New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-22
AFFAIRS AT TIE TURKISH CAPITAL.

THE QUESTION OF THE DARDANELLEs-wHil RUSSIA
prsIgEs-MIsTRY IL TURKEY-THE REFUGEES.
frRou REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE rHIbtSE'I
Coxsr,SrISopfr. Feb 2O.-rhc English icet keeps
well out of sight behind the point OF Iouzla some
times the great ships come into view Tor snort
time. as they 20 through the manGnvres OF the
souadron but they quickly hide themselves again.
and although the Russians may watch from Fan STE
fam never 80 carefully they will hardly see the
ships The anchorage OF the EnSilsh Meet Is
nearly the same "a that chosen by Admiral
Duckworth in 1907. after he had forced the
Dardauellcs. He, however, had to make an in
Glorious retreat three weeks later before the
bristling cannon which covered the approaches
10 the Bosphorus. Theoretically the English
fleet il here to promote the settlement OF
,bo oucstion of the Straits. This question
dates back to the time of Demosthenes as IL Euro
pean question. Heinduced the Athenals TO send u
fleet. which saved Byzautum from Philip oil Mace
don. although the Byzantincs were as unsaVory
then AS now. The question was then question oil
commerce. but now it IL not. The navigation oil
the Straits is perfectly free to all merchantmen
without fee or license. small sum mutually agreed
upon by the Powers il collected for the lighthouse
service from passing ships but that would continue
to he collected IN any case and is no part oil the
question of the Straits.
The question is, whether the straits shall be uscd
rs a bar to keep Russian war vessels from gong
down from the Black Sea into the Mediterranean
and foreign ships of war from passing from the Med
itcrrancan into the Black Sea. In time OF peace
no possible interest can attach to the question,
and # Russia could induce the Turks To enter into
an alliance with her. she will again have no further
interest I'm the matter although the European naval
novycrs might look on regrefuliy. But IN time OF
war the Straits are of vital importance to Russia AS
few Russian guns at the Dardaneies or the Bospho-
rus would place Russia entirely bcyoid the rcach oil
any hostile naval power There are three solutions
10 the question: ~ No ships of war to pass the
Straits except as specified by treaty; or " ships
of war belonging to the nations which border the
seas to which the Straits are tile Only access 10 pass
the Straits mt will but other arShIp' to do so
under any circumstances; (jl all ships OF war TO
pass the Straits freely.
Tho first solution is the one England desires, and
il the arrangement that has held good up 10 the
prescnt time il protects Russia from attack unless
Turkey il at war with her. The second Is what
Russia desires, and England breads. since it would
allow Russia to send fleets from the Back Sea to
wage war upon any Mediterranean power' with al-
sonte freedom from danger to herself 50 long she
was at peace with Turkey. The third solution
seems 70 be the only just one and accords with the
ton. But all tho Powers seem equally opposed TO
obso,ute freedom of the Straits. and Russia 80
than any other.
. The Russians propose. in case the Straits are
thrown open to the war ships of all nations to have
n small naval station at Bcicos on tho upper BcS-
,,borus. The position is well chosen. as 1t Is tie
Hurhiar Iskelessi where the secret alliance, oaen-
siye aud defensive, was concluded between Russia
and Turkey in 1888. From the site OF the Egyptian
Palace at Beicos, guns might command the Bos-
phorus as far Scutari, but naval station there
would not be enable without possession also OF the
Giants Mountain" just behind the village and
would naturally include it. The position once forti-
fled would DO perfect Gibraltar and would eiiec-
tually close the Bosphorus against all corners.
Above Beicos is smooth water perfectly protected
from the guns of any hostile fleet and there Rus
sian feet could take refuge and repair at leisure.
Russia is protected in time of peace by the present