The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-08-27
WILD WAR RUMORS
IN CONSTANTINOPLE
One Story Had 1t That American En-
gineers Were Digging Canal Across
Gallipoli Peninsula.

Constantinople, Aug. 27.-As instances
of some OF the remarkable war rumors
afoat in the Turkish capital, the Asso'
ciated Press correspondent found that
the following had circulation and cred
enee among a large number OF Greeks
and Armenians, and even some unin-
formed Turks;
That American engineers were engaged
in digging canal across the narrow
part of the Gallpoli peninsula that the
Anglo French allies had built and put
into operation a railroad rs kilometers
long. and that the allies were now busy
rebuilding the Greek towns along the
Daroanelles and the 4Egean sea which
were destroyed during the various bonn
hardments. Lastly, that the French and
English would be masters of the Darda-
nelles, Sea OF Marmora and the Bosphor-
us within IA days.
There are, of course, no American canal
builders anywhere near the Dsrdsnelles
there is no such railroad as the allies
are said to have built; the Greek towns
are in ruin as before; and the l4-day Pc
riod allowed for the penetration of the
straits is recurrently prolonged.
The rumors mentioned are not the
most extravagant that one hears in Con-
stantinople, they arc merely those heard
most often and seemingly believed by a
large number of the Greeks and Arme
mans.
Seeking enlightenment as TO the rea
son for such an odd rumor as the pres.
enee of American canal diggers, the cor
respondent learned from a Greek resi-
dent that the allies had engaged Amer
can engineers to dig the supposed canal /,
because they had such success in canal
building at Panama, and that the object
II the canal through the Gsllipoli pen
nsula was 10 afford a channel for the
allied feet TO reach Constantinople with
,ut having to pass the Dardanelles forts,
whose strength no one here, even Greeks
ind Armenians. longer doubts.
The suggestion that such a canal would
" the task Of several years was alto
,ether lost on the man who believed the
umor.
The report chat the allies have built
military railroad from Sid-el-Bahr to a
,oint Is kilomeiers north is even more
IAAtlN Nttehf1s Inc AfNAu = ANAA TIC
lilies would have TO run the railroad in
ircles in order 10 make Il 25 kilometers
a length unless il penetrated the Turk
n lines.
An sttache Of the American embassy
! Constantinople had been so impressed
18th these reports OF the railroad build J
". in fact. that even be besieged tie
.ssociated Press correspondent for the
ruth. :
The activity Of persons who circulate
neh rumors a. are calculated 10 falsely
npress the popnlsce with the snccess 81
le allies gives the military authorities
considerable trouble. The penalty for
ich an ofense NAV Be as much ss ia
ears' imprisonment and fine that may
can the confscation Of al the prorsty |
n offender has But even this drastic i
.easure does not make the rumor mon .
.rs more careful Almost daily . dor !
such cases ara Disposed Of with vary '
IL resuifs. a few nights ago q meteor Z
% near Constantinnple. the caresr 81 !.
y celestial wandered coming II en- end Z
ith q vivid fash Of light and q sharp g
.plosion. The next day i was asserted :
rum0r that a British arrorlans had q
.rovn hosnls upon TIE buildings of the :.
hiilne Porte. Il
ne disposition a TIRE Constant fnopis 2
ssrersrs- howercr. ts publish 81 ihf :
- that thsy an obtain VS. rHueutly q
Gen ir ths rrrro1ulfian ~ most 81 ths .