Albuquerque morning journal., 1915-02-26
Summary of War
NelUs of Yesterday

Almost simultaneously with the
declaration IN the house Of commons
OF the British foreign secretary that
Great Britain is in entire accord with
Russia'E desire for access 10 the open
sea comes the announcement by the
British admiralty that all the foris
at the entrance 10 the Dardanclles
have been reduced.
For several days the allies British
and French fleet has been pounding
at these forts which constituted the
greatest obstacle TO passage OF the
straits. Within the straits and In the
Sea of Marmora are other fortifica-
tions. but these are believed 60 be Of
weaker structure. The otfitini
statement says that the operations are
proceeding and that after a period o.
long range fire the warships attacked
at close range.
The straits are guarded also by lines
Cf mines believed To number at least
seven II was some of these mines
that the British submarine Bill, N
command Of Lieutenat commnnder
Holbrook, dived last December and
torpedoed the Turkish battlcship
Messudioh. Recently the Turks, fear
ing the entrance OF the allied fleet
into the Sea of Mafmora, sent troops
and heavy artillery TO all the islands
in that water
IL unce they force the straits. the
British and French warships which
are thought to number between thirty
and forty, would likely attempt a
landing. with a subsequent march on
Constantinople The Bosphorus, the
narrow straits about fourteen miles IN
length which connects the Black sea
with the Sea of Marmora. Is also
strongly fortified and II Is thrnugn
this strait that the Black sea fleet OF
Russia would have to come IN order
70 reach the open.
Within the boundary of the Black
sea a powerful Russian fleet has been
bottled up together with hundreds or
steamers which might be used ior
transport purposes II Russia deemed
that advisable. Furthermore, should
the allied fleet be successful IN US
present undertaking Russia would be
enabled to release millions Of bushels
of wheat.
Sir Edward Grey's statement in the
house of commons is In consonance
with the utterance of the RUSSIAN
premier, NJ Goremylin, In the duma
that "the radiant future of the RUS
slams in the Black seas Is beginning 70
dawn near the walls of Constantlnople'
and that OF the Russian foreign minis
ter. NJ Sazonoff who said that the
events on the Rnsso-Turkish from
tier would bring Russia to neareF
realization Of the practical and eco
nomlcal problems bound up with the
question Of Russla's access 10 the
open sea-
The British cabinet has under dis
cussion the suggestion made by tho
United States informally to Great
Britain and Germany that all mines
be removed from the high seas cx-
cept those necessary for the protoo-
tion of harbors and coast defenses
that plan be devised for the distri-
button of foodstuffs 20 che civilian
Of Germany and tho abhn-
donmcnt by Germany Of rs subma'
tine warfare on merchant ships The
cabinet has taken no action but II ~
reply VIII be ready In 2
few DAYS
In the meantime merchant ships
are being sunk by mines and tor
nedoes and the American secretary
of the treasury has issued an order
whereby all ports In the British Isles
have been made special ports re-
quiring special rates of war risk IN
suranee from the government bureau
and the special port zone on the con
tlnent Is made TO include Bordeaux.
Berlin reports the capture Of Pr2a-
snysz. an important town 60 the north
Of Warsaw. There the Germans TOOK
/ 900 Russian prisoners and 1t Is pe-
lieved that their intention Is TO march
against the Polish capital from me
north.
Russia officially declares that the
German statements regarding recent
successes In Fast Prussia have been
greatly exaggerated; that many ol the
Russian troops who were said TO have
been annlhilated made good their re-
treat and that the German lines are
being held in check.
This fighting in the western zone
TO the latest official COM
issued hy the respective
seem to be of a minor
nature.
A news agency dispatch from Ven
ice asserts that the Austrian govern
ment is confiscating all stocks Of grain
and flour in the monarchy which VIII
be apportioned per capita when an
estimate OF the ayailabie
supply Is made.