The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-31
DESCRIBES BATTLE
TURK VERSION OF SINKING OF
ALLIED SHIPS.
Efforts Of French and English to
Force Dardanelles Straits Reached
Climax in Fierce Battle.

Climax in Fierce Battle.
Berlin reports Monday that the
Constantinople correspondent Of the
Wolff bureau telegraphed Monday to
Berlin description Of the fighting al
the Dardanelles on Thursday, March
IS, in which the French battleship
Mouvet and two British battleships
were sent to the bottom:
"The efforts of the allies to force
the straits of TIE Dardanelles reach
ed their climax in an artillery duel
on Thursday, March IS, which lasted
seven hours. The entire atmosphere
around the Turkish forts were dark.
ened by clouds of smoke from ex-
ploding shells and quantities Of earth
thrown into the air by the projectiles
of the French and British Warships
"The earth trembled for miles
around. The allies entered the straits
at half past II in the morning. -Four
French and FIVE British warships took
part in the beginning. This engage
ment reached it's climax at half pasl
one, when the fire of the allies was
concentrated upon Fort Hamidiet
and the adjacent fortified positions
"The attack of modern marine ar
tillery upon strong land forts pre-
sented an interesting as well as terri
flying spectacle. At times the forts
were completely enveloped in smoke
At 2 o'clock the allies changed theil
TASTES and concentrated their fire up
on individual batteries, but it wa:
evident that they found difficulty II
getting the range. Many Of theil
shells fell short, casting up pillars O
water or went over the forts to ex
plode in the town.
cat a quarter past three when ths
bombardment was at its hottest the
French battleship Bouvet was seen tt
be sinking at the stern. A momen
later her bows swung clear OF tnt
water and she was going down.
Roaring cheers from the Turkish
garrisons and forts greeted this sight
Torpedo boats and other craft Of thu
allies hurried to the rescue, but the!
were successful in saving only few
men. Besides having been struck o!
a mine, the Bouvet was severely dam
aged above the water line by shell
/ fire. A mast also was shot away aat
hung overheard. 1t could be seer
that the Bouvet, when she sank, wa
endeayoring to gain the mouth Of tn,
straits. This, however, was difficult
owing apparently to the fact that he
machinery had been damaged.
Shortly after the sinking Of tn,
Bouvet, a British ship was struck OF
the deck squarely amidships AM
compelled to withdraw from the fight
Then another British vessel was bal
ly damaged and at a quarter befoc
four was seen to retire, under ter
rife fire from the Turkish batteries
This vessel ran in toward the shore
"For full hour the allies tried t
protect her with their guns, but !
was apparent she was destined TO
destruction. Eight effective hit
showed the hopclessness Of the situa
ton for his vessel. She then with
drew towards the mouth OF the Oar
danelles, which she reached in feI
minutes under hail Of shells. Tn
forts continued firing until the allie
were out Of range.
"This was the first day when tn
warships attacking the Dardanelle
kept within range Of the Turkisl
guns for any considerable length Q
time. The result for them was ter
rible, owing to the excellent marks
manship from the Turkish batteries
The allies fired on this day 200
shells without silencing one shor
battery. The result has inspired th
| Turks with confidence and they ar
looking forward to further engage
ments with calm assurance"