South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-29
Big Russian WarShipS Begin a
Long Threatened Attack on
the BOSphOruS, l8 Miles
from COnStantinOpIe.
AVIATORS DIRECT HOT
FIRE FROM SHIPS
Two German Submarines Have
Been Sunk in Baltic Sea and
Two Others Were Probably
Destroyed, Russians Say.

PETROGRAD, March % Rus
sia's Black sea feet has begun it's
long threatened attack upon the Bos-
phOrus. only is miles from Con-
stantnople. After driving back into
thS straits the Turkish deet that re-
Gently sailed forth for battle, i'll
opened a bOmbardment Sunday against
the forts on both the European and
Asiatic sides of the BOsphOrus, the
eastern gate To the Ottoman capital.
A large Turkish ship that was cut
off in the Black sea and later tried
TO make its way into the BOsphorus
was sunk This is believed TO have
been one of the vessels of the Turk
ish fleet but the dispatches from the
Russian naval commander have not
yet identified il.
The Russian fleet is believed to be
continuing it's bombardment of the
BOsphorus forts today, but the only
Information issued at the admiralty
thus far is the official statement.
The OficiaI Statement
This statement follows:
The Russian Black sea fleet on
sunday bOmbarded the outside forts
and batteries of the Bosphorus on
both sides OF the straits.
According TO observations made
from ships and hydroplanes, our
shells fell with eXactitude. Russian
aviators flying above the Bosphorus
batteries carried out successful recon
noissances and dropped bombs with
success.
a heavy artillery FIRE was poured
on the aviators 10y the enemy with
out success.
"The Turkish torpedo boats tried
TO come out. but were driven back
into the straits 10y the fire OF our
guns.
a large hostile four-masted ship
trying TO get into the Bosphorus from
the sea was bombarded by us. She
finally heeled over the blew up
Rejoicing was caused in Petrograd
by the news of the attack upon the
Bosphorus.
The appearance Of a Russian fleet
before StambOul and its capture of
the Ottoman capital would crafty a
national ambition that has existed
since the days of Ivan.
Eberhard i'm Command
Admiral Eberhard is in command
of the Russian fleet in the Black sea
and a dispatch from Odessa received
today states that his flagship. the
1mperatrista Maria. a battleship of
22.56 tons led in the attack on the
BOsphorus being accompanied by the
battieships Svyatoi Evstaf Il Ioann
ZlatOust, Panteleimon and Rotislav
and the cruisers Pamyat Merkuria
and kagul.
The strongest Turkish forts on the
Bosphorus are Itumeh Hissar and
Anatoh Hissar, standing about eight
miles from the entrance ON the Eu-
ropean and Asiatic side, respectively.
Modern krupp guns have been
mounted at both these points and
these are probably manned by Ger
man gunneTs
The forts at the entrance Of the
Bosphorus, which felt the first ef-
fects Of the Russian attack, are Kilia
and kabel- Odessa. on the Furopean
side and Pioras on the Asiatic side
These forts are old and equipped as
those at the narrow part OF the
straits.
Germans Lose Submarines.
Two German submarines are known
10 have teen sunk 10y the Russians in
the Baltic sea and two others have
probably been destroyed. according TO
statement issued by the Russian ad-
miralty today. This statement. which
takes the form of "a review Of opera
tions on the Baltic SAYS:
Since the war started German sub
marines have suffered 70 consider
able extent. one was destroyed by
the armored cruiser Bayan: another
Of the newest type was sunk on Oct
il by striking q mine and two others
were probably destroyed by Russian
mines.
ut can be stated that the Germans
have suffered heavy losses along their
own coasts by the loss of number
Of transports. In two months the
Germans delivered 10 submarine at
tacks in nine OF which the torpedoes
failed To reach their mark In nine
other cases the submarines We're
driven OFT before they could deliver
any attack. In only one instance did
an attack of the enemy achieve any
result"
During the first month Of the war
the German fleet in the Baltic con-
Nued its activities exclusively TO rec
onnoitering This gave US time 20 put
our occupied territory into a state OF
defense and strengthen the defensive
works that had already existed. ON
sept. "a strong naval force OF the
enemy made its first appearance In the
north Baltic where the ships destroyed
~kare Rogsher. German light cruisers
made "a night attack upon its own
torpedo boat destroyers, which were
bonn barded hy mistake. Eight of
them were damaged
Following these operations the
Russians developed intense activity
along the German coast but the result
of these operations cannot yet be pub
lshed
KILLED BY TRAIN.