The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-05-28

riG bdTuhneieS, known In Cla6'
sic times az the Hellespont, Is
the golden key to the door OF
Asia. The strait, which con.
meets the Sea Of Marmora with
the Aegean sea, Is approximately for
ty-five miles long and varies in width
from four miles to q mile and a quar-.
ter at Dardanelles, It's narrowest
point. 1t was just at this part OF the
strait that according to the ancient
verses ascribed to Musaeus, the serv-
ant OF the muses.. a legendary poet
supposed to have lived about the nth
century. the enamored Leander. resid-
ing In Abydos, the Asiatic town,
wooed and won the beautiful Hero,
one OF the priestesses Of Venus, at
5estos. exactly opposite on the Euro
pean side
Gallipoli, the ancient seaport, a vi
ayet Of Edirneh, Turkey, on the pen
nsula Of Gallopoli, is, next to the city
of Dardanelles, the most important
own on the strait. 1t was known in
classical times as Callipolis, and In
The middle ages, 1t is said. was large
commercial center and valued highly
Is constituting the Key to the Hell
espont"
The town of Dardanelles Is situated
IN fiat point opposite the European
'ort Of Tchanak Kalesi, which guards
he entrance to the strait from the
Aegean sea. Two famous forts known
as castles defend the Dardanelles, the
one in Asia, Tchanak Kalesi, or Earth
enware Castle of Asia, on the site of
he ancient city of Abydos, and It's
nate opposite known as Khilidi Bahar,
the lock Of the sea-" which is buiN
IN the sides Of steep projecting
,liff. It's castle. however, is of less
Importance than its neighbor.
The Turks have a romantic story OF
heir own regarding Abydos, now
Known as Dardanelles. It seems that
firm resistance was offered to the
| Ottomans who besieged 1t under the
| command Of Orchan. the son OF Sui
AN Gilman. The city at last was
forced to yield, owing to the treachery
IF the governors daughter, who had
fallen In love with handsome young
Turk. Her treachery alone occasioned
he fall of the town, which to this day
has remained one Of the most priced
,trongholds of the Turks.
In the town the sight Of foreigner
and the sound Of the English tongue
IS matter Of much comment, even
n the best Of times. Just after the
| ,pcoIlod hop,ho rdp,o ont of tho Dordo
nelles reported to have taken place by
an italian warship during the war
| over Tripoli, the writer had the
unique experience OF being one Of
the eleven foolhardy passengers on
The first Austrian Lloyd steamer from
the port of Piraeus. Greece, willing
to take the risk Of attempting to pass
through the Dardanelles.
A Hazardous Journey.
At the Aegean end of the strait,
after a long wait and much uncertain
y as to whether the steamer would
be permitted to make the hazardous
Journey through the Dardanelles,
Known to be thickly sown with mines,
little grimy Turkish tug took the
ong line of shipping in tow. which
lad for some time been awaiting a
convoy to proceed on its journey to
Constantinople, or the ports on the
Black sea, a journey interrupted by
he false reports OF an Italian bonn
oardment which very fortunately. as
/ happened, had not actually taken
place.
The passengers were filled with
reputation and fear as they anxiously
watched the little snorting tug labori-
1usly twist and turn in an amazingly
intricate and tortuous course, first
close to shore. and then by a sharp
urn, making apparently for the op-
posite side OF the famous channel. II
was q wonderful sight to see the little |
craft ahead, each of the others follow
ing as closely as they could the stern
of the preceding vessel, initiating most |
faithfully the antics of the small Turk |
ssh convoy. lest 1t be blown up by |
missing but one Of the labyrinthian |
twists and turns. and to look back |
and see the FIVE ships behind, as dill |
gently playing the same game of fol |
low the leader. while on each side of |
the narrow waterway an almost con !
tinuous line of Notifications, hidden |
bre9 stworks. bristling batteries and |
until near at hand, cleverly concealed |
ornaments. proved how thorough were
the preparations for war.
On arriving at the little wooden |
dock at the port of Dardanelles in one |
Of the huge Turkish fatboats which |
come out from the shore to take off |
passengers and freight from the
steamer, the tourists passport is de-
manded. even before he is permitted |
to alight on the dock, If being dragged |
up bodily by two villainous looking
bandits who stand on the dock. Sec
onded by two equally ferocious an
pearing gentlemen in the swaying and
bobbing boat some six or seven feet
below, who expedite matters by none