, 1915-02-24

boalbardment marks the beginning of Il seri-
Gus attempt to force the Dardanelles, prepa-
Iatory to the capture of Constantinoplp,
which city is declared to be in a state of
excitement. The Turkish officials are max
ing elaborate preparations to prevent the
Allied fleets passing, all passages being
heavily mined.
Dispatches from Athens state that in the
bombardment of the Dardanelles the Asiatic
forts were finally silenced, most Of them
being practically destroyed. 4 powder
magazine on the Asiatic side was blown up
yesterday and another was almost completely
destroyed, many being killed. Twelve bat
tIeshlps and twenty destroyers we're en-
gagged.
The Cardiff steamer "Cambank" has been
torpedoed and sunk off Holyhead by a Ger
man submarine.
A despatch from Copenhagen states tLat
the Norwegian steamship "Biarko" fI,m
Leith, with q cargo of coal, has been sunk
by u mine III the North Sea. Without doubt
the mine vas planted by Germans, being on
the direct route of vessels running between
Scandinavia and Britain, and it is expected
the Norwegian Government will vigorously
protest. The crew of the "Bjark0'' were
rescued by II trawler md safely landed.
They report that the collier was almost torn
10 pieces.
Dispatches from Dieppe state that the
torpedo made a hole 10 feet wide in the side
OF the "Dinorah". She is now IN harbour,
where she will be repaired rs soon as her
cargo has been discharged. The captain
said that when the first excitement caused
by the explosion bad subsidized, it was found
that although the ship listed slightly TO
star board, she was not sinking, and that all
the watertight compartments which had been
closed Immediately were holding. The or
der TO man the boats WAS therefore counter
m0pded and signals of distress were hoisted,
in answer to which a French torpedo boat
and two tugs came to the rescue, towing an
Austrian steamer captured at the beginning
OF the war and condemned by a Prize Court
and which had since been used by the
French Government in carrying stores from
Bordeaux TO Dunkirk.
The Admiralty states that the damage to
the Norwegian tank steamer "Belridge", off
Dover, was caused by a torpedo from a Ger
man submarine, q piece of the ton ptdo hny-
ing been found in the ship Yesterday. She
Is the first neutral victim of q submarine
since the war zone was declared, and it is
believed that her wrecking will stimulate
the scandinavian Governments into action.
A meeting of the representatives. of Den
mark, Sweden and Norway wnq to take place
Mt Copenhagen yesterday. 1t has already
been decided by these nations to clear the
adjacent seas Of floating mines, and it
is expected that the number Of armed patrol
boats engaged in mine sweeping will be
greatly increased. The representatives of
the three countries may frame a protest to
Germany regarding her submarine campaign.
England and France in cooperation put
into effect yesterday the most extensive mea-
eures for clearing the North Sea and the
English Channel Of German warships, in
Guiding submarines. The details have been
concealed by the censorship, but it is known
that a great screen Of English and F,euch
torpedoe boat dsstroyers have been drawu
across the entrance to the English Channel,
and that the British feet III the North Sea
has moved from its previous base for the
opening Of new MAJ Ouyles against the
GeImans.
Holland has prepared herself for all even
Qualities, IN view {. the critical situation
arising from the war zone decree and the
imminence Of a general embargo on food by
Great Britain, rs far as cargoes for Germany
are concerned.
Washington, Feb. 21st-The United States
Government has decided not to protest re