Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-13
KEY TO CONsTANTINOPLE.
The Dardanelles Form Long, Tor
tuous, and Narrow Passage.

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The Dardanelles Form Long, Tor
tuous, and Narrow Passage.
The name of "DaTdanelles," derived
from an ancient Greek town, Dardanes'
situated on the shores of the Hellespont'
says the Baltimore Sun. was originally
applied to four forts located on both SIDES
of these straits, which connect the Aegean
Sea with the Sea OF Marmora. on whose
eastern end the city Of Constantinopie
was built. The Helespont finally became
known as the Straits OF the Dardaneles,
the key TO the Turkish capital. Mohamed
H.. soon after the seizure OF Constantine
pie in 1853, had these forts erected. Not
being kept in good order. they were UNI
able to prevent the passage Of a Russian
Din 177O and an English squadron I'm lsJJ.
Since 1867 several additional batteries have
been raised and several new forts built
at the entrance from the Aegean Sea. AS
far back as 1869 the Ottoman Porte was
negotiating with Great Britain for
treaty prohibiting admission Of any but
Turkish warships to the Dardanelles, 10
which proposition the great Powers agreed
in 1914, and which fact was confirmed IN
the peace of Paris in 1856, as well as IN
the peace of Berlin in 1878.
The Dardanelles form long. tortuous'
and narrow passage, swept by strong
current The average width of the straits
is only two miles, while at the narrowest
point the channel is only about 1000 yards
broad. On either side the ground is the
most favorable for forts and the most I'M
favorable for ships that may attempt 10
force a passage, but the latter would ind
il difficult TO reach the forts at all with
their guns. Indeed, modern warships OF
any type are peculiarly susceptible to a
plunging or downward fire, against which
the thin armor Of their decks cannot pro-
tect them satisfactorily. In 1873 Admiral
Horribly, of the British fleet, when he led
his squadron up the Narrows, found that
scarcely a gun in his feet could be trained
upon the Turkish batteries on the clii1s.
He had, of course, no occasion TO fire
shot, the Turks, then in alliance with
England. not opposing his passage.
Herr r. Won Bieberstein, a German Of
ficer. in describing the Dardanelles forts,
states that at the very entrance to the
straits the width is about two and a
quarter miles. There are forts Sedil-
Bahr-Kallessi, with sixty guns and ten
mOrtars, and Kun Kalessi, with thirty
six guns and twelve mortars. To these
must be added two strong earthwOrks,
each mounting sixteen guns, which gives
a total of l06 heavy guns. In war every
kind Of mine and torpedo would supple
ment the terrific cross-fre of these bat
teries. Then some miles further up at
the narrowest point, where the current
is swiftest, where the way is rendered
hard of passage by shoals, and where
the cliffs on either side rise high, is
second tremendous group of works.
mounting between them no fewer than
62O guns and forty-eight mortars, dis
tributed in nineteen forts OF earthworks
many of which are strongly constructed
in accordance with the progress Of mill
tary art. The guns are, many of them
of large calbre; even in 1878 there was
a fifty-ton Krupp. Here. again. the de-
fence would have the assistance Of mine
fields, and all manner OF torpedoes, and
can enhlade the passage with gunfire.
The ships must come into action singly-
moving in line ahead-the only possible
order. and can then only direct a feeble
fire upon their assailants. They cannot
move at all till, by the tedious and weari-
some process of creeping or sweep
ing" they have cleared the fairway of
mines. Any damage to steering gear or
propelers in the strong current might
prove fatal.
No fleet could enter the Sea Of Mar
mora without very heavy loss both i'm
men and material. The Turks, fighting
behlnd earIhWOrkS, are by 10 means con-
temptible enemies, as they proved 10 Sir
John Duckworth. in 1901. The ships
would have to undergo one battering from
the first series of forts, after clearing
away the mines. They would then have
to undergo worse battering at the Mar
rows.
Surprising all went well and no ships
were lost in the mine-helds or disabled
by the Turkish torpedo craft, which are
probably in very sorry state. the fleet
might enter the Sea of Marmora, having
sustained a good deal Of damage and nred
much precious ammunition away. Behind
it are still the Turkish forts, which it
must reDass on its return. IL is cut OH
from all communication in hostile waters,
unable TO procure coal Against CONSTANT
nople 1t can do less than nothing. Sir John
Duckworth threatened a bOmbardment ia
1907. when Russia sided with England, but
found that humanity, political cOnsidera-
ton. and, last, but not least the very use
lessness Of such a measure forbade il. He
had to retreat, for ne had no army TO
Overawe the Sultan's land forces. On his
way down most OF his ships were roughly
handled. and he lost twenty killed
and l5S wounded in the Narrows.
On the whole. the passage of the OAR
daneles is only possible to strongly ar
mored ships. and that. perhaps, by night
alone. The dispatch Of an army corps up
the straits is impossible till the forts have
been reduced, and Turkey disposes Of. at
the lowest estimate. 10000 armed men,
who. If the Sultan should be attacked.
will, whatever his sins. defend him with
Ottoman obstinacy till the last.