New Britain herald., 1915-02-26
ALLIES REDUCE OUTER
 DARDANfLLES FORTS
Fleet Closes In at Short Range
 and Forces Entrance.

London, Feb. 25 (midnigh).-Al the forts at the entrance of the Dar- denelles have been reduced by the allied fleet. This announcement was made officially last night.
 The announcement of the secretary of the admiralty follows:
 "The weather moderating, the bonn bardment of the outer forts of the Dardanelles was renewed at o'clock this morning (February 25). After a period of long range fire, the squad ron of battleships attacked at close range. All the forts at the entrance to the straits were successfully re- duced and the operations are contin- uing."
 What It Means. Almost simultaneously with the declaration in the house of lords, by the British foreign secretary that Great Britain is in entire accord with Russias desire for access to the open sea, comes the announcement by the British admiralty that all the forts at the entrance to the Dardanelles have been reduced.
 For several days the allied British and French fleet has been pounding at the forts, which constituted the greatest obstacle to passage of the straits
 Other Fortifcations Weaker.
 Within the straits and in the sea of Marmora are other fortifications, but these are believed to be of a. weaker structure.
 The official statement says that the operations are proceeding and that after a period of long range fire the warships attacked at close range. The straits are guarded also by lines of mines, believed to number at least seven. It was under some of these lines that the British submarine B-11, in command of Lieutenant Commander Holbrook dived last December and tor pedoed the Turkish battleship Messu- dieh. Recently the Turks, fearing the entrance of the allied fleet into the sea of Marmora, sent troops and heavy artillery to all the islands in that water.
 March on Constantinople.
 If once they forced the straits, the British and French warships which are thought to number between thirty and forty, would likely attempt a landing, with a subsequent march on Constantinople. The Bosphorus, the narrow strait about eighteen miles in length, which connects the Black sea with the Sea of Marmora, also is strongly fortified and 1t is through this strait that the Black sea fleet of Russia would have to come in order to reach the open sea. Within the boundaries of the Black sea a powerful Russian fleet has been bottled up together with hundreds of steamers which might be used for transport. purposes If Russia deemed that desirable.
 Millions of Bushels Wheat.
 Furthermore, should the allied fleet be successful in it's present under taking Russia would be enabled to release millions of bushels of wheat.
 Sir Edward Greys statement in the house of commons is in conso- nance with the utterance of the Rus sian premier, M Goremykin, in the duma on February 9, that "The ra- diant future of the Russians on the Black sea is beginning to dawn near the walls of Constantinople" and that of the Russian foreign minister MT. Sazonoff, who said that "The events on the Russo-Turkish frontier would bring Russia to a nearer reali- cal problems bound up with the ques ton of Russias access to the open sea"