The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-11-29

SO called from the ancient city OF Dar-
dana founded at this point, as tradition
says, by Dardanus, one OF the sons of
Jupiter in the Greek mythology. These
'Dardanelles" now give name to the
straits themselves. At one point these
straits are contracted to only eight hum
dred yards in width-less than half n
mile-and Of course the whole c1annel
is within easy range OF modern guns,
CAP BILE of destroying any hoet that
ever tlUated.
Upon the Asiatic side near this point
is the site of AbydOs, and on the Euro
pean side opposite is the site OF oes6os'
These are points OF classic interest as
well rs of military Importance. 1t was
here that the romance of Hero ana Le-
anler occurred, where the latter swan
the HellespOnt from the Asiatlc shore
to visit his mistress, Hero, on the
European side, and returned again by
the same system OF primitive naviga-
tiou. The same feat, though not for the
same purpose, was performed in 1910 by
Lord Byron and his friend Lieutenant
Eckenhead, and was accomplished with
out difficulty in sixty-fve minutes;
showing that Leanders exploit was but
a small affair to yield such large and
lasting renown.
Here it was that XerXes, more than
|
nous bridge OF boats across the Helles
pont, over which ne marched bis five
million two hundred and eighty three
thousand men Tor the invasion of Greece
to meet defeat by only three hundred
Spartans under Leonidas at the Pass o
rhermopy@. At this place also tn
Turks first passed from Asia into Eu
rope in their war of invasion in 1857
, and this same City Of oestos was TIN
first spot in Europe where the TurEisl
standard was planted as over c0nqueret
, territory, now more than five hundred
years ago. And it is to thes'
points on the Hellespont, nov
guarded by the tormidabl
batteries of the four "Dardaneles" tina
, England is vigorously preparing to sent
, her heavy ships of war and capaciou'
. transports laden with guns OF the heaV-
lest calibre and troops Of all arms &
prevent the Car from gaining hi
longed-for outlet from the Black Sea
Through the Sea OF Marmora, to til
= iwaters Of the Mediterranean. SO that
should Russia seize upon the Turkisl
+ capital, English batteries planted on tht
| Dardanelles would forbid her gaining
f exit from the Bosphorus.
Turkey has never accorded the privi
} Iege, as thing OF absolute right, t.
) ships OF war of any nation to pass thC
Straits and enter the harbor of Constan
7 tinople. England admitted this right il
1879. Hence in the Egyptian war o
: 1881 8 both the British aud French fleets
were not permitted to pass the Darda
: nelles, though a Russian fl let was even
/ then at anchor in the BoSphorus, having
e come from the Black Sea. This refusa
ON the part Of Turkey is founded on til
s claim that, as she possesses both coast
t oil the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmor
: is not an open sea; but is strictly, b.
r International law, mare clGuSum, t
: which armed vessels of foreign nation
may not come without special grant
I Th 8 claim has been confirmed to Turkey
by treaty in 1S4l by the Five Powers, an
again, after the Crimean war, in 1S5t
7 But in 1870 this clause of tn
2 treaty was abrogated, and now ther
is no restriction upon armed vessels en-
4 tering the Golden Horn. Such is tn
situation OF things in that renoWne
t region, where the scenes OF war ma
r soon again be witnessed under the bar
= ner of England, as once They were wit
= messed under the banner of Xerxes Al
e years before Christ was born. Let u
t hope that her defeat may not be so ute
i and iguominious as was that Of th
6 proud and arrogant monarch Of Persii
y who impiousIy lashed the sea for breai
ing his bridge of boats, the first tina
: ever spanned the Hellespont, connec
R ing the coasts of Asia and Europe.
Il H~zsz4z.zan~zza-z1nz-HH1z>za~a~A