The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-11-29
CoNsTANTINOPLE AND THE DAR-
DANELLES.

The war-cloud now gathering over
Southeastern Europe attracts unusual
attention by reason OF the probability of
its bursting over the world-renowned
city OF Constantinople. During the two
thousand and six hundred years of its
existence, as ByZlntium and CONSTANT
nople, that notable city has frequently
changed masters. Asia, Europe and
Africa have, by turns, dominated over
that central city Of the globe. Darius,
Xelxes, Philip and Alex under have sew
orally pitched their tents round about
Byzantium. The Arab, the Russ, the
Frank and the Briton have also, IN turn,
sought possession Of ConsGantinople, as
the doorway to India and the East. 1t
was through this "Sublime POrte' that
Western Europe has ever sought to enter
Asia. For four hundred aud twenty
three years that gateway between Europe
and Asia has been held by that race OF
Scythian TarTars whom we call Turks.
The acquisition of that portal to
important nation OF Europe from the
earliest periods to the present. And
Just because it is the object of such u
common desire, no European nation of
modern times has been able to wrest
it from the Turks. For, whenever
the,attempt has been made, the feeble
ness of the Turks has been supple
mented by the jealousy of other more
powerful nations. All nations admit
that the Turks are unworthy OF its pos
session; but every nation is unwilling
That it shall pass from the Turks to any
pther nation than itself.
The wonderful expansion of the Rus
Iian Empire since the reign Of PETER
The Great, has placed that Power among
The foremost of European rivals for the
possession Of that city, SO long the "de-
sire of the nations" The similar expan.
sion of the British Empire, EN-.
bracing nearly all OF Southeast
srn Asia, has made the posses.
Bion of Constantinople almost a
necessity to the permanency of her hold
upon her Asatic possessions. The po-
hticaI and commercial interests of other
nations are but subsidiary to the inter
osts of these two rival Empires. Thai
these two gigantic Powers will ere long
be engaged in terrible strife for the
possession of this great Oriental prize
seems now to be most probable. That
the contest will be confined to those
three nations, England in alliance with
Turkey pitted against Russia, is at pres
ent most likely; Turkey fighting for her
territorial sovereignty, England for hel
commercial supremacy, and Russia fol
her future dominion by securing an out
let upon European waters through the
Mediterranean. The objects of each are
vast and tar.reaching; the conflict, If i
occurs, will be CORE spondingly ferc,
And determined.
But, whoever may become the posses
Bor OF Constantinople must likewise b'
lhe'helder Of the Dardanelles in orde
TO render the possession OF that city sc
cure and beneficial. Should Russia evel
succeed in occupying Constantinopl'
without possessing herself of the i'm
portant straits that connect the Sea O
Marmora and the Mediterranean, sh
would still be without the outlet upo
European waters she has SO long and 8
earnestly desired. These straits, calle
Ihe Hellespont, are some forty-fve mile
long. They form at that point the d
viding line between Europe and Asia
Much of this distance they are so col
Btricted as to render the passage OF ves
sells impossible against the fire from hos
tile batteries planted on either coas
On these coasts are now reared fou
castles, or Notifications, two on eithe
side, called the "Dardanelles;