COMBINED GENERAL ASSAULT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 26

COMBINED GENERAL ASSAULT.

A combined general assault on the Turkish positions at Gallipoli has begun. TURKISH CONSULATE CLOSED. BUENOS AIRES, .June 5. The Turkish Consul-general hero closed the Consulate and deposited the archives in a place of safety, refusing the German Charge d’Affaires’ demand to hand them to the German Consul. MAJOR DAWSON WOUNDED. IN A TIGHT. CORNER. DARING AND RESOURCE SUCCEED. CAIRO, June 6. The list of wounded includes Major Dawson, a New Zealander, who is now recovering. Major Dawson, with 150 Australians and New Zealanders, held a corner of the second ridge at Saribah for two days against tremendous odds. The general situation was critical, with every probability of the British being driven back to the beach, where nothing could save them. But Major Dawson’s party clung to the position with the utmost tenacity. During the night Conway, with a machine gun section, arrived. The Turks were so close that the machine gun was useless. Bo Conway retired, and Major Dawson kept up the fight, his men shouting orders and bluffing the Turks into the belief that they were confronted by a considerable force. Conway’s machine gun was heard at dawn sweeping across the Turkish trenches. He had spent the night seeking a spot where he could enfilade the Turks. Dawson thus held out until reinforced. THE ENEMY’S DIFFICULTIES. LONDON, June 7. The Daily Chronicle's Athens correspondent states that the heavy casualties and the arrival of the wounded are weakening the Turkish resolve. The submarines have ewept shipping from the Sea of Marmora, adding to the Turkish difficulties in bringing up reinforcements and snjrplies. The Turks are feverishly strengthening the fortifications at Chatalja, where 200 newlyarrived German officers are stationed. SITUATION AT THE NARROWS. LONDON, June 7 The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent at Chanak says that a neutral army officer estimates that 2000 shells fell on Chanak when the Allied fleet tried to force the Narrows, yet only 26 men were killed and 52 wounded in the forts. When one sees 50 Sin guns mounted above the narrow passage the wonder is that the Allied fleet suffered so little. The Germans are supremely satisfied with the outlook as far as the Narrows are concerned, but tie diminishing supplies of ammunition a.p causing them anxiety. SINKING OF THE GOLIATH. AMSTERDAM, June 7. A German correspondent at Constant: nopie, describing the sinking of the Goliath, says: The British warships were in tho habit of nightly visiting Morto Bay,

where they carried on a brisk flanking fire on the Turkish defences. Lieutenant Firle, commanding the destroyer Mauvenet, including 16 Germans in his crew, received permission to attack her. He crept down the Dardanelles after sunset' and found two British warships. The Mauvenet’s to-pedo tubes were manned at 1 o’clock. Meanwhile the British vessel sighted the Mauvenet. When within easy range the Mauvenet discharged the first torpedo, which struck the Goliath under the bridge. The second torpedo hit between the funnels, and the third in the quarter. There was a dull explosion, and a sheet of flames followed. She sank in three minutes, without a soul being seen on deck. The Mauvenet doubled back at full speed, and when the British torpedo boats closed in on all sides they were received by a hail of shot and shell from the coast defences.

FRENCH NAVAL COMMAND. PARIS, June 6

Vice-admiral Nicol has been appointed to command the French naval forces at the Dardanelles. Admiral Nicol has had a brilliant career, and is' the youngest vice-admiral in the service. Guspratte is retained as second in command.

BRITISH CASUALTIES

LONDON, June 7.

The week-end lists include 5500 casualties in the ranks, of which 2169 were at the Dardanelles, where 111 of the Ist Lancashire Fusiliers were killed, 184 wounded, and 53 missing. One. hundred and fifty-seven of the Ist Dublin Fusiliers were killed, and 43 wounded. The Ist Scottish Borderers, 2nd South Wales Borderers, 4th Worcesters, and the Ist Borderer Regiment suffered heavily.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

LONDON, June 6

A service is to be held in St. Pa il s Cathedral in memory of the Australians and New Zealanders who have been killed in the war.