THE DARDANELLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16480, 4 September 1915, Page 7

THE DARDANELLES

FIGHT FOR CHLINUK BAIR GRAPHIC ACCOUNT BY ME ASHHEAD BARTLETT JUST MISSED CAPTURING THE CREST BRILLIANT WORK BY BRITISH AND COLONIAL TROOPS SEVEREST SOLDIERS' BATTLE IN HISTORY Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

ANAFARTA RIDGE CAPTURED.

BRITISH SUBMARINES AGtIVE. PARIS, September 2. A communique states: It was very calm on the southern front at the Dardanelles last week. The British in the northern zone delivered successful attacks and gained possession .of a mountain ridge west of Biyuk- (Great) Anafarta, possession of which 'had been hotly disputed. Besides the transport which an aeroplane sank on August 20, the British submarines have torpedoed four transports. Two of these were anchored at Acbashi Liman (Bay), and the other two between Gallippli and Nagara. The guns of the warships also struck several vessels anchored in the strait. TURKISH REPORT. SUCCESSES MINIMISED., CONSTANTINOPLE, September 2. A communique states : The enemy's left wing at Sedd-ul-Bahr, with a great waste of ammunition, unsuccessfully attempted to destroy our trenches and batteries on the strait last Monday. We forced the allied mine-sweepers, which had approached the Dardanelles, to retreat, and we dispersed other mine-sweepers near Sedd-ul-Bahr. We successfully bombarded the enemy's infantry at Sedd-ul-Bahr.

NEW ZEALAND WOUNDED. OYER A THOUSAND IN BRITAIN. LONDON, September 2. Over 1000 New Zealand wounded are in the military hospitals in ivarious parts of Britain.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie visited the Bethnal Green Hospital and interviewed 60 wounded, all of whom are progressing favourably. There are over 100 patients in the New Zealand Hospital at Walton., RUSSIA'S WHEAT CROP. WAITING FOR GATES TO OPEN. LONDON, September 3. (Received Sept. 3, at 11.15 p.m.) The great efiect that the forcing of the Dardanelles would have upon the food question is shown by estimates of the Russian grain crop. Cutting will be finished in a week, and a grand total is expected of 250,000,000 quarters. The crops already harvested have yielded 55,000,000 quarters above last year's yield, and 36,500,000 quarters in excess of a five years' average. The Daily Mail correspondent, in supplying these figures, says: "The Russian Minister of Agriculture has given a definite .assurance in figures, so dispelling doubts thrown by German agents on the unusual value of the yield. Great quantities of grain have accumulated in the Black Sea, awaiting the success of the Gallipoli operations."

THE LATE GENERAL BRIDGES. IMPRESSIVE OBSEQUIES. MESSAGE FROM THE GRAVE. SYDNEY, September'J. (Received Sept. 3, at 11.40 p.m.) Prior to entraining General Bridges's remains a special service was held at St. Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. It was attended by the Governor-general, State Governor, parliamentary, naval, and military heads. There was a great congregation. Archbishop Clark, -in an address, paid an impressive tribute to the late soldier. There were great crowds along the route from the cathedral, to the railway station The military escort included a company of wounded soldiers. A special train conveyed the coffin and many distinguished visitors to Canberra, where the remains were buried with full military honours on the crest overlooking Duntroon College.

The pall-bearers were Adijiiral Creswell, the military heads, and Messrs Fisher, Pearce, find Cook. General Bridges's charger was led behind the gun-carriage bearing the coffin, which was smothered with beautiful wreaths.

The Primate, in a sympathetic address, said it was good for our soldier hero to have his last resting-place at a spot within the precincts of the college so dear to his heart. " From his grave we turn to the high duty fronting us, the tremendous task of achieving victory in the war. His (voice and the voices of the comrades who fell with him call in trumpet tones to shrink from no sacrifice. We must finish at any price what they began at so great a cost." AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES. SEVENTY -THIRD LIST. SYDNEY, September 3. (Received Sept. 4, at 1.5 a.m.) KILLED IN ACTION. —Three .officers and 170 men (including Privates W. B. WELCH and F. EDMISTON). DIED OF WOUNDS.—Three officers and nine men. WOUNDED. —Nine officers and 286 men (including Corporal A. R. KAILL, in the hospital at Malta; Private J. W. WILSON, in the hospital at Alexandria). MISSING— One officer and 30 men. ILL.—One officer and 44 men. Lieutenant H. M. HUTTON, previously reported wounded, is in a hospital at Malta.

RECENT FIGHTING. MR ASHMEAD-BARTLETT'S REPORT. UP TO A FORTNIGHT AGO. LONDON, September 2. Mr Ashmead-Bartlett, in a despatch dated August 19, states : (Received Sept. 3, at 10 p.m.)

