THE DARDANELLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12728, 23 December 1915, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES.

STORY OF TURKISH VICTORY

Received December 22, at 9.-V* p.m. London, December 22

A wireless message states that German headquarters at Constantinople publishes a report dated December 21 trom a correspondent at the front, as fellows:—Since yesterday there has been fierce fighting in all sections. Our troops attacked at Anafarta and Ari Burnu. The enemy delivered counterattacks at Sedd-\il-Bahr, which our troops repulsed with extremely heavy lasses. Our troops captured important points of support near Anafarta anil Ari Burnu. Oar powerful artillery iire caused heavy losses in the ranks of the enemy. Our brave soldiers, who have been waiting for months for this offensive, showed admirable dash and selfsacrifice in violent attacks against the enemy. [Anafarta and Ari Burnu are'synonymous .with Suvla and Anzac, from which the British troops must all have completed their withdrawal at the time when the message claims Turkish successes.] Received December 22, at 8.25 p.m. London, December 22.

A German wireless message states. The booty sec-tired at Ari Burnu is immeasurable.

A thick fog enabled the enemy to escape.

Received December 22. at 8.25 p.m. Sydney, December 22

. The' following message, dated December 20th. has now been released: — Mr Ashmead-Bartlett. writing in the Sunday Times on the Dardanelles question, states that General Monro's report said that he was strongly in favor of a withdrawal. Mr Ashmead-Bart-iett added: ''Tremendous responsibility rests with those keeping our force there. Under wfntry conditions enormous losses through sickness are inevitable. It is absolutely certain that the troops on Gallipoli must face .'sufferings and hardships unparalleled since the Crimean War. and are threatened with losses disproportionate to the advantages, if. :is I think, the authorities are agreed that it is impossible to advance from the present positions."

ALLIES' BETTER ORGANISATION.

MORE COMPLETE CO-OPERATION

Received December 22, at 9.30 p.m. London, December 22. In the House of Commons. Mr Asquith said that General William Robertson had been recalled front France to become Chief of the Imperial General Staff. Referring to the consultations in •Paris, Mr Asquith .said that with a view to. joint strategic control the staffs of all the Allies had arrived at important conclusions. Complete unanimity was necessary to enable the Allies to counteract the advantage the enemy had in the single direction of the war. By greater unity and concerted strategical control, he believed this would be surmounted. The Premier agreed with Mr Lloyd George that the superficial facts of the campaign seemed against us, but the fundamentals, which really mattered in the long ran, were steadily growing on our side. Errors and miscalculations had not been confined to either side, but we and the Allies had never wavered for a moment. Our fighting resources for months past had been becoming more ample and better organised and mobilised for the purposes of the campaign.

BRITISH ARMY VOTE. j .Received. December 23, at .3-5 a.m. London, Decernber 22. The House of Commons, after an allnight sitting, passed the army vote. RUSSIAN TROOPS FOR THE BALKANS. VARNA SAID TO BE CAPTURED. Received December 22. at 11.35 p.m. London. December 22. Mr Martin Donohoe reports that the Russians have captured V arna (the main Bulgarian'port on the Black Sea) after a bombardment which reduced the town to ruins. The garrison lost heavily. , Received December 23, at 12.50 p.m. Rome, December 22. The Tribune's Athens correspondent states that the Russians bombarded V&raa alt day. destroying the forts and barracks. German submarines made a sally, butwere driven back by gunfire. THE MACEDONIAN CAMPAICN. TROOPS POUR INTO SALONIC'A. Received December 22_. at 11.35 p.m. Athens,. December 22. Entente troops, together with-loads of - munitions, are. pouring: into Salonica; but-it will require several months to/bring in what is- considered necessary for an offensive. Received December 23, at.-8.50 p.m. Sofia,-December 22. • The newspaper Mir..states that King C-otLstantine has recognised as a. military - measure rof precaution that.the German-Bulgarian troops '.must, pursue the' Entente armies on to Greek territory-' - CRAECO-BULCARIAN AFFRAY. 'V A FRONTIER AFFAIR. Received December. 22, at 8.35-p.m. London.: December 21. The; Exchange Telegraph Company's correspondent at states -that-. n, sensation: has been caused bv the'report that, frontier fighting has. taken - place between - Greek and Bulgarian ; forces at Koritza. * Received December 23, at 1.35 a.m. Athens.-December 2*_'. The Bulgar commander - has apologised for the affray between Greek and Bulgarian soldiers on the frontier. . MARMORA TRANSPORTS SUNK. Received December 23, at 1.35 a.m. . Athens. December 22. A British submarine sunk the German steamer and other craft in the Sea of Marmora. AMERICA HYPER-SENSITIVE. Received December 22. :it 0.40 p.m. Washington. December 21. The Government has protested to Britain against the presence or British cruisers off American ports. It is admitted that the crnis.-r* arc outside territorial waters. THE CREEK ELECTIONS. Athens. December 22. Two hundred Goiirnrmsts have Iwn elected, together with or other parties, none of whom are designated \ enizelists. Sixty elections are still incomplete.