Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-10-20

Inc IolloWlng letter from an As /
ISOLATED Press correspondent at the |
Dardanelles front is of interest in |
view Of the assertion of Lord Miner |
in the House of Lords last week that
the British campaign on the Gallipoli |
peninsula had been a failure. There |
have been no changes of great i'm
portance since the letteE was written.
CONSTANTINOPLE Sept. 1.-The
position of the allied troops on the
Anafarta-Ari-Burnu front OF the
Gallipoli peninsula can hardly be
described as a promising one. Such
at least was the impression gained
by The Associated Press correspond
emit during an eight days stay in the
war arena in question.
The factors upon which this conclusion
is based are a thorough inspection OF
the Turkish and allied trenches and
artillery positions and the statements of
Turkish officers and allied prisoners OF
war.
Result Of -Four Actions.
What II perhaps Of more Importance IL
the result OF four major military actions
which occurred while the correspondent
was on this front. They consisted of an
attack by the allies on n Turkish position
north of Kodjatchemen Dagh on the
afternoon of August 20. an assault on
Turkish trenches in the same general
locality on the same night and two at
tackB on Anafarta on August 20 and "a.
In each instance the allies we're driven
back with heavy losses. No permanent
advantages were gained by them.
The losses Of the Turks we're by no
means light in any Of these operations.
but the allies, acting on the offensive
suffered heavily. Their losses for the
four actions are estimated at 1900 to
1900 dead and double that number Of
wounded.
The ground held by the allies was that
part OF the coast region which could be
commanded by their naval artillery.
Thus far the allies have landed in the
Anafarta region about $4,000 men. a large
part OF which force already has been used
up. 1t is safe to say that they are to-
day opposed by about $4,000 Turka who
are actually entrenehed. with about 5000
in reserve
Advantages with Turks.
Every advantage Of terrain is held by
the Turks, whose trenches are located on
higher ground than those of the allies.
With important positions lost the allies
today hold themselves in the Anafarta
region solely by virtue of an immense
artillery fire superiority. without the
support OF some forty line ships. cruisers
and torpedo boats they would be thrown
into the sea.
There have been moments. however,
. when the Turkish troops in the Anafarta
district have been hard pressed. An at
tack made by the allies on August %
and n in the direction of Kiretch Tepe
' ended In terrible slaughters OF British
! troops. some $500 dead being counted on
August Is.
. British prisoners assert that their posi-
tion is a most trying one. Water Is ex-
tremely scarce In the Anafsrta region
and Il 10 said only one well is in the hands
OF the British. The result is that water
: must be brought from the island OF
. Imbros and even from Saloniki. One half
. pint OF water at noon is the only allow
D ance of this necessity, prisoners state
. that IL given
what soldier Eats.
: Up 20 week ago the food OF the Brit
i ish soldier consisted OF six army biscuits
9 a preserved meat ration, some candy and
/ jam. Poor health Is the result OF this
T diet The correspondent talked to nm IN
: glish prisoner who, unable to obtain medi-
Q cal assistance, had become so weak from
dysentery that his comrades had 10 aban
don him when the Turks took the trench
. in which he was stationed It Is sail
r there are many similar cases.
!. To other handicaps of the allied troop.