FIGHTING AT KRITHIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 25

FIGHTING AT KRITHIA.

HEAVY TURKISH CASUALTIES, ATHENS, June 3. The Australasians particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the heights of Krithia. The Turkish casualties were 10,000. The Turks obtained 12 hours’ armistice to bury their death June 5. The Turks on Monday vigorously attacked the Australasians on the heights of Krithia. A violent battle lasted for 12

hours, and after the Australasian counterattacks the Turks abandoned the summit. The Australasians’ victory has consolidated the Allies’ position on the Peninsula.

A DETAILED ADVANCE. The Minister of Defence wishes the following message distributed: “I have this evening received the following communication : “ TENEDOS, June 5. “At 3.50 o’clock on the night of June 3 4 the Turks, having heavily bombarded the small fort the French had captured in front of their extreme right, and breached its north-east angle, launched an infantry attack against it, which was repulsed. At about the same time they set fire to the scrub in front of the left centre of the 29th Division and attacked, but without success. “ On the morning of the 4th inst. I made a general attack on the Turkish trenches in the southern area of the peninsula, commencing with a heavy bombardment by all guns, including two battleships, two cruisers, and several destroyers with 4in guns. '* On the cessation of the bombardment the troops rushed forward with the bayonet, and were immediately successful all along the line, except in one spot near the left, where a heavy entanglement had pot been destroyed by gun-fire. The 6th Ghurkas, on the extreme left, made a fine advance, and took two lines of trenches, bat owing to the regiment on their right

being Jiung up by this wire they were eventually obliged to retire again to their original trenches. “The 29th Division made good progress in the left centre, capturing a strong redoubt and two lines of trenches beyond it, about 500 yards in advance of their original line. “ The Territorials, in the centre, did brilliantly, advancing 600 yards and capturing three lines of trenches, but, though the most advanced captured trench was held all day and half the night, they had io be ordered back in the morning to the second captured line, as both their flanks were exposed. “ The naval division, on the right centre, captured a redoubt and a formidable line of trenches, constructed in three tiers, some ?0D yards to their front; but were so heavily enfiladed when the French retired that they also had to come back to their original line.

“The French 2nd Division advanced with gallantry and elan, and retook for the fourth time that deadly redoubt they call * The Haricot.’ Unfortunately the Turks developed heavy counter-attacks through prepared communication trenches, and under cover of accurate shell fire, and were able to recapture it. “ On the extreme right of the French line the French division captured a line of trenches which, though counterattacked twice during the night, they still hold.

“ I have not yet heard details of the

casualties, but am afraid they are considerable. We captured 400 prisoners, including 10 officers. Amongst the prisoners were five Germans, the remains of a volunteer machine-gun detachment from the Goeben, whose officer was killed and the machine gun destroyed. “ During the progress of the fight I received information from Amzac that enemy reinforcements- had been seen advancing from Maidos towards Krithia, consequently General Bird wood arranged to attack the trenches in front of Quinn’s Post at 10 p.m., which attack was suc-cessfully-carried out, and the trendies were held during the night. The Turkish casualties were heavy. At 6.30 a.m., however, the enemy heavily counter-at-tacked and bombed our men out of the captured trench with a new heavy description of bomb, though we still bold the communicating trenches which had been constructed during the night. “To sum up —a good advance of at least 500 yards, including two lines of Turkish trenches, has been made along a front of nearly three miles in the centre of our southern section ; but we are back to' our original right and left. We are making fresh efforts now to advance the left to bring it up into line with the centre, though the Turkish position here is extraordinarily strong naturally, with a deep ravine on one side and the sea on the other. “ (Signed) lAN HAMILTON.” AUSTRALIANS DIG THEMSELVES IN. TENEDOS, June 5. Night attacks on the Australian trenches continue, but in the daytime, apart from shrapnel firing, the enemy’s main activity is confined to cleverly concealed snipers. The Australian position is impregnable. They have- dug themselves in, much against their own inclination, but have resigned themselves to trench warfare. The enemy maintains at night time a constant but aimless fusillade, with the intention presumably to forestall any advance on our part. Parties of snipers crawl past the British and French lines, hide in trees or empty trenches, snipe isolated officers, and rob them. Some were caught with their pockets full of British and French money.