The San Francisco call., 1896-02-24
THE HELLEsPONT OF TODAY.


and What They Amount To.
The Strait of the Daraanelles to which
numerous references are now being made
IN the papers, is, as many know, a narrow
and tortuous waterway of no great length
leading in from the north Egean to the
inland Sea of Marmora. But what many
do not know is that the Turkish fortifca-
tlons of the Dardanelles-at least those of
any lmportance-are situated in a single
locality in the vicinity of the squatty little
Turkish town of Chanak-Kalesi Cor the
pottery Castle'), which lies on the Asiatic
shore few miles in from the mouth of
the strait. One of these batteres-a low
lying fortification constructed OF mud, of
rather clay, walls, faced here and there
with stone-is situated at Chanak-Kal es
itself. Another is planted about two miles
further northeast on the same shore, while
| Immediately across the strait from Cha
max -kalesi other battlements have been
reared on somewhat higher ground. None
OF these defenses are especially formidable,
as modern Notifications go, although it
must be admitted that, inferior as they
are in many respects, they do mount some
heavy Krupp guns of modern construction
and undoubted power while torpeQUes, it
is said, have lately been sunk in the chan
mel. Every now and then the Turkish
Government buys new gun, and sets it
up at the Dardanelles with sublime con-
tidence that thereby the integrity of the
en plre will be effectually secured.
But the Turks understand little about
the handling of these great guns, al
though the Osmanli soldiers are brave
when well otficered, and it is probable that
in the event of actual hostilities the gun
ners would soon be driven from these de-
fenses and many of the guns themselves
be dismounted Thy the skillful fire at long
range of a feet lying just inside the lower
strait) before the Osmanl garrison could
discharge more than few wild shots with
their intricate but poorly managed ballistic
apparatus. What really adds more TO the
strength of these doorway defenses OF Tur-
key so to speak, than any qualities of
the garrison IN these forts. is the swift
ness of the currents and the tortu-
Gus character of the ship channel of
the Dardanelles. Yet it is not improbable
that unless crippled by fire at long range
nervv and resolute captain of modern
battle-ship could run the gauntlet of the
upper batteries before the bewildered gun
ners could adjust their artillery to the war
ships varying range or succeed in accom-
plishlng more than smashing of some of
the vessels upper works. Out of a feet
OF half dozen vessels endeavoring to force
the passage of the Dardauelles, two would
probably be disabled or would helplessly
ground in maneuvering, while the balance
wouls steam trlumphantly past Gallipoli,
at the upper end of the Dardaueiles, and
thereafter have absolutely free course di-
rectly to the Golden Horn and that part of
the pretty Bosporus overlooked by the
windows and modest facades of the YiIdiz
Palace.
1t is said that in the old days of three
deckers an American frigate, whose right
of entrance had been challenged Dy the
Turks, hove to opposite Chanak (as the
a off
ateiy term the paiace) fired salute, and
then, under cover OF the smoke thus
raised-for that WAS before the days OF
'smokeless powder" r"-made boldly UP the
strait for the Sea of Marmora before the
Turks could recover from the astonish-
ment or interpose any forcible remon-
STRANGE. Another American naval officer
tells an amusing story of an experience
that befell him when his ship was
anchored off Chanak awaiting the re-
ceptlon of ''pratique." After some
delay a boat was observed putting
off from shore in the direction of the
United States corvette. AS the boat came
alongside dirty Turkish officer stood up
in the stern sheets and pointing with his
thumb in the general direction Of Constan-
tinople, exclaimed: "Stamboula git'
The officer OF the deck did not understand
the whole force of the expression (Go to
Constantinople! y, but with the quick wit
OF Yankee he lnstinctively OWNED the
significance OF the ''git" (an i'm
perative from the Turkish verb gitmek),
which seemed to possess d certain
resemblance to Yankee slang, and i'm
medlately gave orders to get the anchor
aboard and bear away up the strait toward
Stamboul as fast as the slow American tub
could travel. Outgoing-that is, west
ward bound-vessels stop their engines
abreast of a Turkish guardship no bigger
than North River tug, anchored about
Two miles above Chanak-Kalesi, and there
the permission in documentary form,
which they had received authorizing the
navigation OF the Turkish waters by them
they deliver up before steaming on past
Chanak out among the Greek islands of
the fgean. If a yenturesome or ignorant
merchant steamer on entering the strait
presumes to pass on beyond certain
point shot ls fired across her bow, and
the cost OF the powder thus burned is col
lected scrupulously from the owners or
agents OF the vessel on her arrival at Stam-
boul, as Oriental logic fails to comprehend
why poor Turkey should pay for any
foreign disregard of her rulesi The Dar-
uaneiies practically constitute the
front door OF the Turkish empire lat least,
as regards its westward exposure) whereat
many would-be visitors are now ringing
the bell. But the Turk is not at home to
all callers. and just now is especially shy
OF such observers as foreign memo war
that may be hanging around Besico Bay
piece OF water just off the famous plain
OF Troy, where DR.. Schllemann made his
much-discussed discovery, which is read
lily reached by few hours ride from
Chanak-Kalesi along the southern shore
OF the Dardaneiles and thence up and over
fine range of hills that afford magnifi- |
cent view of Samothrace, Imbros and
other historic islets of the blue Egean.-
Army and Navy Journal.