TWENTY THOUSAND TURKS LOST IN RECENT ATTACKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9092, 10 July 1915, Page 7

TWENTY THOUSAND TURKS LOST IN RECENT ATTACKS

ATHENS,- July 8. Turkish reinforcements during the latest fighting on Qallipoli Peninsula included the Ist and 2nd Army Corps, the most warlike troops of the Turkish Empire. They are composed of Arabs, Kurds, and Albanians. It is estimated that they lost twenty thousand men killed and wounded during the re-, cent attacks. AN URGENT ORDER TO CONSTANTINOPLE (Received July 9,'4 p.m.) ATHENS, July 9. The Turkish losses in the most recent fighting were twenty-five thousand. An urgent order has been sent to the Constantinople hospitals’to prepare 15,000 beds. ADMIRAL’S ADMIRATION OF AUSTRALASIANS (Received July 10, 1 a.m.) . MELBOURNE, July 9. Admiral Thursby, of H.M.S. Queen .writing to General Birdwood, expresses the Navy’s intense admiration of the gallantry of the Australian and New Zealand troops, and the dashing way they took the position, which will become historic. “Please convey to all ranks the honour we feel in being al-lowedxo.co-operate with the Australian: and New Zealand array-corps.” GREAT ADVANCE OF ALLIES’ LINE (Received July 10, 1.15-a.m.) LONDON. July 9. Telegrams from Mityleno report that Turkish soldiers wounded General von Sanders, the German commander, causing Enver Bey to assume command at Gallipoli. Intense bombardment at the Dardanelles was in progress from midnight on Sunday until 7 o'clock on Tuesday morning, audible for fifty miles and giving a lie to a printed statement thrown broadcast in the Australian lines that the fleet had abandoned them. Anglo-French forces almost surrounded Krithia, and the Allies’ lino is so advanced that the enemy’s artillery on this side of the straits is unable to drop shells on the Allied encampments, though these are still subjected tp shelling from the Asiatic side. - A few days ago Enver renewed the attempt to expel the Australians, and this was not only repulsed, hut the Australians pushed their lines further inland and southwards. They now include Capo Gaba Tepo. Turkish desertions are increasing daily. Prior to being torpedoed, the Carthage had landed an entire cargo of ammunition.