FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178  
179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   >>   >|  
ght of June 3-4 the Turks, having heavily bombarded a small fort in front of the extreme right French position, which previously had been captured, launched an infantry attack against it which was repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. At the same time the Turks set fire to scrub in front of the left centre of the position occupied by the British division and attacked, but with no success. On the morning of the 4th of June Sir Ian Hamilton ordered a general attack on the Turkish trenches in the southern area of the Gallipoli Peninsula, preceded by a heavy bombardment by all guns, assisted by battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. At a given signal the troops rushed forward with the bayonet. They were immediately successful all along the line except in one spot, where the heavy wire entanglement was not destroyed by the bombardment. Indian troops on our extreme left made a magnificent advance. They captured two lines of trenches, but, owing to the fact that the troops on their right were hung up by this wire entanglement, they were obliged to retire to their original line. The regular division made good progress on the left centre, capturing a strong redoubt and two lines of trenches beyond it, about 500 yards in advance of their original line. The Territorial Division on our centre did brilliantly, advancing 600 yards and capturing three lines of trenches, but though the advanced captured trench was held all day and half of the ensuing night, they had to be ordered back in the morning to the second captured line, as both their flanks were exposed. The Naval Division on our right centre captured a redoubt and a formidable line of trenches constructed in three tiers 300 yards to their front, but they, too, had to be ordered back, owing to the heavy enfilading fire. The French Second Division advanced with great gallantry and elan. They retook for the fourth time that deadly redoubt they call 'Le Haricot,' but unfortunately the Turks developed heavy counter-attacks through prepared communication trenches, and under cover of an accurate shell fire were able to recapture it. [Illustration: GENERAL GOURAUD Commander of the French Land Forces Operating Against the Dardanelles (_Photo from Medem_)] On the French extreme right the French captured a strong line of trenches which, though heavily counter-attacked twice during the night, they still occupy. We captured 400 prisoners, including ten officers.
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178  
179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

trenches

 

captured

 

French

 

centre

 

Division

 

troops

 
redoubt
 

extreme

 

ordered

 

advanced


bombardment
 

counter

 

original

 

capturing

 

strong

 

entanglement

 

advance

 

heavily

 
division
 

attack


position

 
attacked
 

morning

 

enfilading

 

constructed

 
including
 

Second

 
retook
 

prisoners

 

formidable


gallantry

 

fourth

 

ensuing

 

trench

 

officers

 

flanks

 

exposed

 
deadly
 

Forces

 

Operating


Against
 
Commander
 

GOURAUD

 
Dardanelles
 
GENERAL
 
Illustration
 

attacks

 

developed

 

occupy

 

Haricot