Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-23
Warships Come Within the
Range of Turkish Shore
Forts and Are Hit
CRAFTSMANSHIP OF
DEFENDERS is GOOD
Gunners on Boats Unable to
Get Distance of the Foe
Properly Gauged

Berlin, March 22.-The correspon-
dent at Constantinople of the Wolf
bureau telegraphed today description
of the fighting at the Dardanelles on
Thursday, March Is, in which the
French battleship Bouvet and two
British battleships were sent to the
bottom. There follows an abridgement
OF the correspondents story of this
engagement:
The efforts of the allies to force the
straits OF the Dardanelles reached
their climax in an artillery duel on
Thursday, March IS, which lasted
seven hours. The entire atmosphere
around the Turkish forts was darkened
by clouds of smoke from exploding
shells and quantities of earth thrown
into the air by the projectiles of the
French and British warships. The
earth trembled for miles around
The allies entered the straits at
1880 o'clock in the morning and
shelled the town OF Chanak Kale.
Four French and five British warships
took part in the beginning This en-
gagement reached it's climax at 1:30,
when the fire of the allies was con-
centrated on Fort Hamidieh and the
adjacent fortified positions.
The attack of modern marine artil-
lery on strong land forts presented an
interesting as well as terrifying
spectacle. At times the forts were
completely enveloped in smoke. At 2
O'Clock the allies changed their tactics
and concentrated their fire on indi-
vidual batteries, but it was evident
that they found difficulty in getting
the range. Many Of their shells fell
short, cast up pillars Of water. or went
over the forts to explode in the town.
At 3:15. when the bombardment
was at it's hottest, the French battle.
ship Bouvet was seen to be sinking
bows swung clear of the water and
she was going down. Roaring cheers
from the Turkish garrisons and forts
greeted this sight Torpedo boats and
other craft of the allies hurried to the
rescue but they were successful in
saving only few men. Beside hav-
ing been struck by a mine the Bouvet
was severely damaged above the water
line by shell fire. One projectile
struck her forward deck. A mast al
so was shot away and hung over
board. 1t could be seen that the Bou-
vet when she sunk was endeavoring
to gain the mouth Of the straits.
This. however. was difficult owing
apparently to the fact that herN ma
chinery had been damaged. Shortly
after the sinking Of the Bouvet, Brit
ish ship was struck on the deck amid
ship and compelled to withdraw from
the fight. Then another British YES
sci was badly damaged and at 3:45
O'Clock was seen to retire under ter
rifle fire from the Turkish battery.
This vessel ran in toward the shore.
For full hour the allies tried to pro-
tect her with their guns but it was
apparent that she was destined for
destruction. Eight effective hits show
ed the hopelessness of the situation
for this vessel. Then she withdrew
toward the mouth of the Dardanelles
which she reached in a few minutes
under a hail of shells. The forts con-
tinued firing until the allies were out
of range.
This was the first day when the
warships attacking the Dardanelles
kept within range Of the Turkish guns
for any considerable length of time
The result for them was terrible,
owing to the excellent craftsmanship |
from the Turkish batteries. The allies
fired on this day 1000 shells without |
silencing one shore battery The re. i
suit has inspired the Turks with con.
fidence and they are looking forward |
to further engagements with calm |
assurance.