Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-08
STORY OF EYE WITNESS.
Tells Of effectiveness OF Guns Of AiIise
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SJOHY Or EYE WtTNESSs
Tells Of Effectiveness OF Guns Of Allied
Fleet.
Athens, March S.-The first real eye
witness story describing the lombard
ment OF, the Dardanelles ports by the
allied fleet was brought here by man
from Tenedos island. who from Mount
Ilios saw the battleships pour their fire
into the strongholds.
The sight was q most magnificent
one" he said "At first the fleet ranged
In semi circle some miles out to sea
from the entrance to the straits. It at
forded an inspiring spectacle as 1t came
along and took up it's position and the
picture became most awe inspiring
when the guns began to boom.
"The bombardment at first was slow,
the shells from the various ships
,, screaming thru the air at the rate of
about one every two minutes. The gum
ners' marksmanship was excellent, and
with strong glasses I could see huge
masses Of earth and stone work thrown
high up into the air. The din even at
that distance was terrific, and when
, the largest ship with the biggest guns
in the world joined the martial chorus
the air was filled with the ear-splitting
noise.
Turk Forts Hold Fire.
The Turkish batteries, however,
were not to be drawn, and, realizing
this, the British admiral sent one Brit
ish ship and one French ship close in
shore towards the Siddul Bahr forts.
1T was a pretty sight to see the
two battleships swing rapidly away
! towards the northern cape, splitting a.e
and smoke as they rode along. They
obscured the pure atmosphere with
clouds Of smoke from their tunnels and
guns.
Thru it all could see they were
getting home with. their shots They
fired as they went In They sped
right under the guns of the shore bat
teries, which could no longer resist the
temptation to see what they could do.
Puffs Of white smoke dotted the land
scape on the far shore and dull booms
echoed over the placid waters. Around
the ships fountains Of water sprang
high up into the air. The enemy had
been drawn but its craftsmanship was
bad. think ! am right in saying that
not a single shot directed against the
ships came within 100 yards OF any
ono OF them.
Allies, Shots True to Mark.
"Out came the two ships again in-
effectively pursued by shells from the
Turkish batteries. As they retired they
continued to make excellent practice
and the parting shots were quite as
good as their first. ,1
The position and, the number os
the enemy's batteries had been discov-
cred as result Of this brilliant little
piece OF work and soon the Turkish
guns were under a hail OF the most
deadly shells warfare ever has known.
From a distance which must have
been ten miles at least. monster pro-
jectiles dealing destruction and death
were poured in upon the forts guarding
the entrance, and each one appeared to
create frightful inferno where it
landed.
The people Of the little island gath
cred on all the high points to see the
der of 1t struck them with utter amaze
ment."
Saw Flsst Enter Straits.
Later my friend was able to witness
subsequent stage Of the bombardment
from a nearer point still. What he saw
while on an island Of the Rabbit group
isssN~'i 0SAAA AASA SCA CSlAA6s w ASll lAO
early part Of the bombardment the
allies successfully dealt with the en-
trance fortiications, several ships were
able to enter the straits and on the
broad sheet Of water inside were carry
ing on the work Of destroying the bat
teries farther up the arm of the sea.
Before that was done. however, the
forts at Kun Kale had to be dealt with
and that was done In an extraordinary
manner. One section Of the fleet, pro-
tected by the extreme point Of the
Gallipoli peninsula. fired over the hilly
promontory at the forts, making splen-
did practice.
Another part Of the squadron from a
sheltered position off the coast north
east Of Tenodos island directed q tell
ing fire on the same forts besides turn
ing attention with obviously great ef-
feet on groups Of Turkish troops seen
moving on the mainland. The silenc-
ing Of the Kun Kale forts finally has
opened the entrance to the Dardanelles.