The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-21
Ammunition of Turkish Bat teries Practically Exhaust
 ed After Bombardment
SQUADRON FAILED
 TO RENEW ATTACK
Turks Had Decided to Abandon Forts Near Constantinople on Night After Sinking Irresistible
 and Ocean

vienna, December 2O.-tCorreSpondence of the Associated Press. )--Had tho allied fleet returned to it's attack upon the Dar- danelles batteries on the day after tho great bombardment of March 1e. last, the waterway to Constantinople would have been surely forced, in the opinion of number of artillery officers of the defense works near Tschanels Kale ex- pressed to the Associated Press cor respondent. who has just come from the Dardanelles front to Vienna.
 One of the principal batteries had for three of Its large calibre guns just four armor piercing shells each when night ended the tremendous effort of the British and French fleet, it appeared For the fourth gun five shells were left. making for the entire battery total of r pro- iectiles Of the sort which the aggressors had to fear. What this meant is best understood when it is considered that the battery in question was the one which had to be given the widest berth by the allied fleet
 During the evening of March IS, the Associated Press correspondent talked to several artillery officers from the bat tery in question
 READY TO LEAVE
 Better pack up and be ready to quit at daybreak." said one of them
 Why's" was asked.
 "Oh, they are sure to get in tomor. row!"
 Then the officer stated his reasons He was sure that the British and French would return in the morning to finish their task that there was no question in his mind as to the propriety of discussing the ammunition matter
 Well hold out we'll enough to make them think that there is no end to our supply of ammunition" he said But it cant be done if they go about their work in real earnest. With our heavy pieces useless they can reduce the bat teries on the other shore without trouble. The case looks hopeless, You had better take my advice
 Following the advice thus given. the correspondent arose carly next morning and packed his few belongings, keeping meanwhile a watchful eye on the tower of kale Sutane where the flag, showing
 
 ly hoisted. But the morning hours passed and still the danger signal did not ap- pear
 ALLIES COWED BY LOSSES
 The allied fleet evidently was not in- cllned to risk more such losses as those of the previous day when the Bouvet Irresistible and Ocean went down and five other ships were badly damaged. And yet even with the il remaining ships it appears from the Turkish admissions that the Dardanelles could have been forced on March 19
 During the day the correspondent vis- ited several of the batteries The dam- age done on the day before was sight indeed consisting mostly of large earth dspacements from the parapets and traverses. Four guns were temporarily out of commission. but the general short age of ammunition made these pieces negligible quantities anyway.
 Although the British information in this field of operations said to have been efficient, it must have failed in this in- stance, for it seems certain that with 17 shells the battery in question would have been easily disposed of, a channel could then have been made through the mine field and the way to Constantiople would have been open.
 This was realized in the Turkish capi- tai. The court made arrangements for it's transfer to EslSishehir, Anatola, and the German and Austro- Hungarian em- bassies also were ready to go to this ancient seat of the ottoman government Many of the families of the German of- ficers in the Turkish service left Con- stantnople. Tn short, everybody under stood that calamity was impending What it's exact nature was but a few knew,
 Today the Dardanelles forts have all the ammunition they can use and the position generally has been so improved and strengthened that 1t is considered probable that to force the straits would take more ships than the allies have.