New-York tribune., 1915-10-31
THE DARDAN ELLES--DEFEAT OR DISASTER!
The Battle for Achi Baba,
Sari Bahr and
the Turkish
Forts.
Copyright 1918.
By The New York Tribune.

This prcnontory is perhaps fifty miles
long, extending westward from the Euro
pean mainland, with the Dardanelles
Straits 20 the south and the Gulf of Saros
10 the north. In his first report Sir Ian
Hamilton compared il 70 a wel-worn boot.
and this figure makes IL easy 70 describe
both the main fee cures of the battlefield
and the progress Of the conflict itself.
Thus the toe Of the boot is the western
end of the peninsula, the extreme point Of
which Is Cape Hellas and the notable feat
ure Is the town OF Sedul Bahr, the dt-
of the Turkish forts commanding the en-
trance 70 the Straits and the scene OF the
first fighting.
Eastward from Sedul Bahr, along the
sole Of the boot TO the heel, is slightly less
than ten miles, and exactly at the heel Is
the narrow point IN the Dardanelles, com
manded by a cluster Of Turkish forts on
the Gallipoli Peninsula and faced by
others on the Asiatic shore.
Al Suvla Bay.
On the north shore Of the peninsula,
at the ankle, is a curving bay-beginning
az the hill of Gabs Tepe and ending ct
Suvla Bay-a stretch Of three or four
miles, dominated by the ridge of Sari
Bahr, some 900 feet over the Gulf OF
Saros. From Cape Hellas to Suvla Bay is
perhaps twelve miles. At Gaba Tepe, the
ankle, the Gallipoli Peninsula Is about five
miles wide; at the toe, between Sedul Bahr
and Cape Hellas, less than two.
The objective of the Allied forces was
the cluster Of forts just under the heel,
above the village of Kilid Bahr. To reach
this two ways were open. Troops could be
landed along tho shore Of the ankle from
Gaba Tepe TO Suvls Bay. They could also
be landed at the toe from Cape Hellas TO
Sedul Bahr, and Just under the toe at
Morto Bay-the best landing place Of all,
but under fire from Turkish batteries on
the Asiatic shore near the site Of Troy.
East of Cape Hellas as far as Gaba Teps
the character Of the coast was such a,
10 make landing operations difficult, and
an effort here ended In relative failure.
The first problem of Sir Ian Hamilton
was 70 get his troops ashore, and he was
obliged TO make a general attempt--that
is, to fling his forces at every available
landing place at once--in order 10 avoid the
destruction of each separate landing party
by the Turks, who could easily concentrate
overwhelming numbers at any threatened
point. The landing cost $4,000 British
casualties-that is, number equal TO the
whole of tho first American expedition
to Santiago In 1898.
u The First Check.
The landing was made mainly at the toe
, from Cape Hellas TO Sedul Bahr. Mean
time the French landed on the Asiatic side
= near tho site of Troy, and for the moment
u, so engaged the Asiatic batteries that
Morto Bay was occupied. At the same
time other parties were put ashore al
, the ankle, above Gaba Tepe, and below it
on the instep, east of Cape Hellas and
" Gaba Tepe. But these two landing par
ties were instantly checked and until the
q last few days could make no progress
d whatever.
e Once the main force was ashore II
k moved up the toe of the boot, stretching
ie line straight across the peninsula. But
le after having progressed for some three
le miles it reached the first strong defensive
IN position, that of Achi Baba. Here a line
is of hills stretches straight across the PENN
g sula, rising abruptly from the Gulf Of
Saros TO an elevation Of 400 feet and from
~ the Straits to 500 feet Midway across
,e the peninsula and just east of the village
" of Krithia Is the dominating hill Of Achi
,r Baba, 709 feet high. Against this position
1t the Allied forces moved on the first day
,e after they landed, but they were halted
G. there. and have been unable to make any
m substantial progress.
IL Second and Third Tries
Meantime a second force landed above
10 Gaba Tepe was designed 10 move south
across the instep, thus arriving in the rear
a of the Achi Bsba position and compelling
the Turks TO retire from it. But this force
!. was no less promptly checked along the
:, face of the Sari Bahr hill.
- The third and last attack was made
- north of Sari Bahr, the landing taking
u place in the broad roadstead between
. Suvla Cape and the seaward slopes of Ssri
SO Bahr. The object was TO seize the ridge
, Iof hills extending from Sari Bahr north