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THE DARDANELLES.

CAPTURE OFSEDD EL BA HR ENTRENCHED LINE ESTABLESHED. LONDON, April 30. The landing force at Sedcl cl Bahr heach was unable to advance until the evening, when the force from Capo [Cekeh, hv a fine attack, relieved the pressure. The enemy still held the position at Sedd e) Bniir on the morning of the 26th. The .British, aided by the fleet's fire, stormed the position by frontal attack through undamaged, entangle; ments. capturing four pompoms and securing the cud of tho peninsula. The Turks attacked tidies on the morning of the 27th. but wore repulsed. The British forces have since established an entrenched line two miles north of Tekeh to Krithia. The fleet's casualties were confined ro the destroyers’ and crews. The disembarkation of stores and artillerv continnes. The battleship Triumph bombarded Maidos. The place is burning. There will be no further communique until the next base is complete. LONDON, May 1. The Daily Chronicle remarks that the Australians raid New Zealanders were given tho post of honour threatening the Narrows forts, which must be the first main objective. Tho Evening Standard says tho fortune of war has at last been given to .the Australians and New Zealanders and in turn they are making tho best, use of it. The Dardanelles operations have special and peculiar dangers which are being met by special and peculiar skill and valour. Turkish communiques have been making ridiculous claims, including one that they have driven most, of the Australians and New, Zealanders into the sen. ! and that the remainder surrendeiod. To-day's communique admits tin* Austrillions' are obstinately maintaining ! their positions. ‘ | Brigadier-Genera! H. L. Napier died , of wounds in the Dardanelles opera- I iions. i

ATHENS, May 1. It is reported that the Australians, through the medium of a ruse, captured 670 prisoners, including tiro German officers. SOFIA, May 1. The Turks are hurriedly sending great reinforcements to the Gulf of Sards and the shores of tho Sea of Marmora. COPENHAGEN, .May 1. A message from Berlin says Djavid Bey has arranged a Turkish war loan of fifty million sterling. AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES. MELBOURNE, May 1. The first casualty list in connection with the Dardanelles operations has been received. It contains tho names of twenty-two officers which, however, are not yet made public, belonging to Australia’s third brigade, most of whom are in tho hospitals at the bases. It is feared the Australian casualties are heavy. Details so far received indicate there is a fairly high total of killed and wounded. Nearly ail belong to the third or composed brigade. No lists of casualties in the ranks has vet been received. MELBOURNE, May 1. The official list of the Dardanelles casualties says:—.Major Hawley, dangerously wounded; Major Elliott. Captains Fisher. Milne, Jackson; Lieut,s. Spargo, Heigh way, Walker, Evans, severely wounded; Lieut.-Colorm-l Elliott. Majors Dawson, Blorzard. and Robertson, Captain Peek, Limits. Kershaw, Phillips, Gilmonr. Chambers Jones. Macdonald, Holland. Jordensen, slightly wounded. Official.—Additional Australian officers wounded in tho Dardanelles are; Captains F. Lockhart, Tnlloeh. Herbert; Limits. Champion. Steen. M Farlane, Anderson, Brisk. Riddell, Rogers. Smith, Green, Harvey. The lists are No list of casualties from the ranks has yet been received. Major Dawson, who is amongst the Dardanelles wounded, is a famous rifle shot. Ho is a King’s Prize winner. Though there is much suppressed anxiety regarding the total casualty lists, people recognise, as Mr. Pearce points out, that no desire for news must interfere _ with the safety of troops who are fighting for their lives. The units are separated. Even commanding officers are not aware of the full lists of casualties. Several days may elapso before the time comes to make them no. SYDNEY, May 2. Tho official list of Australians killed in the Dardanelles is;—Lieut. Close (New South Wales), Capt. Hodgson and Limits. Henderson and Chapman (Victoria). There are thirteen men killed belonging to various States. (Received May 3, 9.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 3. Additional casualties.—Lieut. Hempton, severely wounded.

