Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-11-10
The Dardanelles.

Since we have prospect Of an European
war, every body wishes to know about the
Dardanelles, which the English and French
fleets recently succeeded in passing. The
following, from the Boston Post, is very
concise and correct history and descriptions:
The old gates of Janus were opened when
Rome was at war; and the mopern proto-
types, the Dardaneles straits, are open only
when state of war makes treaty stipulations
void, and the Porte deems il to be necessary
to admit his allies through them to protect
his capital. The accounts we have are that
they are now open for the passage Of the
British and French fleets.
The Dardaneles, from which the strait
Of Hellespont derives its name, are four
strong castles built opposite 10 each other,
on the European and Asatic coasts; and are
the keys Of Constantinople. Two Of thesa
castles, the old castles, were raised by Ma
hommed H., soon after the conquest Of Con-
stantnople, in 1853; the other two, the new
castles, were built in the middle Of the 18th
century, TO protect the Turks against the
| Venetians. The latter command the en-
trance to the Hellespont, and the distance
frem each is about two miles and quarter;
in four hours sail up the strait are the old
castles, which are about three quarters Of
mile apart. These are well mounted with
formidable batteries. All along the Euro
pean shore to the Marmora, the aspect Of
nature in its ruggedness corresponds with
the frowns of the guns; but the scenery ON
the Asiatic shore is beautiful. The region
abounds, too in places famous in classic
story. Here it was Leander paid his nightly
visits to Hero; here the illfated hosts of
Xerxes crossed on bridge of boats; here
Slyman crossed on q bare raft, and, in mod
ern times, here Byron swan from Sestos to
Alydos. 80
These famous STRAITS have been more
= than onoe passed. In ITO the Russian
squadron, under Elphistone. appeared be-
, fore the lower castles; and the admiral actu-
ally went by withsat damage. But the 9TH
, err ships did not follow him and he returned,
with drums and trumpets sounding. A
British fleet under Admiral Duckworth
= forced their passage in 1907. Duckworth
in his diapa,ch to his government, giving an
account of this fact, acknowledges that he
ran a narrow chance. He set sail on the
- morning of the 10Th Of February. At a
!, quarter before nine the whole squadron, I'M
: der atremendous fire, had passed the outer
o castles; at half past nine the leading ship.
the Campus, entered the narrow passage Of
i Sestos and Alydos, under heavy cannon
e ade from both castles, receiving stone shot
of 800 pounds weight. Each ship, as il
passed, had to endure this cannonade. The
admiral remained before Constantinopie un-
" til the Sd of March, when his squadron Of
I ten ships returned. In this interval the
g Turks had been so busy that the castle,
!. were made "doubly formidable" The
i admiral weighed anchor in the morning o.
lie this day and every ship was IN safety out
Is side Of the passage about noon." TIT
is admiral in his dispatch expresses his ''mos
\ lively sense'' of his good fortune, and admits
IL that had the Turks been allowed a weel
"a longer, sit would have been a very doubtful
Id point whether return would lay open I,
o. him at ALL" He lost AZ killed and %!
wounded. The Turks were so indignant q
the escape of the British feet that they be
q lieved the Governor of the Dardanelles wa,
r bribed by Duckworth, and beheaded him.
,s The Dardanelles are said to be in such
formidable condition as TO be impregnable.