STORMING THE HEIGHTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 13696, 28 May 1915, Page 4

STORMING THE HEIGHTS.

ON GALLIPOLI PENINSULA. THRILLING CHARGES. THE- ATTACK ON ACHt BAB A (Per Pre:Ts Association. i WELLINGTON.,- last night. The following ' are extracts from ' cable from the Secretary of State for th< Colonies relating to the operations ot Gallipoli Peninsula: — Op May 6th, after the arrival of fres' troops, Avhich included part of a terri torial division, a general advance of the Allied troops took place at 11 a.m. •against Aehi Baba, portion 3. A heavy covering fire A\'as maintained by the ships of the Allied fleets,/ but, owin,: to the high Avind, aeroplane observation Avas extremely difficult. During the nights of May sth and May 6th a considerable portion of the Australian and NeAv Zealand Army Corps had been transferred from Gebc Tepe- m order to take part m the attackVery severe fighting took place .ill day, and by nightfall the 'whole Allied line had advanced from 1000 to 1500 yards. The left of the Allied advance Avas ', stopped by a strorijlj Turkish *o doubt, manned Avith machine guns, Avith the result that, after the conclusion of the day's operations,' the A'illage of Kritbia arid the Achi Baba ridge still remained m" the enemy's possession. Just' at dusk, hoAVeyer, French troops obtained possession of am important tac tical point, Avfiich was thoroughly fortified during the night to, serve as a pivot for further operations. x On the fouoAving day (May 7th) the attack upon the Achi Baba position Avas continued. French troops on the right of the line improved' their position, and carried several Turkish trenches, Avhile on the .'left a brigade of infantry Avhich had' relieved the territorial brigade succeeded, 'just before sunset, m driving back the enemy nearly into Krithia village. Tho main position of Achi Baba, however, remained m _ Turkish hands. On May 8 the attack' Avas again resumed, after heavy artillery, niachine gun," arid rifle jire. The French and British troops commenced lo advance at 5.30 p.m., and a fine advance m the face of very >ieav'.y fire took place. The French troops attacked the Turkish trenches -with the bayonet, and the Avholo line; excepting on the extreme left, advanced steadily.' ' This adA'ance Avas carried out successfully, but .the main object — namely, the capture of Achi. Baba — again failed. During the night the Turks attempted a counter-attack, Avhich Avas everyAvhere repulsed Avith heavy loss. . During the three days'-" fighting against Achi Baba, the Australian and New Zealand Corps at Sari Bait*, m spite of having sent strong reinforcements to support the main attack, successfully held their own. and ' resisted all attacks of the enemy m that part. The fighting which took place in'the-io three days caused 3000 casualties to the British troops, of Avhich, fortunately, a large proportion __ were only very slight cases, and these Avill return quickly to their placed m the ranks. „ » It Avas clearly demonstrated that the Turkish defences were strongly ' constructed, and that, to carry the position by open assault, aa*4s a very difficult operation, and that the capture of Achi Baba, which had been converted into a veritable fortress, must be achieved by the slow and methodical methods^ of trench warfare. The French forces throughout these operations had fought with magnificent courage and dash, and had suffered heavy losses, '■ * During M*ay 9th tlie ground gained was everywhere consolidated, and all progress achieved < made good. At 10.45 ip.m. an attack Avas bViliiantlv carried out by the 15th and IGth Bat talions of .the Fourth .'Australian Brigade of infantry, Avho attacked and carried, with: the bayonet three lines of Turkish"' trenches On Sari ; Bair, and established themselves therein; A heavy Turkish counter-attack was launched at daAvn on May 10th;* 'which drov'o the' Australians back to their original trenches., The guns 'bf the corps Avere' in readiness, . and -at 5.30 a.m". open' , ed five,: on the .enemy, beginning' at i range of 1100 yards' and coming dbw'n ■ to 600. : The execution done Avas terrible,, and the Turks lay so thick' upon the ground as to form, art obstacle. "'"' During May 10, l\, and 12 further reinforcements of French, British, and Australian .troops arrived at tho Dardanelles," the men ,frolp the Australian and NeAv" Zealand mounted troops having volunteered to servo on foot m support of their comrades at the front. Some muchl-needed rest Avas obtained by the troops, who bad been fighting incessantly for 'four' days. On the night of May 11 the Turks launched" a', determined .attack on the Indian' Brigade, Avhich was repulsed ' Avith heavy loss. On the night of May , 12 the troops of the 29tV Division, under JSrajoY-Gericral Hunter- Weston, undertook '"'dn attack on the extreme right of the Tnrki/sh front, Avhich bad so 'far pi-oved 'impregnable. One brigade of infantry and artillery on the left centre of tho Aflie'd line made' a demonstration, and, 'under coVer ' (*f this, a double company' of. Ghurkas crept under the precipitous sea cliffs and occupied ii' cleft m. front of the Allied line, where they dug thtmisel vols m with machine guns.. The Turks opened a heavy fire, but 2>nly made a half-heartcS attack. On. the night of Ma? 13 the Ttilks Hade three strong attacks on this "advanced position, and established themselves within §0 yn^ds. of the Indian Brigade. ..<•■■>■■■- 'HoAvever, tho left of the 'Allied ' linc^ was further advanced' and straignteriel," aud tho position of the Indian Brigade made secure. On -the. night of May 14, the Tiu-ks made an attack on the French troojis on thfe 'right! "of the Allied' line, biit were repulsed 'xvit-h loss. ' The territori-l' divisiou i further ad-' vancCd", their trenches, ' and gained several" 'hundred' yaVdfe of jn'buridj ' ,*.'.. On May 17' 'the _9th Division again worked^' forward; and established - themselves m "aiwther lihe of fi'eiiches 200 yards : lit adAmnce.' '"' ..'"■ This I ' Had the effect of . reridering the position held by the Indian Brigade' very much stronger than before. French troops' "on the right of the Allied line Avere 'attacked, biit this Avas easily repulsed. The enemy also attacked the Australian and Noav ■ Zealand Corps Avithout' success: '' ' ' ' ' The Allied' artillery Avas haridled Avi'th great success, aided by aeroplane observations, and destroyed by direct hits a Turkish six-inch liowit_er gun, arid exploded'^ Vaggon loads of heavy gun ammuiiitidri, ' and also destroyed some new wenches and gun emplacements. This day General Bridges, commanding t/he' Australian' Division, Was mortally Avburided , and his subsequent death Avill cause ' an irreparable Joss to liis command. On the; night ofMay 17,. the tei*ritoriar division advanced jts line of trenches by SOO yards., 'This a dvahee. wa-4 thoroughly consolidated. A further 'advance* was made on the night of May 18th by the French troops, supported a Royal Naval Division on the right extremity of the line, arid by the. B9th Division and the Territorial Divisiori m the centre. These advances Avero consolidated. ' , ' , On May 23rd the French troop's'attacked the enemy's advanced trenches, which they gallantly carried by assault/ but being' heavily counterattacked, after a severe bombardment they, Avith difficulty! niaihtairi'ed themselves. The enelriy also made determined attacks ujjon the Indian Brigade, and temporarily* secured a footing m ari advanced portion of the Indian trenches. A counter-attack was immediately organised, and the -' enemy driven back, and every man Avho had reached oui* trenches was killed, including three German officers. ~—mmmmwmm~mm ,