SYDNEY PRESS COMMENT. (Received May 3, 10.30 a.m.) , SYDNEY, May 3. The Herald,,'commenting on tho Dardanelles fighting, says the manner in which our forces behaved evidently surpassed the best expectations of our friends. That these are high is shown by the position assigned to the Australians and New Zealanders, who have already established a claim to he regarded as the chief agents in tho passage of the Dardanelles when this is completed. The Telegraph insists that the lesson will be learnt from the casualty lists of the necessity of more recruits. LORD CHARLES EERESFORD. WOULD HAVE MANAGED THINGS BETTER. LONDON. May 1. Lord Charles Bcresford. speaking at Portsmouth, said the Dardanelles opera- ‘ tions up to the present were like a piece of amateur strategy. They wore undertaken when the weather was unfavourable, before tho army was ready, and nets were not out to guard ships from floating mines. Later inquiry must he made into the Government’s mistake. The Dardanelles campaign requires a Tory- mac.

THE ROLL OP HONOUR. NEW ZEALANDERS KILLED. WELLINGTON, May 1. The Defence authorities to-day re ccived a cable message from Colonel A, H. Russell, commander of tho Mounted Rifles Brigade of tho New Zealand expeditionary force, reporting the following casualties; —• Captain Alfred Ernest M‘Donald, 10th \Waikato) Company, Auckland Infantry Battalion, uaugeronsly wcuuuucl iu uic shoulder and chest. .Major iv . VV. Alderman, an Australian onicer on loan to tho New Zealand exiiediuuitary loroe, severely wounded.

ng:it arm eomeounu iracture, coi. .uusseii uuvisoa iu.iv both casualties occurred on tiio hired transport ■Luc how on .April 2b, but lUu nut mention the locality, They presumably occurred while Luc .Luizom* was landing troops under lire at the Dardanelles. Captain AT Donald's ueAt-oi-km is his wne, .Mis. i'jioebe -M’Douaicb who resales ut t naini.on. i hese are tiio only casualties to the 1 -New Zealand expeditionary iorco at vmch Liio authorities have been advised up to cue present, information as to iuitiicr easuaiae* will be immediaily annonneui When received. IJLdDJhV 3lay 2. Tiio Hon. J. .vucri iues I'tiTi .eu a cablegram rrem tin;- j.;cieiice iieu'-upiai'-tei’s ui -ueieourne .wiling uua riv.aie \v . r>. soil 01 i . u , ivingUv, \\ aipun. out h.iu wiit-s wiiu cue Isl aiustraia.n itnantry batcaiion ; oioti oetwei-n -\pni .inn mmi wuunns recened i-j action in ti.e Daraunelles. .ur. .-uieii Has received a cablegram iru.n Aie.unaU'i.i tna; Lu ,u. r rater, o: C:le -.IUOMuJuI Division, vlu-'.l uU ob, iiom wounds received on a unco urumporc. WELLINGTON, May 3. Information has been reeeiveu ui tiie following lurtlier casualties in the -New /.ealahci hxpeuiuonary x erce : DIED OL WOUNDS. No. 8,751, Private AUTod Richard Hayward, iOili (North Otago; Comtuiiiy, Otago Infantry Battalion. Next of lan, John iia\warn, Abbctf.sford. Duuedii!. No. S/ioN Corporal Peter Coupewhwaite, HUi (Saudi Otago) Company, Otago Infantry Battalion. Next of kin. A. Gibson. Kelso, Otago. No. 13/483, Private Robert Watson, 6rh (Hauraki) Company, Auckland Infantry Battalion. Next of kin, John \V« ison, Tiran, Anckinnd. Those casna .ties ouenrred between April 2o a:;d May 1.

WANGANUI, May 3. A private cable suites that Lieutenant F. K. Turnbull, .solicitor, of Wanganui, a member of the first Expeditionary Force for Egypt, was -rounded, and is in the Alexandria Hospital. BLENHEIM, May 3.

A cable has been received Slating that Lieutenant Owen Mead was slightly wounded at the Dardanelles.

