South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-11
Official Statement Says Otto
man Soldiers Have Occupied
AhWaz, Persian Town, With
in English Sphere.
SILENCE MORE GUNS
IN The DARDANELLES
Hidden Batteries Are Put Out
of Commission But Turks
Make Preparations to De-
fend Straits to Last.

CONSTANTINOPLE CVia Berlin and
Amsterdam), March 11.-FollOwing
up their victory over British forces in
Mesopotamia, the Turkish troops in
that region are pressing southwark
rapidly in pursuit of the British
troops, il was announced in the war
office today.
An official statement says that the
Ottoman soldiers have already Oc-
cupied Ahwaz, a Persian town on the
karun river, about 80 miles north of
the Persian gulf, and in the British
sphere OF influence.
Utaz also has been occupied.
LONDON. March 1.-The silencing
of more Turkish guns on the Asia
tic side of the narrows in the Dardan-
elies by the AnglO-French fleet was
announced in dispatches received to-
day from Athens. These stated that
hidden batteries lying between Kephez
and Chanak had been put out of COM
mission by projecules from the heavy
guns of the warships. The dispatch
did not say. however, when this feat
was accomplished.
Aviators who made an aerial recon-
nOissance over the waterway reported
that n big feet of transports had
passed through the Sea of MarmOra,
making il apparent that the Turkish
army was being reinforced They also
reported that the Turks were making
vigorous preparations 10 defend Gal
lipOli strait 10 the last. New hidden
batteries are being planted on both
sides of the waterway at that point,
and Iesh defensive works erected.
GallipOH strait lies opposite the
Gallipoli at the point where the
Dardanelles enters the Sea OF Mar
I'll. i -
treacherous currents and ledges of
rocks. There are two lighthouses,
one upon each side of the strait.
Doubt Italians Have Joined.
AdXices from SalOnika makes no
mention of the presence Of Italian
warships in the Aegean sea and
doubts are cast upon the reports of
yesterday that an Italian squadron has
sailed to join the AnglO-F'rench fleet.
Ii is reported from Tendeos that
some of the guns upon the war fleet
had oeen silenced by projectiles from
th. land batteries but. considering the
Importance of the success achieved by
the French and British ships the
damage and casualties from Turkish
shells have been very light
4 spectacular feature of the battle
was hghting at night between two
aeroplanes from the fleet and Turkish
shore batteries The aviators. having
located the position of certain guns
between Erenkui, and the ruins of
Dardanus IN day time, flew over the
Turkish positions during the night
and dropped bombs. The Turks re-
piled with both small arms and heavy
mortars. The glare could be seen for
many miles, but despite the SEVERITY
OF the fire, the aviatOrs escaped.
Flagship Enters DardanelIes
Naval experts attach importance 10
the fact that the great British super
dreadnaught Queen Elizabeth has be-
gun 10 lombard the inner Turkish forts
with direct fire from her 15-inch guns.
Another interesting and important
feature of Athens dispatches was the
report that Vice Admiral SackviIle
Hamilton Garden. the cOmmander-in-
chief of he allied fleet. has taken his
uaeship into the DardanelIeS and per
sonally directed operations from a
point opposite the ruins OF Dardanus
That Rear Admiral Guperia, COM
mander Of the French ships in the
Heet had entered the Dardanelles.
was shown by Athens dispatches To
the effect that ne had narrow es-
cape from death when a shell expIod-
ed on the batteship Sufferer.
Information that the Turkish nre
from the batteries along the Dardan-
elles narrows was becoming weaker
was taken here as an indication that
the Turks were running short of am
munition and were conserving their
supply