New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
ACTION VIEWED
FROM MOUNTAIN
Eyewitness Sees Entire
Engagement from Sum-
nit of IliOs.
WATCHES SHELLS HIT
Spectator Able to Make Out
Both Vessels Firing and
Destruction Caused.
fBy Gable 90 The Tr.hur.. !

tBy Gable 80 The Tribune
Athens, March THE bombardmens
Of the Dardanelles forts. according 70
the latest news, proceeds with success
and cautious thoroughness. and 1t Is
now anticipated that before another
two weeks are ended the allied feet
will be in the Sea Of Marmora, and
Constantinople, so often threatened by
foreign guns. will quickly fall to the
victorious Allies.
Yesterdays bombardment Of the Dar-
daneles began at D. m. Six British
battleships. including the Queen Eliz-
abeth. opened a vigorous FIRE from the
Gulf Of Saros upon the European forts
on the peninsula and the works at Bu-
lair. Three French battleships with
smaller craft reinforced the ships
within the strait and bombsrded the
batteries above Erenkeni The British
cruiser Sapphire has shelled the vsri-
Gus Notifications on the Gulf ot
Adramyt.
Mine-sweeping operations in the
Dardanelles continue methodically, and
il has been found that mines are nu- 4
merous.
Turkish Losses Heavy.
II is reported that the Turkish losses
during the bombardment have been
heavy. There have been numerous
shipmsnts Of wounded to CONSTANT.
nople.
Two features of the operations msks
extreme caution necessary for the at
tackng battleships. In the first place,
the number of mines laid in the strait
has been found to be enormous. They
must all be picked up, and the work
takes considerable time, seeing that II
must be done thoroughly. The Turks
have evidently learned their lesson
from their German taskmasters. for
they also are using floating mines,
which they cast upon the swift cur
rent. 10 be foated down toward the
Mediterranean. These swirl round the
canes at the mouth of the strait and,
going out to sea. constitute danger
to the bombarding ships. Some OF
these mines have been picked up as far
away as Tenedos island.
Secondly, the larger batteries,
against which the allied feet is con-
tending. are very skillfuly hidden.
Though the brilliantly handled guns or
the fleet have done tremendous dam
oge TO the works, it is necessary 70
knock out each gun individually. and
this requires time and great precision
of craftsmanship. Latest advices are
10 the effect that something like fifty
guns have been actually hit and de-
stroyed.
From an excellent source 1t is re-
rorted that the casualties so far on
ali the allied battleships together
amount to only three killed and Eve
wounded.
Seen from Mountain.
An eyewitness of the bombardment
has lust arrived here from Tenedos
Island. From the height OF Mount
Ilios. he says, "the sight was most
magnificent. At first the feet was
ranged in a semi-circle some miles out
10 sea from the entrance to the
strait. IL afforded an inspiring spec
tscle as il came along and took up
its position, and the picture became
altogether awe-inspiring when the
guns began TO boom.
"The bombardment at first was slow,
shells from the various ships scream
al in at Ha rat nf
about one every two minutes. Their
practice was excellent, and with strong
glasses | could see huge masses OF
into the air.
THE din, even al a distance, was
terrific, and when the largest ship
with the biggest guns In the world
ioined in the martial chorus the air
was rent with ear-splitting noise. The
Turkish batteries, however, were not
to be drawn, and, seeing this, the
British Admiral sent one British ship
and one French ship close in shore
toward the Siddul-Bshr forts.
Ships Fir, as They Move.
ut was pretty sight TO see the Two
battleships swing rapidly away toward
the northern cape. Splitting fire and
smoke as they rode, they obscured the
pure atmosphere with clouds OF SMOKE
from tunnels and guns, yet through all
| could see they were getting home
with their shot. They fired as they
went.
an they sped. right under the guns
Of the shore batteries, which could no
longer resist the temptation 20 see
what they could do. Pufs OF white
smoke dotted the landscape on the far
shore and dull booms echoed over the
placid waters. Around the ships foun-
tains of water sprang high up into the
air. The enemy had been drawn out
but his Workmanship WAS obviously
very bad | think | am right in say
ing that not single shot directed
against the ships came within a hun
dred yards of any bsttleship.
"The two ships then came out again,
ineffectively pursued by shells from
the Turkish batteries. As they retired
they still continued to make excellent,
practice. Their parting shots were
quite as good as those from their hrs