Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-04-02
CARS FLEET TIED UP.
Closing of Dardanelles to All Warships
Etectually Deprives Russians
of 0ne-third of Navy.

OF One-thlrd OF Navy.
The closing of the Dardanelles TO war
ships of all nations has the effect of de-
priying the Car Of the use of about one
third of his entire navy in the war which
he is now CARRYING on with Japan Rus
STA has oftentImes been charged with
cynical disregard of her treaty obliga-
tons. Yet surely she deserves credit for
the manner in which she has observed for
nearly seventy years the, to her, most OBJ
noXlous stipulations of the international
agreement on the subject of the Darda-
nelles, imposed upon her by the powers at
a moment when she was at a disadvan-
tage. There have been a number OF occa-
slons in the last seven decades. notably in
the Franco-German and the South Afri-
can wars. when she could have awaited
herself of the difficulties in which the
other parties TO the treaty We're involved
to set aside the restrictions 10 which she
Is subjected in connection with the only
outlet of the Black sea. That she should
have refrained from moving in the matter
should be counted in her favor II may
be questioned whether the American and
English people would have permitted
their respective governments In exercise
similar forbearance under analogous con-
dltlons. Some, of course, will insist that
II Russia was content to have the Darda-
nelles closed to the men-of-war of every
power except the Porte, il was because
she expects some day to succeed 10 the
latters inheritance as controller of the
strait, and will be glad 10 enjoy the same
prerogatives in connection Herewith as
the sultan. Be this as it may. the fact
remains that. since the treaty of 1871,
she has sent no warship through the mar
row strip of sea, in many places not more
than four miles wide. which divides Tur-
key i'll Europe from Turkey in Asia and
connects the Mediterranean with the
Black sea.
The international agreement barring the
passage Of the Dardanelles TO warships of
ali nations dates, not as generally sup
posed from 1856 but from 1871. 4 few
years previously Russia had by the treaty
OF Cnkiar Skelessi with Turkey obtained
from the latter advantages which virtual
ly gave her the control of the Dardaneles.
since the Porte undertook. by the terms of
the alliance with the Car. 10 allow to the
latter ships, in the event of his being at
war with any other nation, free passage
through the strait. while closing it to the
vessels Of the other belligerent. The
western powers at once proclaimed that
they would not recognize the treaty of
alliance in question, and in 1871 Russia.
lessi convention with the Sultan united
with them in declaration that the an
Gent rule of the Ottoman empire of for
bidding the passage of the Dardaneles to
warshipS of all nations except when the
Porte itself should be at war was accent
ed by Europe at large. The treaty of
1896, which brought 10 a close the Cri-
mean war. that had resulted in the defeat
of Russia by the united forces of Great
Britain, France, Sardinia and Turkey. not
merely confirmed this agreement ahout
the DGrdanelles. but likewise imposed
upon both Russia and Turkey the neu-
tralization of the Black sea. the prohibi-
ton from building and maintaining any
w&rShips on its waters, and from fOrtify-
ing any port on its shores. At the close
Of the war between France and Germany
IN 1870 Russia, encouraged. it is now
known. by the late Prince Bismarck. ad-
dressed 4 circular note to the signatory
powers Of the treaty OF 1856. declaring
that she declir I'd TO be bound any longer
by those of its stpulations that provided
for the naturalization Of the Black sea
This led 10 an international congress.
which resulted in an amendment of the
treaty Of Paris in so far that Russia was
permitted TO maintain any number OF
W0rships that she saw fit i'm the Black
sea. But the DardaneileS were declared
as strictly barred as ever 10 all men-nf-
war, ana further seal was set upon the
agreement with regard TO the strait by
the congress of Berlin of 1878. which met
To discuss the new condition of affairs
arising from kus>ia's victorious war with
Turkey during the two previous years
That Is why Russia is prevented from
making any use of her powerful Black
sea fleet in her present war with Japan
and why she is compelled to draw upon
her feet IN the Baltic 10 reinforce her
naval sqUadrons in the Mediterranean and
III the far Orient. That. too, is the rea-
son why Russia has had until now to
build all the ships OF her Black sea fleet
on the shores of the Black sea. since il
has been impossible for the Gar to bring
into the Black sea any of the men-0f-war
which have been constructed in his Baltic
Shipyards or in foreign countries. Tins
for instance. the battleshipS and cruisers
built for Russia in the United States
We're prevented from access TO the Black
sea. and from visiting any Of RusSia'S
ports bordering thereon. One of the IF.
fects Of this CALLING restriction placed
upon Russia was that she has been
Obliged 70 maintain not one. hut two. large
and entirely distinct fleets in the. waters
Of southern Europe. For she has NOT
been able TO use the Black sea squadron
for the protection OF her interests In tho
Mediterranean. and in the same way She
has been deharred from employing her
maritime forces in the Mediterranean far
duty in the Black seq Moreove- the
ships of her Mediterranean squadron have
nor only had 20 i've brought from the RAJ
tic. but have likewise been shut of from
al the MuSOovite ports. arSenals and
bases Of supply in the Black sea. AZ
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