Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-11
TURKS TO sLAY CHRISTIANS
IF CAPITAL is sHELLED

ATHENS, Jan. 11.-Baron Won Wansen-
helm. German Ambassador to Turkey, has
warned the Minister Of Balkan State
In Constantinople that in event of the
Allies feet forcing the Dardenelles the
| Turks would vent their wrath by the
| massacre of the Christian population III
| Constantinople.
Notwithstanding feverish measures
taken for the defense of the straits, great
| nervousness prevails. The authorities are
| seriously considering removal of the scat
| OF Government to Konia. The Public
Treasury already has been transferred to
that place.
The italian navy, although large, Is
made up largely of old vessels. Between
1900 and 1912 there were virtually no addi-
tions 20 the fleet which now numbers
1870 fighting vessels of all classes. There
are now building the only superdread-
noughts Of the Kingdom, four in number,
whose keels were laid down last year;
two 22O0O-ton dreadnoughts, due for COM
pletion this year, and IS formidable de-
stroycrs three of 1900 TONS three of 1923
tons. due for completion in 1916 and ten
of 40 tons which should be ready for
duty in the very near future. Eight Inn
mense submarines are planned, but have
not been laid down yet with these ad-
ditlOnal ships Italy will have an addi-
tlonal strength OF 30 1rst-class fighters.
The most powerful ships in the italian
fleet at present are the dreadnoughts
Conte di Cavour Giulo Cesare and
Leonardo da Vinci. All have a displace-
ment of 1900 tons, a complement of 9S1
men and officers and the following arma-
ment: Thirteen Pinch guns, Is 4T-inch
and ID 3-inch guns with two submerged
and one above-water stern torpedo tubes
firing 1S-inch projectles The Dante
Aughieri, the only other dreadnought, has
q displacement of lS,400 and carries a |
crew Of 900. The guns are the same In |
calibre, but differ In disposition from the |
larger boats, as follows: Twelve 12 inch, |
20 ~ inch and 70 3-inch guns and three |
submerged 1S-inch torpedo tubes.
The four uper-dreadnoughts building |
are the Christoforo Colombo, the NJ.
CoIonna, the f. Morosini and the Car
'acclolo. Each vessel will carry eight
5-inch guns, which can be fired in broad
side from port or starboard. The rest of
he armament will consist of 10 6-inch
guns and 90 S-inch guns Both forward
md stern turrets carry the 15-inch guns,
our in each turret. These ships will each
,e of 10000 tons displacement, and al
hough no indication is given as to the
lie of the crew, vessels of this sort re-
uire at least 1900 men to be manned
properly.
or the rest of the fleet, there are four
irst-class battleships completed In 1905;
our in 1901 and two in 1898; one second
lass battleship put into service last
ear: four in 1901; one in 1899 and one
\ 1898; total of 10 first-class and seven
econd-class battleships. Five old ar
nored cruisers, completed between $780,
S99, are also in service. Three scout
ruisers, two in 1913 and one in 1912, and
no protected cruiser commissioned In
,l2 with nine others from 1Ss3-1S9s COM
lete the cruiser class. Eight old-fash-
oned torpedo-gunboats, none built since
800, are counted as part of the fighting
orce.
In the destroyer squadron are only ten
al tirst-class ships. These, completed
1918, are of approximately 700-tons dis
atement each. with a maximum speed
80 knots and 1900 horsepower The
23 in commission are of from
Q to 400 tonnage, and although of high .
,eed have little power The So torpedo
'ats, with the exception of 81 of the sea-
oing type, are all old. The fleet is dl- !
ded into so seagoing. 8 first-class, IA ,
cond-class and 6 third-class boats. !
The submarine fleet Is in far better con-
tion. Eight powerful boats, with two ,
bes and cruising radius of 1900 miles ;
ch, were put into service a little more |,
an a year ago. Two others, of .
mailer type, were completed at about
o same time, while in 1872 three other
bmarines were built. These were the
st OF the new type. One other boat,
tilt In 1907, and five more. built between
. and 1905, complete the effective un-
rwater fighters. Nineteen of the sub y
arlnes have two tubes and eneetive : :
using radii The remaining submarine, =
IL in service, is a relic OF 1890. It has a
It one tube and a cruising radius of q
ly 80 miles. I