The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-04-08
FORCING THE DARDANELLES.
Wonderful Spectacle Described by
Eye Witness Correspondent.

danelles forts on March IS, and
which resulted in the sinking of sew
eral ships, told the story as follows:
The action lasted nearly seven
hours. during which time there was
a terrific cannonade from the ships
and the forts. The fire from the war
ships at times was exceedingly severe,
but the Turkish gunners maintained
their precision wonderfully, even
when literally buried in the earth
and debris which the exploding shells
from the warships threw broadcast
over their positions.
The allies put in an appearance at
about half past II in the morning,
throwing their first shells into the
town Of Chanak-kalessi. Their YES
sells at this hour numbered four
French and five British battleships.
A little later five other British war
ships entered the bay and the bonn
bardment rapidly became wonderful
ly terrific and spectacular.
The correspondent of the Assoclat-
ed Press had taken shelter in Fort
Chimenlik, but he was driven out by
shells to a position on hill outside
the town. Even this hill already
was burning in two places as result
Of exploding shells.
In the beginning the range of the
British and French gunners was ex-
cellent. The correspondent saw
shell land fair on a corner of Fort
Kale-Sultanie tower and tear out a
large hole in the masonry. This
routed out party Of newspaper cor
respondents. While they were ira
houses were. knocked to pieces by
exploding shells. The trip to the
town was accelerated by the we'll di-
rected shots. While the correspond
ents were on the water front several
large shells exploded 100 yards away
and splinters from them filled the
air
This attention from the British
gunners was due to the fact that the
party of correspondents was moving
along in the centre of body of SOL
diers
The fire from the warships soon
became general. One shell buried it
self in the ground close to the group
of observers; fortunately in explod-
ing it did no damage.
The hillside toward which the cor
respondents we're making their way,
finally was reached at about half
past -. 1t then was seen that the
British had centred their fire on the
forts. The noise OF the explosions
and replies of the Turkish batteries
were deafening. The area of fire
was so extended that at times the
correspondents were unable to find
cover anywhere. A certain vantage
point however. finally was decided
on. and from this position the OBJ
servers looked upon wonderful as
sault; the concentrated attack OF
large group of modern battleshlps
against we'll built and we'll defended
land Notifications. At times the
smoke was so thick that it complete
" blotted out the horizon and total
" enveloped the particular Turkish
forts under fire: but time and again
the smoke cleared and showed the
Turkish position virtually undamag-
ed. The fire of the Turks was rapid
and accurate, so much so that the
fire from the warships began to be
erratic. Many shots flew high, while
others fell short. One result was
that the town of Chanak-kalessi, be-
hind forts Hamidieh and Cheminlik
had wide avenues cut through IT.
Fire broke out in the Greek quarters
and destroyed considerable num-
ber of houses. Turkish soldiers,
formed into fire brigades, were sue
cessful in keeping the flames down.
The bombardment reached It's
greatest intensity at 3:15 in the al
ternoon. when suddenly the French
battleship Bouvet was observed to
be riding low by the stern. The next
minute she swung little to port,
then her afterdeck disappeared un-
der water. For about two minutes
she held in this position, then set
tied completely by the stern, her
bows clear of the water. The next
instant the waves closed over her.
On shore it was believed she had
struck a mine. Boats rushed to the
rescue. but only a few men were
saved.
A few minutes later large Turk
ish shell was seen to strike the deck
n.:4;.h ,,oeeal Whom the smoke