On this day: March 9, 1915
The events at the Dardanelles
The dramatic events at the Dardanelles and on the coast of Asia Minor continue to absorb public attention. Nothing in the history of naval bombardments has ever equalled the spectacle of the mighty battleship Queen Elizabeth throwing shells from the open sea clean across the Gallipoli Peninsula into the Turkish forts in the Narrows. This is a development never dreamed of in all the plans which soldiers and sailors have made during the last hundred years for taking the Dardanelles. It is inspiring, too, to hear of Grimsby trawlers sweeping away the mines far within the Straits, under cover of the fire of battleships.
For the first time we are told of the presence of troops in the attack, for a portion of the famous “flying division” of the Royal Marines has been landed to complete the work of demolishing the forts at the entrance. Last night’s Admiralty statement shows that one of the two principal forts on the Asiatic side of the Narrows has now apparently been silenced, and an explosion has occurred in it. The biggest fort on the European side of the narrows has not spoken since Friday, when its magazine blew up as a result of the Queen Elizabeth’s fire.
A clear atmosphere is necessary for firing at these long ranges, and our Naval correspondent estimated yesterday that at least thirty fine days would be required from start to finish. The attack has now reached the critical stage, but once round the Chanak point the rest should be less difficult. The suggestion from abroad that the Turks are not too well supplied with big-gun ammunition is probably well founded, but we notice indications that Turkish troops are fairly plentiful on both sides of the Straits.
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The further disclosure that Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Peirse, who commands the East Indies Squadron, has appeared off Smyrna with a force of battleships and cruisers, is another remarkable revelation of sea power. As at least half the population of Smyrna is Greek, news of the bombardment of its principal fort would in itself sufficiently explain the excitement at Athens, even had no ministerial crisis accompanied it. Upon that crisis we venture no opinion.