Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-05-07


Bosphorus offer protection that prac-
tically means the destruction OF any
feet that should attempt TO approach
The city without the Turk consent.
The DardanelleS from Sestos and
Abydos to the sea of Narmora is tlled
with torpeaoes. The high, rocky
shores bristle with A double line Of
fortresses. The entrance to the Oar
danelles is narrow. The current is
strong and nature has done every.
thing to make the straits impregnable,
except to furnish the guns. The forts
on each side are built upon modern
principles and mount krupp guns of
heavy calibCr.
The two largest forts are at the mar
rows, the-one called the Namazieh bat
terry at Kilid Bahar and the other the
Medjidieh, a little t. the norhward Of
the town of Chanak Both command
the approach to the n&rrows and can
deliver a cross fire that would make a
big hole in any modern fleet. In Fort
Medjidieh there are six heavy Arm
strong guns, besides ten of the biggest
OF the i\rupp manufacture. The
Namazieh batterys armament, too. is
very heavy, twenty twenty
meter krupps. There are ten other
batteries and forts between there and
the Sea of MarmOra, but they are Of
minor consequence. Since the war of
1877 the Turks have reconstructed
these forts and put in modern arma-
ment The forts ale not the chief re-
lance. The Turk has taken to the
torpedo in a way that will astonish his
enemies. The recent naval battles at
the Ealu River and Port Arthur show
the terrible effect OF the modern tor
pedo when intelligently handled. The
bottom of the Dardanales is lined with
torpedoes, ana there are number OF
submarine mines. The torpedoes are
arranged to be fired by electricity from
shore.
Nearly all these fortrcsses along the
Dardaneiles have been built for many
years, s)me for certuries They have
been remodeled again and again to
keep pace with the modern progress in
warfare. Two new forts have been
constructed within the last ten years
not far from the western end of the
strait They are called the new
castles Of Europe and Asia, and are the
complement OF the old castles of Eu-
rope and Asia on the Bosphorus
These two new forts are the chief re-
lance of the Turks in the defense OF
the channel from any hostile invasion.
They are perfectly equipped with the
best armament, much of which was
made at the Turkish arsenal at PieIi
Pasha This arsenal terminates the
long line of docks appertaining to the
imperial establishment, which extends
from Galata for a mile and a half
along the lip of the water. The super
intCndent of the establishment is an
American in high favor with the sui
tan who in order to preserve the briggs
and ships of the line only suffers them
TO cruise during the summer and in
the fall of each year causes them to be
anch, red in the Bosphorus.
Tie Dardanelles is the Hellespont, or
sea of Helle. of the ancients. 1t di-
rectly connects the archipelago, an arm
of the Mediterranean, with the Sea Of
Marmora, which is practically the i'm
mense harbor of Constantinople. 1t is
very narrow, and resembles rather a
river at its mouth than veritable sea,
The European shore on the northwest
consists of rugged hills spotted with
patches OF vegetation but Of aspect
generally arid and mountainous. The
Asiatic coast on the southeast wears a
more cheerful aspect, and presents an
appearance OF verdure more suitable to
Europe.
Almost at the entrance at the west
crn end are the sites of SeStos and
Abydos, made memorable by the legend
OF Hero and Leander. At this point
Lord Byron and Lieutenant Eak2nheai
swan the stream to prove the seat OF
Leander was no fable. The breadth
here is contracted to only S15 feet.
Further along is the strongly fortified
town of Chanak -Kalessi. Here float
the standards Of the colsulates OF
many nations. and within its walls Is
a cosmopolitan aggregation that has
European favor.
Tie wind the current and the small
extent of the channel render the waters
somewhat rough and makes voyaging
distressing to all but the natives
From this point to the Sea OF Marmora
the scenery is but a series Of repeti-
tons, old castles at frequent intervals
furnishing the picturesque features
Coming to Constantinope from the
cast, through the Bosphorus from the
Black sea, are heavy batteries on al
most every Joint on either side. At
the two ksyas, where the channel OF
the Bosphorus rarrows, there is a
formidable array OF Notifications
They are arranged for a cross-fire, and
five Of them are of recent construc-
ton These mount thirty heavy
Krupp guns each and are capable CT
sinking any war ship.
The towns along the south shore OF
40 Nab eco orc uaII fC-tfHad IA