New-York tribune., 1915-03-22
BRITISH REPORT
& CASUALTIES
In DARDANELLES
Expresses Con-
fdence in Ability to
Dominate Forts.
FRENCH GALLANTRY
OFFICIALLY PRAISED
Their Heavy Losses Leave
Them Quite Undaunted,' Says
English Commander.

London, March 21.-The Admiralty
tonight made the following announce
ment:
"Unfavorable weather has interrupt
ed the operations in the Dardanelles,
and, as seaplane reconnoissances have
not been possible. the amount of dam
age done to the forts by the lombard
ment of the 18th cannot be ascer-
tained.
"No great expectations should. how
ever, be based on this, as, owing TO
the losses caused by drifting minss,
the attack was not pressed to its con-
clusion on that day.
"The power OF the fleet to dominate
the fortresses by superiority Of fire
seems to be established. Various other
dangers and difficulties will have to be
encountered. but nothing mas happened
which justifies the belief that the cost
Of the undertaking will exceed what
has always been expected and pro-
vided fo-.
"The British casualties in the per
sonnel are sixty-one men killed, wound
ed and missing.
admiral De Robeck has telegraphed
to the Admiralty as follows: Il desire
to bring to the notice Of your lord
ships the splendid behavior of the
French squadron. Their heavy loss
leaves them quite undaunted. They
were led into close action by Rear Ad-
miral Guepratte with the greatest gal
lantry."
Another statement made public by
the Admiralty tonight shows that the
total casualties among the officers of
the British ships engaged in the fight
ing in the Dardanelles last Thursday,
when the Irresistible and Ocean were
sunk, were four killed and two Sc
verely wounded on the Irresistible. and
three killed on the Iafexible.
A casualty list of the men shows
that twenty on board the Inhexible
and four on the Irresistible were killed.
Paris, March 21.-Admirals of the
Allied feet, who conferred aboard the
French flagship Suffren Friday regard
ing their future course in attempting to
force a passage of the Dardanelles. are
believed to have decided unanimously
to renew soon the general attack, says
a Havas dispatch from Tenedos.
The French battleship Gaulois, the
dispatch says, which was badly dam
aged along the waterline by shells from
the Turkish forts, is anchored in deep
water of Mavrais Island, while her
sister ship, the Charlemagne, is standing
by to offer assistance il needed. II has
been found difficult to make immediate
repairs to the Gaulois because of
stormy weather and high seas
A survivor of the Bouvet tells the
following story Of the French battle
ship:
"The Bouvet advanced at full speed
into the NRrrows. We bombarded Fort
Hamideh, whose batteries responded
vigorously. The Turkish shells at first
were poorly aimed. but they soon de-
termined the correct range. Shells
burst on the Bouvet and on all sides of
her. causing seri damage.
"My station was under the bridge of
the commandant, who had just given
orders 70 change our course. when l
heard terrible noise. 1t was the eX-
Dlosion of the powder magazine.
Tmmedately the Bouvet commenced
20 list heavily and many of her crew
were swallowed up by the rush of wa
ters. The forts kept up an unceasing
fire against our ship, although she was
sinking. | was saved by an English
boat"
Torpedo boats are dragging along the
shores of the Dardanelles for the
bodies of drowned sailors, which are
placed aboard the hospital ships Can
ada and Soudan as soon as they are
found.
Women living along the shores OF