The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-08
fight TO drive
ALLIES into SEA
Turks Fire 5000 Shells in
Two Hours at Anglo
French Trenches.
GEN. HAMILTON REPORTS
British Commander Describes Assault
as Most Violent Bombard-
ment Yet"

London. July "A desperate attempt by
the Turks to drive the allied troops on
the Gallopoli Peninsula into the sea is
described in a report given out in Paris
today by the French war office and in a
message from Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton
made public tonight in London by the
official press bureau. The French report
refers to the Turkish general attack "as
the most important they have undertaken
since their efforts in the early days of
May Sir Ian Hamilton's dispatch de-
scribes the bombardment which preceded
the attack as the most violent lombard
ment yet experienced"
At least 5000 shells were dropped on the
French and English trenches within a
space of two hours. A Turkish cruiser
took part in the engagement Following
is the text of Sir Ian Hamilton's report:
THE night of July 3-i was quiet in the
northern section At 4 a. m. the enemy
started a heavy bombardment OF the
trenches. All the guns previous used
against us as well as some new ones
were put in action. but the bombardment
died away at a. m. without doing any
damage During the bombardment about
twenty u.2-inch shells were dropped from
Turkish battleship in the Straits.
Turks Fire 5000 Shells.
On the southern sections the Turks
kept up a heavy musketry fire along the
whole line during the night, but did not
leave the trenches. At a. m. their bat
teries started the most violent lombard
ment yet experienced. At least 5000
rounds of artillery ammunition were ex-
pended by them
In the meanwhile the Smelling of our
lines on the peninsula had proved to be
preliminary to a general attack upon
our front. Special efforts were made at
certain points. the principal effort being
made at the junction of the royal naval
division section with that of the French.
Here at 80 a.. m. the Turks drove back
our advanced troops and assaulted the
portion of the line held by the royal
naval division.
Fifty Turks gained a footing in our
trenches. Some men of the royal naval
division held on with the aid of our sup
ports and the men who had retired coun-
ter-attacked Immediately and hurled the
Turks out of the trench Another attack
on the right of the twenty-ninth division
section was practically wiped out by Our
machine gun fire
On our left the Turks. massed at
(.ullah. northeast of the newly-captured
attempted several attacks
None of these was able to get home
owing to the steadiness of our troops
and their effective artillery support. The
died away towards IL a. m.
though It was resumed at intervals
Not only was the result a complete
failure. but while our losses were
negligible and no impression was made
upon our line. the enemy added large
number to his recent casualties 1t is
plain from the disjointed nature of his
attacks that he is finding it difficult 10
drive his infantry forward in the face
of fire., I.
Mine Destroys German Trenches.
The official press bureau tonight gives
out tn following report 10y the eye wit |
ness with Field Marshal French's forces |!
under date of July 3:
Near Guimchy our guns dispersed !
v orking party and our miners blew up \
loo yards of the cneny's trenches with |
less. On Wednesday we |
mined and destroyed fifty yards OF |
trenches on the German front two miles |
north OF Neuve Chapelle. On the first !