The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-02-16 00:00:00

DEAN STANLEY AT OXFORD.

Dean Stanley preached on Sunday afternoon at
Balliol Chapel, Oxford, on the "Sacredness of the
State," his text being, "I appeal unto CEesar."
Alluding to present events, he remarked how closely
they were connected with the empire of Rome. The
holy Pontiff, the "ghost of dead imperial Rome," was
the lineal descendant of the western part of that
Empire ; the Sultan of Constantinople (till
modern times called the "Sultan of Rome" and
attended by 24 lictors), inherited originally the
eastern divi.,iun of Rome's empire, while the regal
commonwealth" and "Imperial Parliament of Eng-
land" had receiwd the mantle of their imperial
government. He said that on the great question of
the hour the leader-4 were agreed, but that the, "fret,
fume, and fury of the rank and file " was what
rendered the problem more difficult. He exhorted his
hearers to remember that as they must some time form
part of the rank and file or lead in puolic life (which
furnished a field for the grandest virtues), they ought
constantly to set before themselves the sacred nature
of the service they ought to render to the State, what.
poitiwa ILI WY

The DEFENCES of the DARDANELLES.
(From Tuesday's Standard.)

The news that the Porte, acting so doubt upon the orders
of Russia, has refused permission for the British fleet to pass
the Dardanelles ~has concentrated the interest of the situa-
tion upon that Dosition. Very different is its aspect now
from that which it wore when Admiral Duckworth forced it
with the British fleet on the 19th Feb., 1803. Then its
principal defences consisted of the old castles of Sestos and.
Abydos, now known as Seddul Bahr and Kum Kaleh, stand-
ing one on either side of its entrance. These stand two
miles apart, and may be almost disregarded by an entering
fleet, for the real defences of the channel lie higher up at
Kilid Bahr and Chanak Kilissa, where the shores are distant
but a short mile from each other. From the entrance the
European bank is the higher, rising abruptly, but not pre-
cipitously, from the water's edge to a height of from one to
two hundred feet. At Kilid Bahr is a point. Here there is
some low ground between the water and the hill behind,
and on this low point are some batteries almost flush
with the water. On these are some 38-ton or 40-ton Krupp
guns, some of which are mounted in earthworks, others es
barbette. The latter could not be worked when a fleet fight-
ing its way up the channel approached, as the fire from the
small arms and from the Gatling guns in the tops would
completely sweep them. The guns in the earthworks are
better protects-I; but even these would probably be silenced
by those of the fleet. Above, on the crest of the hill, some
hundred feet above the water, are some very powerful bat-
teries. These constitute the greatest danger to an advancing
fleet, for from their elevation the shot of the fleet would
pass over them, while they would be able to play upon the
decks, the most vital part of ironclad ships. Immediately
behind the point, the shore falls away almost at a right
angle, and this increases the difficulty of an ascending
squadron, for the force of the stream runs across the
channel and has a tendency to take the head of a vessel
meeting it across towards Chanak.

This is the course which merchant steamers going up the
Dardanelles generally follow. From the entrance they pass
along quite close, within fifty yards of the European shore,
passing under the very mouths of the guns of Kilid Bahr.
Thence they cross the stream in a direct line for Chanak,
and then, swerving abruptly round again, make for the
European shore at a point called Degirmen Battu], a mile
and a half above Kilid Bahr. Here is another, but less
formidable, fort. A fleet following this line would be met
as it advanced by the fire of Kilid Bahr and Chanak; it
would pass the guns of the former within pistol shot as it
crossed towards Chanak; it would be raked fore and aft by
the guns of both forts, and as it left Chanak for Degirmen it
would be similarly raked by these forts, receiving the fire
of Kilid Bahr on its broadside. Chanak is not so strong
naturally as Kilid Bahr, but the fortifications are
much stronger, the guns being for the most part in
casemates. When it is remembered that, in addition to
these very powerful forts there may be torpedoes in the
narrow channel, it will be seen that the difficulties in the
way of forcing the passage are enormous. The true method
of procedure by a fleet determined upon entering the Sea of
Marmora would be to presage its passage by military opera-
tions and by landing a force in Besika Bay to march across
and attack Chanak on the land side, while another force,
landed at the back of the peninsula near its extremity,
where the shore is flat and the landing could be covered by
the guns of the fleet, should advance and take Kilid Bahr,
the most formidable of the obstacles, in reverse. Were the
force lauded superior to that stationed at Kind Bahr the
matter would be an easy one, as the forts are quite open, or,
at any rate, but slightly defended at the back.

At present we are in utter ignorance of the force guarding
the Dardanelles—Russian or Turkish. We are told that by
the terms of the Armistice the lines of Gallipoli as well as
those of Constantinople were to be delivered to the Russians,
and there is no reason to doubt that they are masters of one
as well as the other. The lines, however, are some distance
above Gallipoli, and we may suppose that the Russians
would not be able to arrive at Kilid Bahr until it had
fallen into our hands. It is not known how large is the
Turkish force at this spot, but as a portion of Sulieman
Pasha's army landed at Gallipoli, we may presume that two
or three thousand men would be stationed at and around
Kind Bahr. The number being doubtful, we cannot assume that
the marines of the fleet could be safely landed for such an
enterprise, but the addition of three or four thousand men
from Malta should, unless the Russians advance in
force, enable a force to be landed capable of occupying
the forts from the land side. Should the advance of the
Russians render this impracticable an expedition might be
attempted against Chanak, wriose possession would enable
an ascending fleet to keep over on the Asiatic side, and thus
escape the plunging fire of the batteries at Kilid Bahr. We are
far from affirming that the Turks although formally refus-
ing to assent to our passage, would yet oppose it by force of
arms; we are merely discussing the military possibilities of
the case. It is evident that the passage by a fleet alone
presents great difficulties and dangers. That it is possible
for British sailors, we doubt not, but the hazard is great. If
it be determined to force the passage, it is in the highest
degree desirable that the fleet should be seconded by a land
force. This need not necessarily be large, but it should be
at hand. If when the fleet approaches the castles at the
entrance, these open fire, it will be evident that the passage
will be opposed to the utmost, and the expeditionary force
could then be landed either upon the European or Asiatic
side, to advance pari passu with the fleet, seconded by its
guns, and distracting and finally silencing the forts.