Although the capture of Lone Pine Hill was, the most desperate hand-to-hand fight that has yet taken place on the peninsula, ~ it was merely a diversion and preliminary to the main movement northwards, which commenced, the same evening- under cover of darkness. No finer feat has been performed in the whole war. than the manner in which the troops destined for the main movement against Sari Bair deployed for attack. A direct attack was not attempted. It •would have entailed immense losses, and probably failure, because the Turks 'were posted on the hills surrounding Anzac and held the inner position in a. vyce. Therefore the only attacks were that on Lone Pine Hill and sorties from Quinn's Post, Russell's Top, and Pope's Post, north-east of Anzac, in order to hold the enemy in their trenches. Since the greatest battle on Gallipoli closed on August 10 both armies have been busy consolidating their positions, replenishing ammunition, and reorganising units that became intermingled in the rugged mountainous country. I visited the ground where the "Anzac" corps advanced by desperate efforts extending over four days to reach the crest of Sari Bair by way of a commanding ridge giving access to the highest peak—namely, Hojachemen—which is torn asunder by a giant ravine. The New Zealand Infantry Brigade, the Ghurkas, and other battalions almost reached their objective, but were unable to hold it through nc/ fault of their own/. A battalion of Ghurkas actually reached the crest of the plateau, but at the same moment the Turks, taking advantage of the confusion, counter-attacked with great force, and drove the Ghurkas back to the lower spurs. The snrvwors who obtained views of the promised land describe the waters of the Dardanelles as lying beneath, with a Turkish transport steaming southward. They also looked down the Narrows to. Kilid 'Bahr.

There was bitter disappointment at 'relinquishing the crest -when it was almost in ouv grasp after rso many months, but there was no alternative. •

The "Anzacs" fought like lions, and accomplished a-feat of arms almost without parallel in climbing those- heights. Although handicapped by this failure, another corps made good its positions on the Anafarta hills further north, for the purpose of checking the enemy's shell fire. When the details of these complicated operations are sifted out they will' forni ohe of the most fascinating pages in the the war's history. It was

A COMBAT OF GIANTS in a giant country. The outstanding fact was the marvellous hardihood, tenacity, and reckless courage of the Australians and New ZealanderS. We will not forget also the part played by a division of the new British army. Though unaccustomed to the novel conditions of mountain warfare, and unaccustomed' to marching, fighting, and climbing in the heat, and being for hours without water, the British nobly supported the 1 colonials and suffered heaivy losses unflinchingly. The Maoris skilfully crept forward over broken ground, wire-cutting and preparing the way for an advance. In order to enable forces to be detailed for the main movement, which had as its ultimate object the occupation of Sari Bair from Chunuk Bair to Kojachemen, it was necessary to attract the enemy's attention towards the south and force them to keep their troops in front of our lines •while our main forces debouched from Anzac. This was the reason for the Australian advance on August 6 and the desperate attack on Lone Pine Plateau, which is 400 ft high and of great, strategio importance in opening up the main line of communication between Anzac and Kilid Bahr and the plateau further, south. The Turks had fortified carefully, making it a veritable fortress of trenches, roofed with huge pine logs and railway sleepers and immense teak planks covered with earth, thus making the trenches impervious to shells except those of heavy howitzers. 1 The assault on the 6th was preceded by 15 minutes' furious bombardment, which had but little effect. The, Turks were safely dug in, therefore the forcing of the position devolved on the infantry. The Australiajjis rushed forward to the assault with THE FURY OF FANATICS,

little heeding the tremendous shrapnel fire and the enfilading rifle fire. The great difficulty was to force a way into the trenches. A mighty physical effort was made to remove all obstructions, and groups effected an entrance at various points and jumped in, the Turks being caught in a trap. Some surrendered, but the majority chose to die fighting. There were desperate hand-to-hand fights in every trench and dug-out. Four trench lines were captured in succession, but additional enemy infantry pouring in as the advancing lines were thinned by casualties, in which bombs played an important role, the Australians were only able to hold the position through an unceasing supply. (Received Sept. 3, at 8 p.m.)

The Australians' most advanced ,outpost was beyond Fisherman's Hut, and the intervening gap was flat ground connected by a wide sap. It was impossible to cross in daylight. Millions of rounds of ammunition and thousands of shells were carried to advanced posts through the long sap in day-time or along the beach at nighttime. This operation, together witih the arrival of strong Australian reinforcements, was kept a profound secret. Before the Australians could deploy over a wide front of spurs and ravines giving access to Sari Bair, it -was necessary to take a number of outlying posts. This involved a preliminary move due north over broken ground in the total darkness, then a wheel due east, for the purpose of assaulting the main ridgei.

As on previous nights, the warships turned their searchlights on and bombarded tho Turkish positions. The Turks did not suspect an infantry attack when the searchlights were playing on another position, and the Australians dashed forward, CAPTURING A SUCCESSION OF OUTPOSTS, At daybreak the whole forces were slowly moving towards the main Sari Bair position. in face of great difficulties, harassed by snipers and checked by difficulties of the ground and scarcity of water. At dawn on the 7th the left of our line reached Asma Dere position. The Indians had advanced a long way towards Chunuk Bair, having reached a farm, whilst the New Zealanders were on Rhododendron Spur ridge. It was then decided to postpone a further advance until nightfall. The Turkish snipers everywhere harassed the lines throughout the day. The advance was resumed at four o'clock in the morning of the Bth. The Australians' left advanced from Asma Dere to Abd-el-Rahmahair, whence it was hoped they could wheel to the right and attack

