The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-31
RUSSIAN VESSELS SUNK.
sudden Attack by Turks-Germsu
Backing the Porte.

N"Sso Dc~B1tFN 10 iHE Sun
LONDON, oct. so Turkey is not
merely at war with Russia; she has also
thrown the gauntlet to the Triple En-
tente. Her warships. within twenty
four hours. have attacked the cities OF
Odessa, Theodosia and Novorosssk,
have sunk tho small Russian cruiser
Donets. have shelled the French steamer
Portugal and have destroyed or dam
aged five Russian merchant vessels.
simultaneously she has put her
troops in motion, evidently launching
an attack against the British in Egypt.
despatch from Cairo says that Turk
ish cavalry divisions are approaching
the Gulf of Akabah. the most eastcrIy
projection Of the Red Sea. and that the
British and native forces in Egypt are
prepared for an attack
The Turkish cavalry is within 200
miles OF the Suez Canal. which is prob
ably the object of attack, and It is re-
ported that the force is very strong and
well equipped There is a report from
Berlin that Turkish scouts have APP
peared OFF the Gulf of Suez and are
using wireless outfits. Bedouns are
massing on the Egyptian frontier.
There are some indications that Turk
ish officials are stirring the people to
religious fervor for war against Eng
land. At Damascus. according TO the
Exchange Telegraph Company, there
have been manifestations of enthusiasm
over the prospect Of a war against the
Christians and against England.
Odessa Taken by Surprise.
IT is officially reported by the Russian
Government that two Turkish Destroy
ers ran into the harbor of Odessa YES
terday and opened fire on the city and
shipping, IL IL probable that the
authorities at Odessa were not aware
that state of war existed and that
| Turkish ships had already attacked
elsewhere in the Black Sea.
The gunboat Donets, twenty-seyen
years old and Of l,224 tons, was hit by
torpedo and went to the bottom. The
destroyers turned their guns on the
merchant vessels damaged the Por-
tugl, which flew the French flag, and
hit three Russian steamers, the
l-azareff. Witlaz and Whampoa.
The destroyers threw shells into the
city killing or injurlng citizens and dam
aeHg u sugar factory. Apparently an
attempt was made To ruin oil storage
tanks which were in full range of the
guns, but these were not injured. II ap-
pears that the raid lasted only n short
time and that the aim of the Turkish
ships was imperfect
simultaneously the big battle cruiser
Goeben. sold or loaned to Turkey by Ger
many. and still manned. according to re-
port. by German officers and seamen.
went into action against Russian mer-
chant ships operating between the Sea
OF Azov and the Black Sea A despatch
from Petrograd states that the Goeber
intercepted and torpedoed the steamship
Yalta and Kazbek and that seventy thu -
sailors and passengers OF the Kazbek per
ished.
A despatch from Rome might stated
that the Goeben and Breslau have prob
ably destroyed other vessels, since they
have been active since Thursday morn
ing in lanes where Russian vessels ara
numerous. The Breslau was of Thso-
dosia on the Caucasus seaboard, ON
Thursday morning. II Is entirely propaulo
that bombardment OF seacoast towns
has been started.
Russia's action was immediate. The
Cars Government proclaimed a state
of war against Turkey and the Russian
Ambassador and suite left Constantlnoplc
after the protection OF Russian citizens
and interests in Turkey had been placed
In the hands OF The Italian Ambassador
| The Smelling of French liner at Odessa
and the reported advance OF troops toward
Egypt can mean nothing else except war