Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-04-15
SULTAN DECLARES
STRAIT CAN RESIST
Ddrdane les BOmnardneni Not
Feared by Ruler Of Turkey.
EFFECT ON OUTSIDE WORL D

Greatest Naval Power of World Now
Attempting to Reduce Strongest Land
Fortifications-Mehm v. Grants In
terview to Correspondents and Lauds
Valor of His Troops and the Germans.
Constantinople,-On of the most in
tereSting developments that the war
has brought about is the great effort
of the allies to force the Dardanelles
strait and the superb resistance that
the Turkish defenders, assisted by the
German officers, have been able to dis
play. This bombardment. in which
the strongest naval powers in the
world are attempting to reduce the
strongest land Notifications in the
world, will go down in history as the
most spectacular naval engagement of
all time.
Each shot fired by the allied fleet is
felt in all parts of the world. Stored
away in Russia, without an outlet.
there are thousands and thousands Of
bushels of wheat that the world is
clamorlng for. Unless the forts are
forced it must remain there. for there
is no other outlet. If the strait is pen
etrated, however, this grain will food
the worlds markets and the price of
Wheatw will be reduced all over the globe
The allies are confident that they
can reduce these remarkable fortifica-
tons. The defenders are likewise GER
tain that the task is impossible This
is what the sultan of Turkey said to a
group of American correspondents:
Il am convinced that the Darda-
nelles cannot be forced. The brave
conduct Of the Turkish troops in the
recent operations against the strait
permits me to conclude that although
the allies bend every effort and use
every means at their disposal they will
be unable to achieve their purpose"
The various phases Of the lombard
ment were discussed by his majesty in
manner demonstrating that he was
well Informed On the affair.
Mehmed V. was in most cordial
frame of mind. Many Of the incidents
related by the correspondents brought
to the sultan's face broad smiles of
satisfaction. appreciation and amuse-
ment. How the correspondents had
been obliged to make a hasty retreat
when Kale Sultania was reached by
the allies shells appeared to be of spe-
cial interest to his majesty
When one of the correspondents told
the sultan that be had been made ner-
vous in Chanak ka Essi by the eXplo-
sions Of large shells, which impelled
him to stoop at every defamation, and
how an old interpreter, who also was
retreating. touched him on the arm
each time. saying, "Yock kismet," the
sultan was much amused and touched
the newspaper man on the shoulder in
most fatherly fashion and proceeded
to explain that the use of the word
'kismet" was improper under such cir
cumstances.
1.-The old man should have used the
word 'kader.' because that term eX
presses more fully what he wanted to
convey" said his majesty. The word
'kader' means that our fate is in the
hands of a superior force and that what
is to happen will happen anyway The
idea is known among you, believe, as
fatalism. But 'kader' alone will not do
We also must work.
This incident disposed of. his majes-
ty asked the correspondent to continue
his description of the sinking of the
French warShip Bouvet and the British
Irresistible. That the Bouvet had dis.
appeared within three minutes brought
a look into the kindly gray eyes Of his
majesty as if he regretted that so many
human beings had persisted without
chance to fight for life.
The sultan then asked if his troops
appeared to be happy and contented,
The answer being emphatically in the
affirmative. Il new smile of satisfaction
lit up his face.
"It has been said that it was the
factor of luck that made our victory
OH MdICu 10 81 COLul)lcl0 anu great,
he remarked. "but we in the Turkish
have a saying, Luck is infatuated
with the efficient
1T appears very unjust to me that
the allies want to force the Darda-
nelles and take COnstantinople just to
import foodstuffs from Russia. But our
army and coast defense force have
shown their ability and willingness to
do their duty. l am speaking here not
alone of the Turkish defenders Of the
Dardanelles. but also those Germans
who have so efficiently and bravely
co-operated with them.
81 would thank you if you would
say for me that my admiration for
the German troops in the east and the
west is so great that it is impossible
for me to express in words my high
opinion of their valor and efficiency.
Concerning their chief commander.