In the Dardanelles

Waikato Times, Volume 84, Issue 13207, 24 June 1915, Page 5

In the Dardanelles

FIERCE TURKISH ATTACK ON QUINN'S POST.

TERRIFIC HAIL" OF SHRAPNEL ON AUSTRALASIAN LINES

INFANTRY ASSAULT REPULSED WITH RIFLE AND BAYONET

ENEMY'S ATTEMPT TO ABUSE THE WHITE FLAG. LONDON, June 23. Heuter's correspondent in the Dardanelles on May 22 visited the trenches of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, which repelled a Turkish attack on the 18th. The opposing lines were mostly from 50 to 200 yards apart, and the scene can only lie viewed by the aid of a periscope, and even then the observer must be prepared lor the instrument being smashed, for snipers fire directly they ece it. Turkish dead were everywhere a few yards from the trenches, in some places too thick to count. Fighting was hottest at two parts of the trenches called Quinn's Post and Pope's Head, the latter a hill 150 feet, forming an island in the line of trenches, separated by a deep gully on each side from the rest of the line. This is a paradise for Turkish snipers. The Turkish attack began at midnight with a bombardment of unprecedented vigour, shells of all calibres being rained on the Australasians. It was literally impossible to put one's head out of the dugout until the hail of shrapnel had abated, but the damage was slight. Heavy rifle lire followed, and at three o'clock in the morning an attack in great force was launched by the whole line. The main objective was Quinn's Post, and at some points the Turks reached the trenches, where they were shot down, many being actually killed in the trenches. The attacks were repeated at short intervals with the same disastrous results. The enemy's last grand attack was made at midday on the 19th, after another thundering bombardment of every type of projectile. Our casualties were singularly low. The Turks again gallantly attacked Quinn's Post, but withdrew away before the blast of rifle and maxim fire. Prisoners said that the Turks brought up fresh divisions for this attack, but apparently half were sacrificed. After the battle a Turkish officer, with a doctor and stretcher-bearers, appeared lacing the Australian and New Zealand trenches. An Australian divisional commander went out and met them. They asked for an armistice to remove the dead and wounded. As night was approaching and the enemy's trenches were seen to lie bristling with double rows of armed men, the divisional commander said he hud no power to arrange an armistice, and suggested that the Turks renew the application in the morning. Meanwhile he would resume hostilities in ten minutes, whereupon the party withdrew. Apparently the Turkse intended to take advantage of the suspension of artillery lire to mass men in the trenches under the cover of the humanitarian activity of the doctors in the space between the lines. Later masses advanced with lixed bayonets behind a screen of weaponless soldiers who held up their hands as if in surrender. The Australians detected tho ruse, and rifles and guns spoke all along the line. The Turks paid dearly for their attempt to abuse the lied Cross flag.

ANOTHER HIDING. SUSTAINED BY GENERAL VON SANDERS. THE RESPECTIVE POSITIONS OE AUSTRALASIANS AND TURKS. FIVE ALLIED SUBMARINES IN SEA OE MARMORA. TURKISH CONCENTRATION PREVENTED. Received June 23, 7.35 p.m. LONDON, June 23. Mr Ashmead Bartlett reports that General von Sanders in attempting to carry out his threat to drive the Britishers into the sea received another lading on May 18th from the Australians and New Zealanders, resulting in Turkish losses of at least 7000 or 8000, compared with 000 colonials killed and wounded. The ground occupied by the Australians and New Zealanders consists of two semi-circles of hills much higher than the inner, rising 600 feet in some places. A great valley called "Shrapnel Valley"' runs north-east up the centre of the position, dividing it into two sectors, both of broken ground, consisting of less hills and deep gullies covered with thick scrub or earth-coloured sandstone. Tlic position lacing north, called "Walker's Ridge," follows the perimeter of the defence around until it again strikes the coast to the south. You aro introduced to "Pope's Head," "Dead Man's Ridge." "Bloody Angle," "Quinn's Post," "Courtnay Spot," "McLaurin's Hill," "Johnston's Gully," ''Scott's Point." "Bolton's Hill," and Point Rosenthal; while within the perimeter are positions including "Plugge's Plateau" and "Monash's Gully." The Turks are entrenched almost all round the position, except where the ships' guns keep them off the coast. Generally the trenches run north and north-east, and are higher than the colonials'. Those to the south and south-east are lower. The average distance between the trenches is 200 yards, sometimes a quarter of a mile, sometimes 20 yards. The Turks are strongly entrenched between "Walker's Ridge" and "Pope's Hill," and can snipe all the rising valleys. The position held by the New Zealanders and Australians resembles a prosperous mining camp. Good roads run from the foreshore, and are banked whore they would lie exposed to shrapnel or snipers. Every section of the position is self-contained, and there are unlimited supplies of ammunition. Whenever von Sanders attempts to attack the British he is obliged to leave a large proportion of his forces facing the colonials, otherwise they would cut his f communications. Accordingly, -on May 18, von Sanders determined to make a final effort at Gaba Tepe. He brought up five fresh regiments, and personally directed the operations. When 12in guns, 9in guns, and howitzers joined in the bombardment by tield [;uns it. was evident that an attack was coming. The enemy's machine guns opened fire from the Turkish position at the head of Monash Gully, and a hill 700 ft high. The fire was chiefly directed against Quinn's Post. Under the cover of the machine guns, Turkish snipers from Monash Gully crept forward until a thin line was established which offered a splendid target. The assault began at three o'clock, and was repulsed within an hour. A series of attacks was then delivered against Quinn's Post and Courtenay's Post, which faded under the rifle fire of the Australasians, delivered at close range. The Turks left piles of dead in front of the Australasian trendies. The Turks, at dawn on the 19th, opened a fierce bombardment against the colonial trenches. Between six and nine o'clock they delivered a series of desprate attacks against Quinn's Post and Courtenay's Post, but not a Turk set foot in the colonial trenches, although hundreds fell within a few yards of the trenches. Received June 23, 11.45 p.m. ATHENS. June 23. It is reported that five Allied submarines entered the Sea of Marmora and prevented the concentration of fresh Turkish troops in the Dardanelles. The struggle for the straits continues.