South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-27
MINE SWEEPING
IN DARDANELLEs
Waters Are Being Cleared of
Explosives Under Protection
of Allies FIeet--Damage to
Bombarding Vessels Slight.

LONDON. Feb. 27.-Under the pro-
lection Of the warships Of the allied
fleet. mine sweeping operations are
in progress in the Dardanelles. Re-
ports have reached London of dam
age to the bombarding vessels, but SO
far as it can be established by inquir-
les at Tenedos no serious damage
has been done.
An Athens correspondent sends the
following dispatch regarding the
bonn mbardment OF the forts at the en-
trance TO the straits:
News received from the islands OF
TenedOs last night says the lombard
ment of the Dardanelles continued
with violence from o'clock in the
morning until o'clock in the even
ing The fire from the forts was IN
tense during part of the day but
diminished and ceased before night
fall
Forts ErthOgroil, Seddul-Bahr and
Orhanie suffered a great deal, espec-
iaIIy Seddul-Bahr, which was on fire,
the flames being seen from Tenedos.
One of the allies cruisers entered the
straits during the evening and
bombarded the forts for an hour. 1t
then withdrew safely.
ish forts is not definitely known, but
it appears to be established that none
Of the allies vessels has been serious
ly damaged"
Confirms Report.
An official communication issued by
the French minister of marine in
Paris today confirms the demolition
of the forts guarding the entrance to
the Dardanelles. The cOmmunica-
ton follows:
THE bombardment Of the forts at
the entrance to the pardanelIes was
resumed from a great distance yester-
day at o'clock in the morning. This
was followed by a bombardment at
shorter range. Four forts were de-
stroyed. One of them was entirely
f titled by the Germans.
Mine dragging in the straits is
being effected under the protection
of the armored and other cruisers of
the combined fleet"
Although the allied fleet under the
British vice admiral, Garden. has en-
tered the Dardanelles, lC still has a
! distance Of IS miles to go before il
reaches the sea of ALarmora and then
| it is 100 miles further to CONSTANT
nOple. The first task viii be to sweep
away the mines with which the chan
{ mel OF the Dardanelles is thickIy
/ SIreWn.
Then the fleets will have to run
/ the gauntlet OF the new fortihcations
on both the European and Asiatic
/ sides for a distance of 15 miles until
the narrowest point, only a mile wide
/ between Kilid Bahr and Kaleh
Kalessi, is reached. Lines Of earth
| works and entrenchments have been
/ constructed along both shores and on
| the hills back Of the forts in Gallipoli
peninsula, all the way to the sea Of
| Marmora.
| More Forts Guard Entrance.
At the narrow point mentioned are
\ the strongest forts guarding the
| Dardanelles, nine on the European
| side and three on the Asiatic side.
which also must be reduced before
! the feet can proceed.
After passing the last Of three forts
! the allied fleet may have to reckon
with the Turkish warships lying in
! Niagara roads.
Should the Turkish fleet be de-
! feated or should it withd the sea
/ of MarmOra is open to the allies. But
4 here, too, there are numerous islands
| in the southern part. all of which
| have been fortified. The defenses of
the Ottoman capital Itself are describ-
| ed as relatively unimportant.