Kojachemen. But little or no progress was possible in this attack. The Turks were in great strength, and at one time threatened to surround the force, which had withdrawn to its original position at Asma Dere, where it held out all day long against determined attacks. Throughout the day and night the New Zealanders, although thoroughly exhausted, maintained their hold upon Chunuk Bair. Two other regiments relieved them during the night. The Turks, strongly reinforced, desperately attacked at dawn on the 10th from Cihunuk Bair to Hill Q, hurling themselves regardless of their lives against the two regiments, who resisted desperately, but were driven by artillery fire and sheer weight of numbers further down the slope. The Turks, .following up this success, charged right, over the crest towards a gully south of Rhododendron Ridge, with a iview of penetrating between our line and the Anzac position. But they reckoned without our artillery and ships' guns. The New Zealanders determinedly assaulted Rhododendron crest and gained the south-western slope of Chunuk Bair, the Indians advancing their left again. , But exhaustion, scarcity of water, and the numerous wounded, compelled a cessation of operations until nightfall. It was planned that three columns of New Zealanders, Indians, and another brigade should finally assault Chunuk Bair at daybreak on the 9th, preceded by a naval and land bombardment. The advance of the third column was delayed by, the broken ground and the enemy's resistance. Meanwhile the Ghurkas. gallantly swarmed up the slopes and reached ,the crest, gaining • A VISION OF THE OTHER SIDE. Unfortunately they were unable to retain their position in face of violent counterattacks and shell fire. Meanwhile a great Turkish force counterattacked and compelled the other brigade upon our left to withdraw to the lower slopes. (Received Sept. 3, at 10.20 p.m.)

The warships and land batteries plainly observed the great charge of four successive lines of infantry in close formation, and caught them in a trap. Their momentum downhill prevented them from {recoiling in time, and they were swept away by hundreds by a terrific stmn of high explosive, shrapnel, and common shells from the ships' guns,, howitzets, and field pieces. Never since the commencement of the campaign has such a target delighted the hearts of our gunners. Huge' shells from the warships threw huge chunks of soil skywards, mingled with human bodies, which fell into deep ravines. Even this concentration of artillery might not have checked the charge, but 10 machine guns rattled at short range until the guns smoked with heat. Hardly a Turk reached the hills again The lines got mixed up, and those seeking .to retire clashed with others pressing,forward." Some fled back over the crest towards the safety of the trenches; others dashed downwards into the raivines, where shrapnel searched them out. AN ENTIRE DIVISION WAS BROKEN UP in a few minutes. The Turks thus paid a terrible price for their success in regaining the crest. Portions of the line at Rhododendron were compelled to give ground. The Turks were fighting desperately, realising the precariousness of their position. The magnificent conduct of our officers saved the day. Generals and colonels fought with bayonets alongside privates. Nobody knew how his comrade was faring, and amongst the scrub many oommanding officers were killed. Gradually our

LOST GROUND WAS REGAINED. At nightfall of the 10th the fighting,died down through sheer exhaustion. Both armies recognised the impossibility of further physical effort.

Thus ended the most ferocious and most sustained soldiers' battle since Inkerman, that lasted for a few hours. Englishmen, Australians, New . Zealanders, Maoris, Ghurkas, and Sikhs were engaged in this terriblo combat on blood-stained hills - for four days and nights at a height of 900 ft, whither supplies were carried along paths that' do not, exist except upon the map'. The operation resulted in the extension of the Anzac position. No longer is there a stifled feeling among the .troops-crowded in a restricted area. The line now runs northward until it links up with the corps before Anafarta. We hold the hills at the foot, and are established beneath the crest of Ghunuk Bair. We haVe securely dug in on the summit of Rhododendron Ridge, and are awaiting events with that .com r placency that is characteristic of colonial and Britisher. None is downhearted;, all are willing to make another try. The incompleteness of the success was not the fault of those troops advancing from Anzac. A little less deadweight in the Turkish numbers would have enabled the " Anzacs" to consolidate the short, desperate grip they had on Chunuk Bair. There is a, SCENE OF DESOLATION

between the lines. Masses of Turks lie ■where they fell, and many have been thrown out of the trenches to make room for the living. At one point Australian, Englishman, Maori, and Ghurka are, lying side by side, marking the highest point the Imperial forces have attained on the peninsula.

(Received Sept. 3, at 7.35 p'.m.) The Turks massed their forces and counter-attacked desperately for three days and nights. They frequently retook sections only to be again driven out. This extraordinary struggle-was almost entirely underground, .and on both sides there was an utter disregard for. life. Wounded and dead choked the trenches almost to the top, and survivors were carried out oE the fight over HEAPS OF CORPSES.

Despite the determination with which the attacks were carried out by the Turks, the Australians held their ground, and finally the Turks wearied of the struggle. The trenches are now merely battered shambles. The removal of the dead and wounded occupied days. The bodies of a thousand Turks and colonials were removed from the trenches, and there are hundreds more outside. The Turkish losses in this section are estimated at 5000, and were chiefly incurred in Counter-attacks.