THE DARDANELLES

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 32

THE DARDANELLES

PERIOD OF COMPARATIVE QUIET. A TURKISH HANGAR BLOWN UP. LONDON, September 27. The War Office reports that recent operations on Gallipoli have been mainly confined on both sides to air-craft attacks, fO-tillery bombardments, and some mining. fJThe Turks on one occasion directed a fceavy artillery fire against the Suvla and Anzac fronts, apparently preluding a general attack, but only an attack with a email force followed upon the right centre at Suvla, and our rifle fire easily dispersed the enemy. The same thing has happened twice subsequently. Enemy aeroplanes more than once attacked our aircraft base and dropped bombs without doing damage. We and Our bombs blotted out a hangar and damaged some shipping at Burgaz. The Turks on the night of the 24th let loose their watch-dogs against the French patrol dogs, but all were shot. DISSENSIONS INCREASING. SHEIKH-UL-ISL AM’S PREGNANT ADVICE LONDON, September 28. It is reported that the dissensions among the Young Turks are increasing. Enver Pasha does not possess his former authority, as the departure of a number of German officers has impaiifed his prestige. The Sheik-ul-Islam told the Sultan that it was to finish the war, or there would be complete dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire, and the cession ®f Thrace to Bulgaria would be regarded As the beginning of this dismemberment. The Daily Telegraph’s Rome corespondent say 7 s that travellers from Constantinople state that Russian, French, and British aviators flew over Constantinople and Smy 7 rna and dropped bulletins describing the German defeats in Russia and France. NEW ZEALAND WOUNDED. LONDON, September 28. The New Zealand wounded in Britain now number 2741, distributed in hospitals from Plymouth to Dundee. The Hon. T. Mackenzie is seeking to arrange with the W T ar Office to concentrate the wounded men as much as possible in the metropoliton area. Mr Mackenzie is now in Scotland visited the wounded There are 150 wounded at the base at Plymouth, where Colonel Plugge is assisting Sir Newton Moors, BRITISH PRISONERS IN STAMBOUL. INFORMATION SOUGHT FOR. LONDON, September 28. Sir Edward Grey informed Parliament that every effort had been made through the American Ambassador in Constantinople to obtain a list of British prisoners taken at the- Dardanelles. Turkey had been warned that until these obligations were fulfilled Britain would not furnish similar information. Hitherto Britain had received only the submarine crews captured, and of those 136 officers and men. CAPTAIN WILKINSON’S FUNERAL. LONDON, September 28. Captain Wilkinson, of Otago, the first New Zealand officer to die in London, was buried at Wandsworth. Colonel Plugge and other New Zealand officers were present, and Mr T. E. Donne represented Mr T. Mackenzie. The coffin was carried on a gun carriage. The grave was lined with purple flowers, and the “Last Post” was sounded. STATEMENT BY MR ASQUITH. LONDON, September 29. In the House of Commons, replying to Mr Joy ns on Hicks, Mr Asquith refused to make a statement regarding the Dardanelles position or prospects. All was stated that the Government considered consistent with the military exigencies. APPROACH OF WINTER. GOOD SHELTER AT LANDING PLACES. . LONDON, September 29. Reuter’s Dardanelles correspondent, in a despatch dated September 10, says ; “There has been a decided fall in the temperature, and the equinoctial winds have commenced. A north-easter sweeps Gallipoli Peninsula, but the cliffs afford shelter at the landing places, and even the open Suvla beaches are safe, the force of the wind being broken. The nights are getting cold. The troops still go bare-kneed and with the lightest of clothing, but it is becoming uncomfortably airy, and soon there will be an urgent demand for winter clothing, overcoats, and blankets. The country provides only water. Timber and nails for roofing the huts must be landed. “ The Turks have abandoned artillery exchanges with' the warships, and are content to shell the beaches. The front lines remain inactive. Our warships are conctantly shelling the batteries, the bursts pf Turkish fire being their only guide. The Turks have the advantage of a bird’seye view of our position. We must eneure that winter shall find the Allies teady.’’

