Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-20
ALLIES ARE HARD PRESSED
AT DARDANELLES FRONT
Correspondents Statement of Conditions
Partly Sustains the Assertion of Fail
ure of Galipoli Campaign.

The following letter from an Asso
ciated Press correspondent at the Lar
danelles front is of interest, IN vie"
of the assertion of Lord Miner IN TN
house of lords last week that the Brit
ish campaign on the Gallipoli PENN
sula had been a failure, and the decli
nation Of the British government u
commit itself regarding continuation
of this Campaign. Although sever
weeks have elapsed since this iette'
was written, there have been nc
changes of great Importance, as far as
reported. on the Gallipoli fronts.
Correspondence OF the Associated Press
CONSTANTINOPLE. September l.
The position of the allied troops on the
Anafarta-Ari Burnu front OF the Gal
lipou peninsula can hardly be described
as a promising one. Such, at least, was
the impression gained by the Associated
Press correspondent during an eight
day stay in the war arena in question.
The factors upon which this con-
clusion Is based are thorough fnspec-
tion of the Turkish and allied trenches
and artillery positions and the state.
ments OF Turkish officers and allied
prisoners of war What is perhaps OF
more Importance is the result of four
major military actions which occurred
while the correspondent was on this
front. They consisted of an attack by
the allies on a Turkish position north
of Kodjatchemen Dagh the afternoon
of August 20, an assault on Turkish
trenches in the same general locality
the same night and two attacks on
Anafarta August IS and 81. In each
with heavy losses. No advantages were
gained by them, with the exception OF
the temporary occupation of Turkish
trench near Kutchuk Anafarta Au-
gust rs.
Estimate Of Losses.
The losses of the Turks were by no
means light in any of these operations.
but the allies, acting on the offensive.
suffered heavily. Their losses for the
four actions are estimated at 1900 to
1900 dead. and double that number
OF wounded.
A description of the Arr Burnu-Ana-
farta territory may be of interest.
When the correspondent visited this
front the Turkish positions ran from
the immediate north to Gaba Tepe
along the base of Kodjatchemen Dagh,
then turned slightly northeast toward
nd past Biyuk Anafarta, thence north
vest past Kutchuk Anafarta, clearing
Eat place to the west at distance Of
bout 100 yards. and continuing west
Il semicircular sweep toward XII
ti1n then formed the extreme Turkish
right flank. Two hills south of Kiretch
'tepe, on some maps indicated as part
Of the Kizlar Dagh, were in the hands
of the British The ground held by the
allies was that part of the coast re-
eion which could be commanded by
their naval artillery. Generally speak
ing. they held to the south of Kod-
Alf harr = H. 49, IL -
the hills. within the line drawn above,
of the Anafarta valley, the west slope
of high ridge between the two Ana
fartas and the plain to the north of
salt lake: Near the eastern slope of
Kifetoh Tepe the allied trenches ran
south again and finally crossed the
northeEnmost Of the two hills men,
toned.
Allied Forces Depleted.
Thus far the allies have landed in
the Anafarta region about $4,000 men,
. largo part Of which force already
has been used up. It Is safe to say
that they are today opposed by about
1sb,ooo Turks who are actually en-
in reserve. Every advantage of ter
rata 10 held by the Turks. whose
trenches are located on higher ground
than those Of the allies. The Anafarta
n
huge saucer which has been broken.
the line breakage being formed by
the shore Of the Aegean sea and the
bottom and rim being in the hands of
the allies and Turks. respectively
Until August 1s when the Turks
under Lieut.. Col Winners Bey. Ger
man cavalry oficer, retook Kiretch
Tepe. the position of the allies was
least part Of the Anafarta region
This advantage was lost that day A
few days before the Turks. under
Lieut.. Col. Kannengieser. a German,
recognized Kodjatchemen Dagh. while
Hunger. also a German, cleared off the
allied troops from an important crest
west Of the Biyuk Anafarta cemetery
today hold themselves in the Anafarta
region solely by virtue of an i'm
mense artillery fire superiority.
Sea Support a Necessity.
Without the support of some forty
line ships. cruisers and torpedo boats
they would be thrown into the sea-"
as Lirnan Won Sanders, commander-in-
chief of the Turkish Gallipoli army,
expressed it. There have been mo-
ments. however, when the Turkish
been hard pressed. One such instance
occurred August 2S. The British fleet
in the Aegean prepared by a very Sc
we're bombardment for the ensuing in
fantry assault between the two Ana
fartas. When the rush came the Turk
ish infantry was obliged to evacuate
its advanced trenches. Retreating to
the rear and communicating trenches,
the Turks checked the advance Of the
British Two days later the Turks re-
occupied the lost position. An attack
made by the allies August rs and 81 in
the direction OF Kiretch Tepe ended in
terrible slaughter of British troops.
some $500 dead being counted August
20.
Statement by British Prisoners.
British prisoners assert that their
position Is most trying one. Water
Is extremely scarce in the Anafarta
region and 1t is said only one well is
in the hands OF the British The re-
suit is that water must be brought
from the Island of Imbros and even
from Saloniki. The men receive a pint
OF tea in the morning and another at
o'clock. One-half pint of water at
noon is the only allowance of this
necessity, prisoners state, that is given.
Up TO week ago the food Of the
British soldiers consisted of six army
biscuits and a preserved meat ration,
some candy and jam being added. Poor
health is the result of this diet. The