The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1915-03-20
Turks Expressing
Supreme Confidence
in Impregnability Of
Their Defending Forts
Although Constantinople Claims To Be Optimistic 1t Is
Reported Turkish Officials Have Appealed to Am
erican Ambassador to Save Constantinople.

London, March 2O-With the Russian Black
fleet reported knocking at the door of the BosphOrs,
and six allied battleshipS renewing the bombardment
of the Turkish positions in the Dardaneles the tate
of the straits today is hanging in the balance accord
ing to opinions freely expressed in London. The
Turks nevertheless express supreme confidence In the
impregnabity of the defending forts. The number of
men lost in Thursdays engagement is unasertalned,
but is probably about 800
After Thursdays loss of two British and one
French batteships the attack the Dardanelles
resumed yesterday but unofficial advices say little
accomplished on account of unfavOrabe weather.
Constantnople says the allies losses the result
of torpedoing while yesterdays British statement
says all struck drifting mines.
The Turkish position the Mainland
SMYRNA is being strengthened, large renforcements
being sent to the assistance of the defenders Efforts
have been made to repair the damage already done to
defenses at Smyrna and plant mines
The naval policy of the allies is now in oper-
alton against Austria according to word that reached
Rome. The commanders of the AnglO-Frcnch fleet in
the Adriatc have been notified to prevent the trans
portation of all goods to or from Austrian ports
The British assertion that in the four days fight
ing at Neuve Chapelesthe Germans lost about $4,000
men is disputed by the German general staff. The
official statement place the total German losses at g.,
600.
Although Turkish official reports minimize he
effect of the bombardment, and declare CONSTANT
nOple is not afraid intelligence received from other
eastern points set forth that negotiations had al
ready begun with the American embassy intermed-
iary to the Ottoman capital from the guns of the
allied warships.
Rumors Of the destruction Of the German sea
raider Karlsruhe received confirmation by a
guarded statement of the British admiralty. There is
every to believe this cruiser sunk In the
West Indies last November.
g SAVED From ERoM TIE eoyyET ,
menw
Rouve, the
ships Of the French division which took part in this action de-
n times of the eouvst carried s21 but
probably been augmented strength
wARsHIPs roRPEooED TURKISH CLAIM
from
sinking of the British and French warshp the Dsdanees
"A fight ende forts
ynd slight damage earth works. damage done the o
featonS"
,.ud.. A. CLAIM GERMANS sYRM VILLAGES =
PoIapa
man forwarded Reuters.
towns snS Larger villages Soys a: ns&Xchv & II is said $500
burned figures Polish
estimated at half milisn.
= . NO DECISIVE ACTION TODAY
battles are impending
GERMAN AERoPLANE VISITS ENGLAND
bombs OF Deal seaport strait
turned and disappeared
WEATHER NrERFERREo FRIDAY
London. March
straits Friday according to dispatch received here by Reuters
This Thursday
sateshp 6ouvet and the British battshps Irresistible
able weather conditions made operations impossible
tiab admiral