Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-07-06

type, and from the tirst-class torpedo
boats strong fotilla could be formed.
1t Is almost impossible to entirely
divorce my consideration of the Rus
sian Black Sea feet and the history of
the Dardanclles, for the feet has been
organized and butt especially to meet
the conditions. Originally 1t was con-
ceived with the idea of commanding
the shores of that immense inland
sea. and to be able, If the necessity
should arise, to assist any Soperation
against Turkey.
A Vast Inland Sea.
The Black Sea is very large body
Of inland water. Some idea of its size
may best be given by calling to mind
that its area is about that of the Mid.
die States and Mississippi combined.
In figures 1t may be expressed as 1885,
III square miles. Its only outlet is
through the Bosphorus, the Sea Of
Marmora and the Dardanelles into the
Aegean Sea, an arm Of the Mediter-
ranean. The Bosphorus and the OAR
danelles are two narrow straits, and,
consequently, easily fortified, although
1t may be asserted that the Turkish
forts are not Gibraltars. by any means.
At its greatest width the Bosphorus
is not over two and quarter miles,
and its tortuous course Is nineteen
miles long. The Dardanelles is a wind
ing body Of water. forty-five miles
long, and averaging two miles III
width. The latter is at one point only
500 yards wide, and here, on the
Aslatic side, are the fortresses Of
Chanak-Kale and Kum-Kali, and on
the European side Sed-il-Bahr and
kalid-Bahr. The latter is generally
spoken Of as THE Key of the Sea-" or
1.-THE Castle Of Europe" All four forts
have some modern ordnance, the
Asiatic being commanded by 200
krupp cannon, yet there remain some
ancient brass cannon Of Immense size
which are capable Of hurting stoneshot
Of from 20 to 20 inches in diameter,
which are not nearly SO terrible as
their appearance would suggest.
The forty-five miles of the Dardan-
Giles, whose shores, although not such
a panorama Of beauty as those of the
Bosphorus, are still full of fine pictnr.
esqueness, are bordered by rugged
mountains, rising one behind the other,
brown and barren on the European
side, and by low, wooded hills on the
Asiatic. Important towns dot the way.
Among them, at the entrance to tho
Sea OF Marmora. are Gallipoli. on the
European side. called the "Key to
Constantinople;" Ak-bashi Liman, the
ancient port of Sestos; Abydos, just
opposite the scene Of Leander's swim
ming, and, later. of Lord Byron's. Be
low this lies Chanak- Kalessi, some
times called Dardanelles.
Rugged Beauty of the Dardanelles.
AS the Dardanelles, the Sea of Mar
mora and the Bosphurus are all with
In the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish
Government has always contended
that no foreign warship should be al
lowed at any time to pass through.
Owing to the same international jeal-
ousies which have prolonged the life
Of the Sick Man of Europe, the Porte
has been able TO have its position
strengthened by treaties and by con-
vention of the European powers. The
various treaties. etc, referring to the
closing of the straits to foreign ships
OF war may be summarized rs follows:
1900. January 5.-rreaty. Great
Britain and Turkey. Dardanelles and
Eosphorus closed to ships of war of
foreign states when the Porte is at
peace.
Disqualification. Turkey. Bos-
phorus closed to merchant ships Of
powers not having treaties.
1895. October Treaty. Russia and