Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-21
ATTACK ON FORTS
OF DARDANELLES
British and French Fleets Join in
Bombardment, With Consid-
cradle Success.
NONE OF ALLIES SHIPS HIT
Naval Experts Think Engage
mcnt Must Have Been One of
Most Serious Undertaken.
NONE OF ALLIES SHIPS Hit

The first serious attack by the Brit
ish and French Mediterranean fleets.
assisted by acroDlanes and scaplanes.
on the Dardanclles forts. which began
yesterday and continued to-day, has
met with considerable success. accord
ing to the British official account and
unofficial accounts received at Athens
from the Island Of Tenedos, at the en-
trance to the straits.
The Turkish official report. however.
stated that no damage had been done
to the forts, and that the casualties
Of the defenders consiste ed OF one killed
and one wounded. but tina, three of
the warships were damaged by shots
from the forts
British reports said that tho forts
on the European side OF the straits
were silenced yesterday. and that only
ono OF tho forts on the Asiatic sido
was still nring last night. while mono
of the warships had been damaged.
The Greek accounts said that tho
Asiatic forts were silenced to-day, but
no official report OF this bomba rdment
has been Issued by the admiralty as
yet
BoMBARDMENT ONE OF MOST
SERIOUS EVER UNDERTAKEN
The bombardment must have been
one OF the most serious ever under
taken. In the opinion OF naval experts.
for no less than eight battleships and
armored cruisers took part, these war
ships having total of thirty twelve
inch and six ten-inch guns. which out
ranged the guns OF the forts.
Early on Friday morning this feet
including the British battle cruiser In
flexible. which had Just returned from
the Falkland Islands, where with
other ships. she took part in the battle
In which Admiral Count Won Specs
German squadron was destroyed
opened long-range bomba rdment on
the forts at Cape Helles and at Kun
kalesi. at the entrance to the straits
When these forts had been damaged,
the battleship force closed In and en-
gagged the forts with their six, seven
and n!ne-inch guns, which. Il is be-
lieved. must have poured an enormous
rain OF shells on the Turkish positions
Besides desiring to bring Turkey to
her knees. the allies, In their attempt
to force the Dardanelles. aim at an
early release of the large stock OF
wheat which is locked UP in Russian
warehouses. and which the allies wish
to get out, both to relieve the markets
and 10 provide Russia with necessary
credit to pay for war material bought
abroad.
The text OF the admiralty's an
nouncement follows:
Yesterday morning at 8 o'clock
British fleet OF battleships and battle
cruisers. accompanied by flotillas and
aided by a strong French squadron, the
whole under the command Of Vice-Ad-
frn
the forts at the entrance to the Dar-
danellcs
The forts at Cape Helles and Kun
kale were bombarded with deliber-
ate. long range fire Considerable ef-
feet was produced on two of the forts.
The others were frequently hit, but,
being open earthworks II was difficult
to estimate the damage. The forts,
being outranged, were unable to reply
to our fire.
AT 2:4b o'clock in the afternoon a
portion OF the battleship force was or
dered to close in, and engage the forts
Mt closer range with their secondary
armament
The forts on both sides OF the en-
trance then opened fire. and were en-
gagged at moderate ranges by the Ven
geance. CORVALLIS. Triumph. Suffren
and Bouvet. supported by the Infexible
and the Agamemnon at long range.
The forts on the European side
were apparently silenced. One fort on
the Asiatic side was still firing when
the operations were suspended owing
to the failing light No ships of the
allied fleet were hit
The action was renewed this morn
ing after an aerial reconnaissance by
British aeroplanes. The ship Ark
Royal Is in attendance with a number
OF seaplanes and acroplanes of the
naval wing"
FORTS REPLY