The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-03-04
TWO MORE FORTS
ON DARDANELLES
AREICAPTURE
Allies Occupy Turk Positions on
Shore.
ALL ENGLAND IS REJOICING
Attack on ConstantinopIe by Allied
Fleet Is Believed to Be Near
Washington Hears Residents
Of Capital Are in Panic.

OF Sapitat are IN fdnICs
81! London, March 1.-Two more forts
guarding the Dardanelles have fallen
under the terrific bombardment of the
Franco-British feet, bringing it an
other step nearer the clash with the
Turkish fleet in Niagara Roads and the
final smash through the straits and
the Sea of Marmora to Constantinople,
British and French flags are now
flying on six of the 'impregnable'
forts of the Turks, according to an
Exchange Telegram dispatch from
Athens. The forts RACED have all been
invested by landing parties and for
mally taken over as French and Brit
ish positions on Turkish soil.
1t is believed in London that these
are the positions at the entrance to
the Dardanelles, on Cape Helles and
across the straits In Asia Minor. The
official announcement given out by
the admiralty, however. would indi
cate that more than six forts suffered
In the bombardment further up the
straits, into which the feet had pene'
trated IA miles on Saturday.
All England Is Rejoicing.
Military experts point out that
though the forts might be destroyed,
the possibility Of an attack by Turk
ish infantry or artillery masked by
the hills on the peninsula of CALI
| poll, as well as on the Asiatic side,
| would deter Admiral Garden from
risking the lives of his marines by
landing them until the shells of she
warships' guns had removed all dan
ger of an attack. and that it is prob.
able that from Cape Helles to Fort
Intepe ten or more forts have been
destroyed.
Meanwhile all England is rejoicing
at this newest exploit OF its battle
ships, accompanied by so small a
loss of life that the cost of the vic
tory may be said to have been nc
more than a few tons of ammunition
London now believes an attack or
Constantinople to be only matter
Of time. and the fact that the Turk
|
sault OF the allies is causing no ap
prehension. Naval observers even de-
clare it is possible that when the
Turks realize the numerical superb
GRITTY and the advantage in weight OF
armament possessed by the allied
fleet. if they do not already realize
1t, the ships will turn and make for
Constantinople to make a final stand
before the city.
Diplomat Confident.
Berlin via wireless), March l.
david Bey. former Turkish minister
of finance, declared to an interviewer
that Turkey would be able TO bear
her share of the financial burden OF
the war.
He added that the Dardanelles are
too strongly fortified not to be able
to resist the attacks of the enemy
who undoubtedly would suffer heavy
losses in his attempt to hammer his
way through.
Dreadnaushts Engage Forts.
A complete list Of the ships Ell
gagged is not available, but reports
from Athens and other points say that
20 large vessels are taking part, and
the report issued by the British ad'
miraIty mentions no less than ten OF
these. Previous reports mentioned
others that were not engaged on
Thursday or Friday, the period COW
cred by the admiralty statement.
Has Eight 15-Ineh Guns.
AT the head of the feet is the Queen
Elizabeth. one OF England's latest su'
perdreadnaughts, which has been com.
missioned since the war began and
which mounts eight 15.inch guns. The
Queen Elizabeth took part in the bonn.
bardment, so that for the first time
these monster weapons were used
and, according to the admiralty re.
port, they did their work with great
accuracy" ,..... 4a.. O. ....., .
| }GOther ships which assisted in silenc,
ing the outer forts were the British
battleship Agamemnon, which was
struck by a Turkish shell and had
| three men kliieu anu Hfe WOuHueu
the, British battleships Irresistible
Vengeance, Corvallis, Albion and
Majestic, each of which carries four
12-inch guns. and the Triumph, which
has four 1O-inch guns, and the French
battleships Gaulois, Suffren and
Charlemagne, each of which carries
four 12-inch guns. .r.s &.s.s
| Other vessels, including the FreSch
battleship Bouvet and one or two Brit
ish battle cruisers, are in the vicinity
to render assistance should 1t be re
quired.
| Panic at constantinopIe.
Washington, March There is q
panic in Constantinople and, accord
ing to advices reaching the United
States government, the Ottoman gov
eminent is considering moving across
the Bosporus to Scutari, II is under
stood Ambassador Morgenthau will
stay In Cdnstantinople even Though
other emphasizes and the Turkish GOV
eminent. move