The morning times., 1896-04-05
FORTIFIED BY NATURE.
Constantinople Can Very Easily BE
Made Strong Place.
Baltimore american.

Baltimore american.
Constantinople is very much favored by
nature, and the strategist's art had but
little to add to the natural resources at his
disposal.
Coming from the Aegean Sea, ship
passes up the rapid current of the Darda-
nelles Strait The strongest of the fortifi-
cations along this strait are erected where
the strait narrows down to a little less
than 1000 feet in width; on the one side
is Fort Sultane-Kaleh tSultan's CastleJ.
and on the other KilidBahr Lock OF the
Seal.
The Dardanelles proper are protected by
three lines of defense, an outer, center
and an inner line. The batteries of these
forts are provided with Krupp guns of
large Caliber, there being SI4 of these
guns distributed along the lines OF fortifi-
cation. The points OF defense have been
so Well selected that passing vessels, who
have to pay full attention TO .the rapid
current and the frequent turns in the
channel, may be taken into cross-fire at
almost any point within stretch OF more
than three miles
The greatest weakness of the fortifica-
tIonS along the Dardanelles consists IN that
they are almost defenseleSs from the land
side, and during the Russo-Turkish war of
1ST1-7S they were in danger OF being
taken by the Russians. Since the Darda-
nelles were fortified they were forced but
once, in 1907, by the English Admiral
Dalkworth, and then only Oh account of
the miserable armament in use. At the
present time these forts are positively
impossible, for no matter what man-of-
war, according TO the Judgment of expe-
rienced German artillery Officers who are
now In the Turkish military service.
After the Darlanelles are passed the
Sea Of Marmora may be passed without
inte rruptiou; at the entrance into the
BoSphorus, strong forts On rocky cliffs
guard the gateway. Altogether this mar
row strait, which winds in seven sharp
Sc rpentines, is but fifteen miles long.
Eleven forts and nineteen batteries, with
633 guns and fifty-one mortars, protect
this northern gate of ConStantinople
Upon the land SIDE this city is iECloSed by
wall, varying from twenty to forty-two
| feet in height. In the southwestern part
| of the city the citadel of the "Seven
Towers" is erected, and near the point Of
| the peninsula which forms the city proper
the Seraglio is also protected by batteries
| and the so-called LeaDder Tower. " hich is
| about seYent y-five feet high. This tower
| stands ct the furthest seaward point of
the peninsula, and just across the Golden
Horn is the Marine Arsenal ToDhane
From the land side ConstautinoIlle is
amply protected by its walls. ard an at
| tack upon the city could not possibly be
| successful without simultaneous attack
! from the sea. The most serious defect
in the defense of the Turkish capital is
| the absolute absence OF outlying forts
! and works. and the fact that there is no
source of fresh water within the city walls.
/ In former years when difficulty of COM
/ municatIon on the land side arose. Con-
! stantinOple has always been supplied with
| water from SCutari. on the AsiaCtic side
! or the BosphOruS.
The current Of the Rosphorus is very rapid
and treachorous there are many weE.pools
and eddieS. so that the Turks them selves
! have named it the Devils current" All
| things considered, it must be admitted that
! 1t would be difficult matter to take Con.
| Stantinople by force and even the COM
! bined navies Of several European powers
could not force an entrance through the
| DardanelleS. nor is il likely that Russian
men-of-war could enter the BosphoruS from
| the north with success.