Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-03-25
British BattIeships Irresistible
and Ocean Are Lost, Besides
French Bouvet Sunk By
.Torpedoes or Mines.
SEVERAL SHIPS DAMAGED
Thursdays Operations Prove
Costly to Anglo French Fleet
But Other Warships Re-
turn to Assault.
NARROWS FORTS HOLD OUT
Some, However, Have Suffered
Severely Russians Enter
Bospi1orus--CapitaI An
tjCipates Smelling.
NARROWS FORTS HOLD OUT

Paris, Cvia London). March ~
Official announcement was made
here this afternoon that ga men
have been saved from the crew of
the French battlesllip, Bouvet,
sunk in the ~Dardanelles, March is.
The losses on the other ships of
the French division which took
part in this action are declared To
be very slight.
London. March 2O.-with the
Russian Black sea fleet reported
knocking at the door of the Bos-
phorus and six allied battleships
renewing the bombardment of the
Turkish position on the Dardan-
ellis, the fate of the straits is
today hanging in the balance ac-
cording to opinions freely eX-
pressed in London. Nevertheless
reports from Turkish sources still
profess supreme confidence in the
impregnability of the defending
forts, which it is claimed have sue
cessfully sustained u bo~mbardment
extending over u days.
The report of the British admir-
atty giving new Of the sinking Of
the three battIeships, two British
and one French. is rather hazy as
to the results achieved by this sac
rifice and it gives weight to the
growing belief that the straits will
not be won until the naval opera
lions are supported by effective
land forces.
Although Turkish official reports
minimize the effect of the bonn
~bardHent and declare that Con-
stantinople is not afraid, infor-
nation received from other near
~tt- a;,.4 --a,,- sD,fl +t4t no
gotiations already have been be-
gun with the American embassy
to act as an intermediary to save
the ottoman capital from the guns
of the allied WarShips.
London, March 2o.-After losing
three battieships. the British Irresist-
able and ocean and the French Bouvet
in Thursdays operations against the
Turkish forts at the narrows of the
Dardanelles, the allied fleet mas re
turned 20 the bombardment of the
Turkish defenses. The three battle
ships were blown up either by torpodes
or floating mines after having e
damaged by she'll fire.
The Smelling OF the land defense!
We're resumed the next day, Friday
but apparently without result becaus'
1t is said, unfavorabfe weather condi-
rendered operations difficult.
The loss of the three battleships oc-
CURED in waters that already had beer
cleared of mines. The British officia
report says the warships were blowi
up by drifting mines, but the Turklsf
report says they were blown UP By
]torpedoes. All were old craft.
The British ba;tleships Queen ant
1mDlacable and the French battleshiI
Henry w have been dispatched to thu
Dardanellcs to TAXI the place or TIT
lost vessels. These craft were alread!
en- route in anticipation of the loss o
some of the bombarding fleet.
Several Ships Hit.
Several allied vessels were damaged
by the fire from the Turkish forts
The British battle cruiser lntleXlpl'
and the French battleship Gaulols wer.
struck and damaged. out III Is Salu
can be repaired.
The extent of the damage inflicted
upon the forts has not been ascertalned
one report says there was an explosion
in Fort Chanak, one of the ronse O
the Turk defenses. Cllanak, klHd Ban
and the forts on either side of kephe
bay n kephez point were nnder IRE
These forts also are said to nave pee
siienced.
The loss of life on the British ship
is said not to have been great, tn
sailors having been transferred unde
heavy fire. Part of the crew of IN
Rouvet persisted. The loss of life /
the Turkish forts could not be aScer
tanned. :.
The Turkish positions on the mai
land near Smyrna are bein
strengthened aud large relnlorcefneh II
have been sent to the assistance oil IN
.j.F,,,jnIc ...H.
Efforts are being made TO repair tn
damage already done TO the defender
Of SMYRNA and to plant mines.
The new naval policy OF the allies
now in operation against Austria, ac
rordiug to word which has reache
Rome. The commanders of the Anglo
French fleet ia the -Adriatlc have bee
nofified to prevent transportation {
IN goods to or from Austrian ports.
Official Statement.
The admiralty gave out the followin
statement regarding operations at tt
DarGanclles:
"0r accoun of the operations at tt
DardaneIles on the 18th of March. mir
sweeping has heen in progress durln
The last 10 days inside the straits.
general attack was delivered by tt
British and French fleets Ihursda
morning upon the fortresses at Il
George fred at batteries +, e and Fl,
and i. while the Triumph and Prince:
Elizaheth. ~Iufiexihle, Agamennon ar
Lord Nelson bonlbarded forts j, l.. I,
at closer range. Forts j, q and e IT
nIied strongly. Their fire was sjlencs
nv the 10 battleships inside the strait!
heavy fire was opened on shll
from howitzers and field guns.
"At 1922 O'Clock the French squat
--:-4I,,r ,f Tho CIlfft.an (yal1nl