The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-01-10
.TURKSBEL|EvE
INVADERS MAY
HAVE To LEAVE
Arrival of Heavy German
and Austrian Batteries
Leads to Belief.
OTTOMAN ARMY TO
CLEAR PENINSULA
Heavy Guns Force British
Ships to Stand at Re
spectful Distance.
- AssoCIATEn PREss.


Constantinople, Jan. 9.-The with
drawal of a large portion of the Allied
troops on the GallipoH Peninsula has
been almost coincident with the ar
rival at the Turkish front of heavy
German and Austrian batteries,
which are so formidable that the
people of Constantinople believe there
is no longer the slightest doubt as to
the ability of the Ottoman army to
clear the peninsula of the invaders.
Large shipments of ammunition for
the Turkish artillery also recently
reached the Dardanelles coast batter
les and the field guns and according
to indications in the Turkish official
report, the Ottoman troops are con-
stantly Increasing their effectiveness
in artillery fire.
During the last interview which the
Associated Press correspondent had
with Field Marshal Liman Won San
ders Pasha, the latter pointed out
that with sufficient artillery at his
disposal the Allied troops would find
it difficult to remain on the peninsula,
especially II their archery was able
to keep the British and French men
Of war from coming too close to the
coast.
As pointed out in previous des-
patches, the lack of sufficient artil-
lery and ammunition proved at times
a sore problem for the Turkish troops.
The Turkish artillery fire was always
weak, and the Allied warships were
able to take the Turkish positions
under the most CALLING fire without
running the slightest risk, except that
occasioned by the presence of Ger
man submarines. It was only occa-
sionally that one Of the. Allied ships,
venturing in too closely, was hit. The
fire of the British monitors, also. by
reason of being high curve" made
certain exposed trenches of the Turks
next to uhtenable. But the Turkish
infantry stood its ground so bravely
that it has become a popular saying
in Constantinople that they defend
Gallipoi with their naked breasts"
HEAVY GUNS INSTALLED.
The instaIlment of the heavy Ger
man end Austrian guns viii make it
necessary for the British monitors.
torpedo boats and cruisers to keep at
a respectful distance after this. With
the Allied trenches also exposed to
the fire Of heavy mortars, it is de-
clared that the fate Of the British
and French troops on the GalIipoli
Peninsula is sealed. In fact, say the
Turkish authorities, to take them
away while there is yet chance
would be an act of mercy. The pros
poets of success for the Allies are
declared to be so slight that it would
REQUIRE an expenditure of men and
material twice as great as has already
been made 10 bring the British and
French any closer to Constantinople. |
Although tens OF thousands Of the
Turkish infantrymen fought for some
time with rifles of the antique Snyder
type. they have all now been equipped
with modern models, notably the |
rifles taken from the Russians. The |
great scarcity of machine guns in the
Ottoman army is also . thing of the
past. Everything that could tend to
place the Turkish army on an equal |
footing with the best organization in
Europe has been rushed here since
the opening of traffic On the Danube.
Today it has become a question
whether or not it is possible for the
Allies to remove the rest of their
troops without losing a great share of |
them. The transports, If brought IN |
shore to embark the troops, would be
under a terrible fire by the new Turk |
ish batteries, even If powerful Brit |
ish and French fleet were assembled |
TO protect the retreat