New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-21
ONCE NEAR
STRAITS VICTORY
Turk Battery Had Only II
Shells Left When British
Gave Up Attack.
GERMAN OFFICERS
HAD QUIT CAPITAL
Government Prepared to Move
TO Asia Minor When AM
munitiOn Ran Out.

Vienna, DEC. 20.-Had the Allied
feet returned TO its attack on the Oar
danelles batteries on the day follow
ing the great bombsrdment Of March
10 last the waterway to Constsntinople
would have been surely forced, in the
opinion Of artillery officers stationed at
the defence works near Tschanek Ksle.
One of the principal batteries had
for three Of its large cslibre guns Just
four armor-piercing shells each when
night ended the tremendous effort OF
the British and French feet, it ap-
peared For the fourth gun, five shells
were left, making for the entire bat
terry total of seventeen projectiles Of
the sort which the aggressors had to
fear What this meant is best Under
stood when it is considered that the
battery IN question was the one which
had 10 be given the widest berth by the
Allied feet. During the evening Of
March Is the correspondent, who has
Just returned from the Dardanelles
front, talked TO several artillery Off
GERS from the battery in question.
Better pack UP and be ready to quit
at daybresk?" said one OF them.
Why" was asked.
"Oh, they are sure TO get in to-mor-
row!"
Then the officer stated his reasons.
He was 30 sure that the British and
French would return In the morning 10
finish their task that there was no
question in his mind SIS TO the propriety
Of discussing the ammunition matter.
Case Looked Hopeless.
"We1l hold out we'll enough TO make
them think that there ia no end to our
supply Of ammunition he said But
il can't be done IL they go about their
work in real earnest. With our heavy
pieces useless. they can reduce the bat
teries on the other shore without trou-
BILE. The case looks hopeless. You had
better take my advice"
Following the advice thus given the
correspondent rose early next morning
and packed his few belongings, keep
ing. meanwhile, a wstchful eve on the
tower Of kale Sultanie, where the flag
showing that the Allied fleet wa smear
was usually hoisted. But the morning
hours passed and still the danger signal
did not appear. The Allied feet evi-
IDENTIFY was not inclined to risk more
such losses as those OF the previous
day, when the Bouvet, Irresistible and
Ocean went down and FIVE other ships
we're badly damaged And yet even
with the eleven remaining ships II ap-
pears from the Turkish admissions that
the Dsrdanelles could have been forced
on March 10.
During the day the correspondent
visited several Of the batteries. The
damage done on the day before was
slight, indeed, consisting mostly Of
large earth displscements from the
parapets and traverses. Four guns were
temporarily out OF commission, but the
general shortage OF ammunition made
these pieces negligible quantities any
way.
British Observers Failed.
Although the British information
system in this field Of operations was
efficient, il must have failed in this In
stance, for it seems certain that with
seventeen shells the battery in ques-
ton would have been easily disposed
Of, channel could then have been
made through the mine field and the
way 10 Constantinople would have been
open. This was realized in the Turk
ish capital. The court made arrange
ments for It's transfer 10 Eskishehir,
Anatolia. and the German and Austro-
Hungarian embassies were also ready
TO 20 TO this ancient seat Of tho Otto
man government. Many of the families
of the German officers IN the Turkish
service left Constantinople. In short,
everybody understood that calamity
was impending. What its exact nature
was but few knew.
To-day the Dardanelles forts have
all the ammunition they can use, and
the position, generally. has been go i'm
proved and strengthened that it is con
sidered probable that 70 force the
straits would take more ships than the
Allies have.