New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-04
By ELLIS ASHMEAD BARTLETT.
my Csbl, to me Tribun.

Eastern Mediterranean, Aug. % (cor-
respondence Of The Morning Post"
London).-If we have failed in the
great strategic scheme of getting
astride the peninsula north of Anzac
by seizing the hills around Anafarta
and forcing the enemy to abandon his
positions before the Achi Baba Kalid
Bahr salient. it certainly has not been
through want of trying. The plan
failed because the corps could not push
through with a rush when the enemy
was completely surprised and had only
a few battslions to oppose our di-
visions.
The first attempt to seize the hills
around Anafsrta having definitely
broken down by the morning of Au-
gust 10, it required time before fresh
attempt could be made. Until August
81 the army was not in a position 70
make frontal attack on the Turks in
this quarter.
This ten days interval was made
full use of by the enemy, who, now
knowing definitely where our main
blow would fall, was able to release
his divisions in the north stationed
around Pulair and bring some of them
to the threatened point. All hope of
effecting a surprise had now vanished.
1t was obvious that the position COM
prised within the sector stretching from
Hill 10 to Hill 112. the line chosen
for our assault, could only be taken
by a frontal attack and sheer hard
fighting. Meanwhile the Turks had dug
themselves in up to their necks.
Our immediate objective on the left
was the capture of Hill 10, which lies
in front of our main position and has
caused US so much trouble ever since
the landing. Our centre and right were
TO advance from the ridge in front of
Chocolate Hill to Burnu. and from the
trenches in the plain south of it, and
after capturing the Turkish trenches
in the low ground in the immediate
front, were to converge and assault
the main objective, Hill liz.
Battleships Move Closer.
For the bombardment which was to
precede the attack the battleships
moved in closer to the shore. At ex-
actly p. m, August q, the first gun
was fired, and for half an hour we
witnessed another Of those terrible
bombardments which have become
commonplace on this bloody soil. Once
again the enemy's trenches appeared
to be swallowed up in clouds of earth
and smoke, but the Turks showed no
sign, and not a man left his position.
While this bombardment lasted the
enemy's guns replied furiously, con-
centrating his fire chiefly on and be-
hind Chocolate Hill. which was
wreathed in bursting shrapnel. Very
soon the shells set fire to the bush
and scrub, which, famed by the breeze,
burned furiously, spreading with
amazing rapidity, and at times blot.
ting out the position in clouds OF
rolling smoke and flames.
At $3.50 a regiment crept from the
trenches toward Hill 70. This was the
signal for a terrific outburst OF rine
fire from the whole length of the Turk
ish line. At the same time another
regiment advanced. The guns still
Numbered away at the trenches on top,
but the Turkish infantry did not seem
to care. Many of them stood boldly
ND from cover to get better view OF
the advancing lines of khaki figures.
The rife fire was desfening, and | DO
not think | ever heard such din as
that produced by the ships guns and
field pieces and thousands OF rifles.
At ten minutes to four two regl-
ments made a final rush up the hill.
A great solid mass Of khaki, with bay
onets glistening amidst smoke and
dust. seemed to emerge from the burnt
scrub and surge toward the trenches
on top. For few minutes the artll-
lery heightened their fuses and shelled
the reverse slopes, leaving the trenches
clear.
Turks Fire on Khaki Lines.
The Turks came out on top and hred
furiously into the advancing INES.
Some seemed to waver for moment
and abandoned the crest, running down
behind, but the majority stuck to their
trenches, determined to die where they
stood. Our men got high up on the
hill. but on the north side the battalion
was brought to a standstill by machine
guns and cross-fre on the south. Some
of our men reached the top and Jumped
into the trenches, where they died hght-
ing among the Turks at bayonet point
For a few minutes it looked as If the
hill was won, for our men were swarm
ing all over it just below the crest