A REPORT PRO3I ATHENS. FRENCH FORCE REEMBAREED. (Received May 3, 8.40 a.m.) ATHENS, -May 2. A report from the Eland of Mityieno states that, tho Frenchmens purpose of facilitating the British landing at Sedrl-el-balir having been achieved, they re-oraharketl at Rum Kale (Asiatic side) for a secret destination. [Whether this means that the French force on the Asiatic coast has been entirely withdrawn is not clear. Tliev may have been landed to make a demonstration on ike Asiatic side, and (be-; withdrawn to aid tho British. The High Commissioner states that both French and British treops landed at Cape Holies.] LONDON PRESS COMMENT. (Received if ay 3. S.lO a.m.) LONDON,. May 2. Tim Observer is confident That the Australians and New Zealanders are not behind tho Canadians in Flanders for resolute soldier.shio and contempt of death. They have already marie good their hold on the lower slope of .Saribair, one of tlm highest hills on the •rugged peninsula. A USEFUL HILL CAPTURED.

I FORTS AT THE NARROWS BOMBARDED. (Received May 3, 8.10 a.m.) ATHENS., May ‘2. The British at Scdd-r-i-Biihr advanced and captured Katnba Topah Hill commanding a large portion of the peninsula. The capture greatly facilitates the de.slruction of the mobile hattoner, .ihifii 'hurt! seriously hampered mine-sweeping. The t-uivn of Hardadoh is reported to bo destroyed. Turkish troops have concentrated in •the vicinity of Mnidos, The fleet violently bombarded the Xagara forts, which did not reply. MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR. MELBOURNE. May 1. Lord Liverpool cabled to Sir R. Munro - Ferguson (.Governor - General) conveying the pride the Donimion i t It at being* associated with the forces of the Commonwealth in tho great undertaking at the Dardanelles, and rejoicing that Hie two forces so signally distinguished themselves. Sir R. Shmro-Forguson replied, thanking Lord Liverpool for this I rush testimony of the strength of the bonds uniting Australasia. ‘‘Our pride in the. valour of our men increases tile knowledge that New Zealand's sons fought shoulder to shoulder and shared rho glory of tho battlefield.” MESSAGE TO GENERAL GOD LEV. TER PRESS ASSOCIATION. OUXEDIX. May 3. The Hon. J. Allen sent the following message to Sir Alex. God ley : —“I have read with quickening pulse the meagre nows of your magnificent doings. New Zealand awaits tho casualty lists with a fortitude horn of pride that hor sous have proved themselves worthy in this time of trial. Please say to your command, and especially to tho wounded, our hearts and thoughts are with them.”

HiCH -COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. WELLINGTON, May 2. | The. High Commissioner reports under elate London, April 30, 1.20 p.m.:— The disembarkation of the army for the Dardanelles began before sunrise on Sunday, six different beaches being used. The operation was covered by the whole fleet, and tho landing was immediately successful on five beaches, although our troops were opposed with vigour by the strongly entrenched enemy, The successive lines were protected by barooil wire entanglements, at some places fifty yards wide, and supported by artillery. On the sixth beach, near .Sethi cl tlahr, our troops could not advance until the evening, when a line attack by British infantry from the direction of Cape Tekeh relieved the pressure on their front. Arrangements for the landing were matters ol tho utmost concern, the details being arranged between the fleet and the army, with tho result that the first day's operations saw the establishment of a strong British, Australian; and French lira at three main points, namely, tho Australian and Now Zealand troops on tho lower slopes of Sari Hair to the north of Gabs Ten ■ the British at Cape Tekeh and Cape Hellos and near Morco Hav. and tin; French on tho Asiatic

shr.ro at Kinn Knio. After a gaumt nlr.ack towards Toni f'hohr in the ailvrnoou and strong counter attacks by the enemy, began haru lighting.

The disembarkation of the army proceeded continuously, and was favoured by good weather. At daybreak on Monday the oueuty was still holding the village and position of Scud cl Bahv. which has a labyrinth of caves, ruins.

trenches, pits, and entanglements. Aided by tin; gunfire of the fleet, this position was stunned by tho British in ■frontal-attacks through the undamaged wire entanglements. twdd el IJahr was taken at about two o’clock in the afternoon, four pompoms being captured. The situation at this end of the peninsula was thus definitely secured nod disembarkation ol the French and British forces proceeded.

