The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-04-03

New York.-The Heralds na'a
correspondent writes:
The most striking characteristic ~
this great war is the rapidlty wiz.
which its main interest centers hrs'
in one part of the world and then IN
another. Something like eight tnou.
sand miles separated the scene OIL
the hattie OF the Falkland islands ana
that on the Dogger bank, while on
land attention is riveted at one ume
on the Belgian coast or the campaign
in Lorraine, and at another IN the
Carpathians or on a life-and-deatn
struggle in Poland. This week the
minds of both naval and military
watchers of the conflict have been d
rected to the Dardanelles. the gates
Of Asia. There another phase OF the
worldwide war is opening, the erect
Of which no man can tell.
Each of the contending empires IN
the conflict possesses an advantage
which in a measure compensate one
the other. While Britain holds the
command of the Sea, Germany has the
interior position on land. which en-
ables her to strike alternately heavy
blows on either front. She also mas
been able, with the assistance OF Aus
tria and Turkey. and aided by the
geographical conditions, to drive a
wedge between the communications OF
her enemies which extends from the
North sea almost to the Indian ocean
The movement in the Mediterranean
indicates the determination on the
part of the superior sea power to Gu,
that wedge in two.
The strategic importance OF the
straits between Europe and Asia hal
been recognized from very ancien
times. II was on the Chersonese. thu
peninsula on the western side OF thu
straits. that the Turks got their hrs
foothold in Europe. 1t may very wei
be that II it now falls into the hand
of Great Britain its occupation o.
British troops will mean the uproo'
ing of the last vestjge Of Ottoman rul
IN the northern continent. There ar
At least indications of the development
Of a farreaching operation from bot
ends of the Sea of Marmora, havin
for it's purpose the expulsion OF tn
Turk from Constantinople.
There are other objects Of first-elas
importance to be obtained from SUI
cessful attack on the Dardanelles. No
that the Archangel route is closed b
ice. communication between Russi
and her allies has almost entirel
ceased. There is no outlet for tn
immense supplies of corn and oil
which they are in want and which sh
could furnish, and, on the other han
the only source of supply Of the M
nitions Of war, which she cannot maj
ufacture herself, must be brought owe
the long and difficult road from Vlad
yostok and Hardin. The opening
the Dardanelles and the Bosporl
must have, therefore. an immedia
and important effect both in the ives
ern and eastern theaters Of war. NJ
can It be doubted that substanti
gain of this character to Germany
foes would directly influence the n
lions which have been for so long he
itating about entering the war. A
the Balkan States would. be affects
considerably, and while Greece cou
scarcely stand still with Russia at Il
gates of Constantinople. Italy mig
well feel that this sharp stroke
moved the last doubt as regarding Il
side with which she should be actin
OF the operation itself, although Il
Dardanelles have long been regar
ed as impregnable, It is more thu
h likely that as other fortresses ha'
failed to maintain their securi
/