New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-20
GERMAN SHELLS
BOLSTER TURKS;
AUTUMN AN AID
Krupp Workers Grind Out
Munitions-Allies Fear
for Supplies.

Constantinople, Aug. q - hAaS'iS
three months have passed since the
position" war between the Allies and
the Turks at Ari Burnu and Seddul-
Bahr started. On May the Turkish
troops had dug and occupied the
trenches in which, with few exceptions
they are still found to-day.
Offenslves by the Allies and counter
offensives by the Turks have led TO
but slight changes in the terrain' oe-
cupied Immediately after the landing OF
the allied troops during the last week
Of April. At Arr Burnu very little ter
rain has been lost by either side. While
temporary changes have been some
what greater and more frequent at
Seddul-Bahr, both Turks and Allies
have strained every resource TO regain
what had been lost. In most cases the
Allies have reoccupied lost trenches by
virtue Of overwhelming bombardments,
while the Turks have retaken their lost
trenches at the point Of the bayonet, as
a rule. Latterly, too. the sapper's mine
has been often employed by both sides
when a trench of the opponent had TO
be taken or when trench had to De
reoccupied.
During the last three weeks posi-
tom fighting on the Gallipoli PENN
sula has diminished to what may De
termed its minimum. The Turks nave
not pressed the Allies, because for the
time being little was to be gained by
driving the French and English forces
from the peninsula. 1t has been argued
here that SO long as the Allies are at
Ari Burnu and Seddul-Bahr other land
ing operations elsewhere are unlikely.
The Allies landed on the peninsula un-
der the cover of naval artillery nre,
the violence of which has not yet been
forgotten by the Turks. To have the
same experience on some other part
Of the European or Asiatic coast does
not appeal to the Turks.
Allied Artillery Less Active.
Meanwhile the naval and land artil-
lery Of the Allies Is no longer as active
as It has been. The action radius OF
both armies has been greatly limited
by the nearness 20 one another or the
onposing trenches. Several weeks ago
ne Turks and Allies tried to make
hombardment of the other sides
trenches easy and safe by marking
their own trenches with little white
signs. The first step in this direction
was taken by the Turks. But the Al
lies soon discovered what had been
done, and placed similar signs along
their trenches. Then the British and
French trenches were marked with a
light yellow sign for the guidance OF
the allied naval and land artillery. The
Turks learned of this and placed SINH
lar signs along their own trenches. Sew
eral bombardments attempted after
that led to shelling ones own posi-
tions. Since then the trench has be-
come the safest place against artillery
fire near the front.
That the artillery markers-the
signs spoken of-are of no value when
exposed by both sides is due 20 the
fact that the lines of trenches run in
and out of one another, and that, usu-
ally, either side must so label several
trenches running parallel TO the ad-
vance position which established the
boundary of the terrain that may be
shelled without placing friendly troops
in jeopardy. This condition is largely
responsible for the long spell OF mac
tivity which the allied feet has had,
though the presence of the German
submarines has also had a deterrent
effect. Everything considered, it may
be said that under present conditions
The Turkish artillery on the peninsula
can do as much work as the numerl-
cally greatly superior allied artillery.
Climate Helps the Turk.
On the British and French troops
this has had no good influence. As an
infantryman the Turk Is fully the
equal if not the superior of the French
man and Britisher. In addition, the
Anatolian peasant, who forms fully SO
per cent of the Turkish forces on the
peninsula, has the advantage of being
used TO the climate, which during the
summer has made itself felt in sur
felt of sitting heat. Together with the
enforced idleness of the allied ship
batteries, these circumstances seem TO
have caused a feeling in the British
and French trenches which does not
augur well for a speedy advance on
Constantinople.
There is no longer any doubt that
the Allies believed firmly that the
Turkish artillery would soon be with
out ammunition. IIloOuSiS Va "eA
and the letters and diaries found in the
Allied trenches have again and again
reiterated this. But this state OF
affairs has never set in. During the
last two weeks the Turkish batteries
at Avi Burnu, Seddul-Bahr and on the
Anatolian shore of the Dardanelles
have been very active and have shown
that there is no lack of ammunition to
be hoped for owing TO the resource
fulness of the men forming the Otto
man General staff. Employees Of the
Krupp establishment are making artil-
lery ammunition OF all sorts in and
near this city. The Turks have the
situation so well in hand now that even
shells Of the largest calibre are being
turned out under the management OF
German ordnance officers brought here
for the purpose. Even an infantry rifle
factory is now in operation.
The coming of autumn will render
the position OF the Allied troops on the
peninsula even more precarious, should
shey have failed by that time 10 sd-
vsSse considerably beyond their pres
mt POSITIONS. So far the Allies have
found 4 impossible 70 establish near
Seddul pahr and Avi Burnu the sup
ply bases that will be needed when,
during the fell and winter months, bad
weather will make il impossible TO ship
from the adjacest islands OF lmbros,
Lemnos and Tenedss, In the piecemea'
fashion in which this Is now done, the
food and ammunition required.