IN MESOPOTAMIA. LONDON, September 29. Official : The British forces have won an important success in Mesopotamia, and the Turks are retreating towards Bagdad. Mr Austen Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, announced that General Nixon’s operations with the 6th Division on the Tigris on Tuesday were completely successful. The enemy were seven miles east of Kut-cl-Mara, following the river bank, when two British brigades under General Deiamain crossed the river and gained the enemy’s position, which was captured by a night march to Kut-el-Mara. The British strongly entrenched in the night, and armoured motor cars and cavalry engaged the Turks’ cavalry. The Turkish losses were severe, and our casualties were under 500. Much munitions and many prisoners were captured. LONDON, September 29. In the House of Commons, Lord Robert Cecil (Under-secretary for Foreign Affairs) said the Persian situation was causing anxious consideration. An attack instigated by Austro-German intrigues and money resulted in the occupation of Bushire by British forces, and a further attack was attempted upon Ispahan. There was no doubt that Germans subsidised the bandits in order to create disorder. At Shiraz the British Vice-consul was killed, and strong remonstrances had been made to the Persian Government. Britain had expressed her willingness to ease Persia’s’ financial difficulties, and the Persian Government had promised to give redress. NEW ZEALAND ENGINEERS. PRAISE FROM AUSTRALIAN OFFICER. SYDNEY, September 30. An Australian officer, in the course of a letter, warmly praises the splendid work of the New Zealand Engineers. He says it was greatly owing to their never-failing energy that we were able to hold many of the most dangerous positions. A young New Zealand officer within eight days counter mined and blew 7 up five Turkish positions. TURKISH REGIMENT MUTINIES. LONDON, September 30. The Times Salonika correspondent has received a report from Mitylene that the 7th Regiment of the 20th Division of the Turkish Army Corps, stationed near Karo Burnu, mutinied and fled to the mountain. The division has been ordered elsewhere, and the commander has been dismissed. There are undoubted despondency and demoralisation in the Turkish army. BRITISH SUCCESS ON THE TIGRIS. TURKS FLEE TOWARDS BAGDAD. LONDON, October 1. Official : After three days’ fighting we dislodged the Turks from a position on both banks of the Tigris, seven miles below Kutela Mara. The northern defences W'ere carried by a gallant assault. The Turks fought with the greatest tenacity 7, and had to be dislodged trench by trench. Their losses in dead were severe. The Turks fled towards Bagdad, and w 7 e occupied Kutela Mara. We took 1650 prisoners. The enemy’s trenches w 7 ere elaborate, and extended for miles, with an extensive mine system. Our casualties were 500 —mostly light wounds. A TURKISH CLAIM. AMSTERDAM, October 1. A Turkish communique states: We silenced on Tuesday batteries bombarding our positions near Sedd-ul-Bahr. STRAITS AGAIN BOMBARDED. ATHENS, October 1. Mitylene reports state that a fierce day long naval bombardment of the Straits took place on Tuesday 7 . FORTIFYING CHATALDJA. SALONIKA, October 1. The Germans are employing 30,000 men to strengthen the Chataldja forts. Four parallel lines of railway connecting the forts have been constructed, and also ditches and canals to enable the Turks to flood the plains outside if necessary 7 . MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT KILLED. LONDON, October 1. Mr Harold B. Cawdey, M.P. for Heywood (Lancashire), has been killed at the Dardanelles. AN INOPPORTUNE QUESTION. LONDON, September 30. In the House of Commons Mr Outhwaite asked whether Sir G. W. Buchanan’s (British Ambassador) statement at Petrograd was true—i.o., that the attack on the Dardanelles was partly due to a Russian request to divert the Turks from the Caucasus. —Lord Robert Cecil replied that the operation doubtless drew the Turks from the Russian and Egyptian fronts. A fuller statement would he inexpedient. VICTORIA CROSSES. LONDON, October 1. The following Victoria Crosses have been awarded ;

Captain Hansen, of the 6th Lincolnshire (New Army). On August 9, at Yilghin Burnu (Gallipoli), the Lincolnshires were forced to retire, leaving their wounded, owing to the intense heat and burning scrub. Captain Hansen, with three or four volunteers, dashed several times over 400 yards of open ground under terrific fire, and rescued six wounded comrades from certain burning. Private Potts, of the Berkshire Yeomanry.—Although severely wounded at Hill 70, Private Potts remained for 48 hours under the Turkish trenches with a wounded private, unable to move. Finally, by using his shovel as a sledge, he dragged his comrade 600 yards into the British lines, though the Turks were firing all the time. “THE VICTORIOUS.” LONDON, October 1. A German wireless message announces that the Turkish Cabinet has agreed that the Sultan shall be surnamed “The Victorious.” TURKISH COMMUNIQUE. AMSTERDAM, October 3. A Turkish communique states i Near Sedd-el-Bahr we silenced some enemy batteries. We destroyed portion of some enemy trenches on our left wing, and exploded an enemy mine by a countermine on our right wing. TURKEY’S FATE. LONDON, October 3. Sir Edwin Pears says that Turkey will collapse a fortnight after we get through the Dardanelles. Then there will be a rising against the Government, as discontent in Turkey is widespread.