Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-01
BRITISH WAR
OFFICE STORY
OFATTACKAT
DARDANELLES
Began April Is on Six
Different Beaches

London, April 30.-The British war
Office tonight made public an official
communication concerning the opera
lions Of the allies against the Darda-
nelles:
1.-The Decentralization of the army in
the Dardanelles began before sunrise
on April %. Six different beaches were
used, and the operation was covered
by the whole feet.
THE landing was Immediately sue
cessful on five beaches, although It was
opposed with vigor by a strongly en-
trenched enemy in successive lines,
which were protected by barbed wire
entanglements. In some places so
yards wide, and supported by artil
Iery.
ION the sixth beach, near Seddul
Pair the troops could not advance I'M
til evening when fine attack by the
British infantry from the direction Of
Cape Tekeh relieved the pressure on
their front. The arrangements for
landing had been concerted in the ut
most detail between the fleet and the
army.
First Days Work
THE result Of the first days oper-
atoms was the establishment Of strong
forces Of British. Australian and
French forces at three points, namely,
the Australian and New Zealand troops
on the lower slopes of Sari Bair to
the north Of Gaba Tepe Of British
troops at Cape Tekeh, at Cape Helles
and near Morto bay and Of a French
force on the Asiatic shore at Kun ka-
leh after a gallant attack toward Yeni
Shehr.
During the afternoon Of the 18th
strong counter-attacks by the enemy
began and hard fighting took place.
Meanwhile the Decentralization Of the
army proceeded and was continually
favored by good weather.
At daybreak on the 26th, the enc
my was still holding the village and
position Of Scddul Bahr. which was
labyrinth Of caves, ruins, trenches,
pits and entanglements. Aided by the
gun fire OF the fleet this position was
stormed by the British in frontal at
tack through unchanged wire entan-
Elements. Seddul Bahr was taken
about p. M. The feature at this end
Of the peninsula thus was definitely
secured and the Decentralization Of
French and British forces proceeded
Steady Advance
On the morning of the 9th, after re-
pulsing a Turkish attack upon their left
towards Cape Helles, the allied force
advanced and at P. M. was established
in an entrenched line running from a
point about two miles north of Cape
Taken to a small plateau above De
Tots battery. From this line an advance
since has been made to the neighborhood
of Krithia.
Meanwhile the Australian and New
Zealand troops at Sari Bair who pushed
on with the utmost boldness. after the
landing on the 18th had been engaged al
most constantly with the enemy. who
made strong repeated counter-attacks
which invariably were repulsed. The
Australian and New Zealand troops
fought with fine spirit of determination.
Resume Offensive
On the morning of the 9th a fresh
Turkish division was launched against
Sari Bair, preceded by heavy artillery
fire. A hot engagement followed. The
enemy came on time after time, but the
Australian and New Zealand troops de-
feated their every attempt and by p.
M. had resumed the offensive.
1.-THE French troops at Kun Kaleh also
were four times strongly counter-attack-
ed on the 18th but retained all their po-
sitions. Five hundred Turks who, in
the course Of one Of these counter-at-
lacks were cut off by the fire of the
fleet. were made prisoners.
The operation of the army in the face
of modern weapons and in spite of wire
entanglements under sea as well as on
land. and Of land mines and deep pits
with spikes at their bottoms, thus has
been accomplished.
Praise for Soldiers
The admiral reports that the fleet is
filed with intense admiration over the
achievements of their military comrades.
1.-THE casualties in the army necessari-
ly have been heavy. The casualties in
the fleet were not numerous. They ap-
pear to have been confined to torpedo
boat destroyers and to boats crews en-
gagged in landing operations in which
merchant captains and officers and crews
of transports also have taken part
During the operation Turkish war
ships fran Niagara lin the straits) several
times have attempted to intervene, but
have always made off directly the Queen
Elizabeth was at hand.
AT noon on the 9th, however, a trans
port of about 5000 tons was reported off
Maidos. and before she could escape the
Queen Elizabeth opened fire. The third
shot hit and destroyed her. She sank
rapidly, but whether she contained troops
or not could not be seen.
ION the 18th and 18th the allied forces
rested and improved and consolidated
their positions and continued the disem-
barkation of stores and artillery. All
counter-attacks by the enemy. which
were incessant on the 2Sth but weaker
on the 10Th, were repulsed.
1.-THE fleet as well as the supporting
army has begun to engage the batteries.
The Triumph bombarded Maidos. which
was In flames last night, the 29th.'