The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-23
FEW HOPE ID SAVE
 TURKISH CAPITAL Well Informed Germans
 Realize This NO WITHDRAWAL NOW To Admit Themselves Unable to Carry Forts Would Mean Loss
 of Prestige of French and British Navies
NO WITHDRAWAL NOW
py FREDERICK WERNER

Berlin, April 17.-(Speclal Ut is re- alized by every thinking German, why the allied powers, in spite of their heavy naval losses, are straining every nerve to push forward the attack on the Dardanelles. At the moment the first shot was fired from French and Eng fish warships the Turkish offensive against Egypt and Russia was par alyzed and every hope of expelling the English from the Nile valley or the Russians from important positions in the Caucasus had to be given up in definitely. Turkeys military leaders had now only one duty. that of prepar- ing their sacred capital for a desperate defense.
 It Is openly admitted that even at the present moment. when the final re- suit is still undecided. the advantages which the allies have gained by at tacking the Dardanelles are highly i'm portant. But if these advantages are to be made permanent the attack must be carried on with almost superhuman en- ergy until Constantinople shall have been taken.
 Germans of optimistic tendencies still retain hope that the Turkish forts. armed with guns made by Krupp and commanded by German artillery off ders, may be able to sink so many al- lied ships that the attempt will be given up. Sober minded observers, however. do not count on this, for a failure in the Dardanelles would mean a loss to the prestige of the France British na- vies.
 Cannot Withdraw Now England and Franco simply cannot withdraw now, and on the other side the forcing of the Dardanelles may bring the end of the war. The moment the straits have become open to the passage of merchant vessels Russia l will be at liberty to export the enor.
 nous quantities of wheat now stored | in southern Russia, and what is more important still, she will be able to i'm.
 port all the munitions of war she needs German secret agents in Russia who ar, still freely crossing the German frontier | have long reported that there is a serioE shortage of rifles, guns and ammunition
 in Russia, which may at any time hrin,
 about the collapse of the Czars armies
 With the Dardanelles open Germany mus | be prepared 10 face new millions of Rus
 sians fighters, now concentrated. drilled
 who will roll forward like mighty wav the moment they are armed
 Compared to this 1t means practicalt, I nothing to Germany that the fall of Con stantinopie sounds the death knel o Turkish rule in Europe. Politically how ever this will be of the greatest impor tanoe, for immediately the question vii arise: Who Is to hold Constantinople Russia, Bulgaria and Greece will eael
 come forward with claims but we are tolt
 that London and Paris favor neither O
 these three countries and that London will never permit permanent Russian occu patton of Constantinople.
 l But it is vet too early to sell the slSr
 of the hear. It is a long way from tn,
 mi6dle of the Dardanelles to the Turkish l capital and the way is as narrow ant difficult as if is long.
 From Italy come rumors persistent, | stating that an agreement has beer reached between the powers of the triple entente that Constantinope Is to be made an International city under British French and Russian protectorate, and
 that there is to be an end to the dream l of Greece and Bulgaria.
 The Berliner Tageblatts Rome corre- spondent states that General Garihaldi