NEW ZEALANDERS AT QUINN’S POST

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 25

NEW ZEALANDERS AT QUINN’S POST

HOW OCR WOUNDED ARE PROGRESSING

NEW PLAN OF OPERATIONS. A SLOWER PROGRESSION. PARIS, June 14. Official : Operations at the Dardanelles were modified dining the last fortnight of May. General attacks have now given place to a slower progression, carefully prepared and methodically carried out. The French efforts are concentrated around a series of entrenchments which the Turks have hollowed out in front of a ravine called Kereveresdere. A French colonial regiment, the 28th, was ordei’ed to storm a little fort on the extreme left of the Turkish line. The foreground was swept by rifle fire and machine guns, and a normal attack would have demanded enormous sacrifices.

A coup de main was therefore planned. A section, composed of 34 Europeans and 42 Senegalese, was ordered to steal out at night singly from the trenches and crawl forward, and when concentrated to hurl themselves on the Turks without firing a shot. The party at midnight crawled to within 40 metres of the enemy, charged shouting, and leapt over the parapet. The Turks were surprised. They discharged their rifles and fled. The fort was captured. The French casualties were a sergeant and two men wounded. AUSTRALASIAN S’ IMPETU OU S BRAVERY. SYDNEY, June 15. A Light Horse officer writes : “ It has been said that the bravery shown at Gallipoli might have been the valour of ignorance ; but, having lived with our boys for nine months, I am convinced they will always stick to it to the last man. There will be no breaking strain. “ There can be no doubt that in the first battle we did suffer to a greater extent than trained soldiers would have done, through our reckless and impetuous bravery. But the nature of the country alsolutely precluded control by either officers or men, and it was simply up to each individual to act on his own initiative.” TURKISH TOWN BOMBARDED. ATHENS, June 14. Two French destroyers bombarded Tchesme, in Asia Minor, opposite Chinos. The bombardment lasted 40 minutes. All the sailing vessels in the harbour were sunk, and the Customs and telegraph offices and patrol stores were destroyed. The Turkish garrison fled to the mountains.