On Tuesday morning. alter repulsing a Turkish atUak upon the loft towards Cape Halles, the Allies advanced, and at eight in the evening established tin entrenched line from n point two miles north, of (.'ape Tekeh to ;t small plateau above tile iJetotc.'i Battery. From this lino an advance lias since been made to the ncighbournood of Krithia. Meanwhile Australian and New Zealand troops at Sari Bair, who had pushed ou with the utmost boldness after landing on Sunday, had been engaged almost constantly with the enemy, who maclo strong and repeated counter-stacks, which wore invariably remilsed.

Tho A ustraltan and Xew Zealand troops fought with iine spirit and delenmnc.tion. Early ou Tuesday morning a trosh Turkish division was launciicd against Sari Bair, preceded by heavy artillery fire. A hot engagement followed. The enemy came boldly time after time, but the Australian and Xew Zealand troops defeated every attempt and by three in the afternoon had resumed the offensive.

The French troops at Rum Kale were also lour times strongly coimior-at-tacked on Monday, hut retained all the positions. Five hundred Turks, who, in the eonr.se of one of these countor-at-tacks. were cut off by tho lire of tho fleet, were made prisoners. The operation of landing the army in face of modern weapons and in spite of wire entanglements under the sea as well as land minus and rWp pits v.flih sptkos ;it the bottom, has thus boon r.LVimpiisiu'd. Thr Admiral ropnm tho fleet is filled with smonsa rvlmmr.tion at the aohiewments oh thoir military comrades-. The casualties of 1-ho fleet are not mirueron>, and appear confined to destroyers ;m.l hnat-d i rows engaged in hiridiiur openiiions. in whu-Ji merchant capiair\. officer* and creus of tho transports also took part. During these operations Turkish warships frcui Xagaca several limes attempted to invert me. huu always made on Hired ly the ()un*n Khzabeth was at hand. At noon on Tuesday, however, a transport of about 8000 cons was reported off Maidos. before she ronld escape the Klii-abeth opened 'ire. The third shot hit and destroyed her. She sank rapidly, and her troops were not seen. On "Wednesday and Thursday :ho Allies rested, improving and consolidating their position and continuing tho disembarkation of stores and ar” lillotv.

All counter-attacks of the enemy, which were incessant on Wednesday, but weaker on Thursday, wove repulsed. The fleet, while supporting the army, began to engage the batteries, tho Triumph bombarding Maidos, which is afire.

The King dispatched to Vice-Admiral de Hoboek and General .Sir lan Hamilton tils following message;—"It is ai-It intense satisfaction I have heard the success which, in face of determined resistance, has .ittended tho combined naval and military operations at the Dardanelles. Pbji.se convoy to ail ranks, rnclmling our Allies, my hearty congratulations on this splendid achievement.” Tho Now Zealand casualty list is not yet to hand. The Australian casualties were 17 killed.

The Turks are sending hurried reinforcements to tho Gulf of Saros and the Sea of Marmora. Tho British advance continues. MESSAGE FROM ADMIRALTY. WELLINGTON, May 2. The Governor has received the following cablegram on behalf of the Board of Admiralty;— I desire to express our heartfelt congratulations for tho brilliant and memorable achievement of tho Australian and New Zealand troops in tho Dardanelles. The Admiralty telegraphs that the fleet is filled with intense admiration at the feat of arms accomplished by tbo army.— Churchill. His Excellency replied: “On behalf of myself, the Government and tho people of New Zealand, X desire, to thank you and tho Board of .Admiralty for the very hind message of congratulation which you have sent, it is a source of great gratification to everyone in this Dominion to feel that their hnvo been so closely connected in these arduous operations with tho officers and men ; of the Royal Navy, to whom the Empire owes so much.’ I —(Signed), Liverpool.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH19150503.2.15

Bibliographic details

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144670, 3 May 1915, Page 3

Word Count
2,579

THE DARDANELLES. Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144670, 3 May 1915, Page 3

THE DARDANELLES. Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144670, 3 May 1915, Page 3