The min© is fitted with wings, and loaded with 30 kilos (CO pounds) of melinite, which produces extraordinary results. One hurled a ! whole Turk into our trenches.” GERMAN SUBMARINES IN THE AEGEAN WHAT IT MAY MEAN TO THE ALLIES. LONDON, July 7. It is reported from Athens that the Anglo-French Admiralties are disturbed regarding the news that seven big German submarines have appeared in the Aegean Sea, compelling the withdrawal of the big ships and involving a catastrophe to the army. ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF WOUNDED LONDON; July 7. The Under-Secretary for War (Mr H. J. Tennant), in the House of Commons, stated that adequate arrangements had been made at Alexandria foi the treatment of the wounded. There were seven military and three naval hospital ships plying between the Dardanelles and Alexandria and Great Britain. A STATEMENT OF TURKISH LOSSES LONDON, July 7. The Athens correspondent of tho ‘‘Daily News” states that advices received in Constantinople give the Turkish losses on the Gallipoli Peninsula at 180.000. TIME WASTED ON RECRIMINATIONS LONDON, July 7. The “Westminster Gazette” deprecates the seeking of a scapegoat in connection with the Dardanelles operations, which would not have been un dortaken unless a good many people shared the responsibility. It was the -public’s duty to support the Government in giving all possible aid to tho gallant troops, and not waste time in recriminations. FEAT OF UNPARALLELED DARING LONDON. July 7. The “Daily News” says: “The landing feat was one of unparalleled ■ dar ing. Hitherto the storming of the Heights of Abraham had been regarded as tho most romantic achievement of British audacity, but it offers no parity to the stupendous triumph that Sir lan Hamilton records. Only the immensity of the stake at issue made the challenge thinkable.” The “Daily Telegraph” remarks: “The despatch is a vivid human document. It lifts the veil completely. Heavy losses are admitted and ex* plained. Through the long, dignified narrative runs a golden thread of heroism.” The “Daily Mirror” says: “Whether the men came from Lancashire, Australia, Worcester, or New Zealand, each and everyone was a hero. The glorious days of Drake were outdistanced by the splendour of the bravery of our men on the rocky natural fortress of Gallipoi.” The “Daily Mail” says that all the world knows that the expedition was bungled. Despite the unprecedented bravery of the British, French, Australians, and New Zealanders, and Indians, _we have hardly advanced through the hills and ravines. The landing at Gallipoli was one of those expeditions started by the politicians, who were even unaware that the Germans had a submarine capable of travelling to the, Dardanelles. _ [The Heights of Abraham, an elevated plain just beyond Quebec to the south-west, along the river, was the Scene of the Battle' of Quebec, won by the British under Wolfe in 1755. The French were under Montcalm.l POPULATION OF CONSTANTINOPLE GLOOMY (Received July 9, 1 a.m.) ; ' SOFIA, July 8. Tho fortifications at Adrianople have been again dismantled, and the guns transferred to Hadcmkcui, General Brauber, the new German military commander, saying that it is useless to fortify the city as it will bo soon in the hands of the Bulgars. ' Tho population at Constantinople is gloomy, owing to the continued arrival of wounded, instead of the British and French prisoners whom the population were led to expect. • There is much relief because the British submarines are abstaining from torpedoing passenger steamers, but the transport of troops is greatly restricted. Frequent fires are causing grave disquietude. Two thousand five hundred houses were burnt last week. There are fresh outbreaks nightly. The police profited by the calamities to arrest many foreigners on charges of incendiarism. . GOOD WORK BY FRENCN DESTROYERS (Received Julv 9, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, July 8. Tho “Daily Telegraph's” Athens correspondent reports that a French destroyer toured the coast of Asia Minor from Chios to Kioamba and destroyed twelve vessels acting as enemy’s supply ships. The destroyer also fired Birmen forest. Another French destroyer bombarded Tchesme and Adalia, destroying the lighthouse and Customs station, and sinking twelve ships. RUSSIAN DESTROYERS SINK TURKS (Received July 9, 1.20 a.m.) PETROGRAD; July 8. Official: “Our destroyers at the Bosphorous kept up a heavy and accurate fire upon a submarine, which dived, and -its fate is unknown. We sank five Turkish sailing vessels and four galleys coal-laden for Constantinople..