The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-03-20
THE OAROANElLES CONFLICT
English and French Military Au-
thorities Confident That Con-
stantinople Will be Captured

The greatest fleet of warships
ever assembled for battle is now en-
gagged in the narrow strait between
the Aegean sea and the Sea of Mar
mora in forcing its way through to
Constantinople. Thus far these ships
of the allied powers fighting the
Turks have been entirely successful.
Three days ago they silenced and de-
stroyed the four forts at and near
the entrance to the Dardanelles, one
of which, at the southwestern point,
was provided a dozen years ago with
Krupp guns, which were said to be
the most powerful ever made. II
has been reported from Athens that
they had silenced some of the inner
forts on the European side and were
operating as far up the straits as
Fort Kilid Bahr.
The power of even the most mod
ern guns in the Turkish forts appar-
emily counted for nothing in compar-
ison with those of the newest Eng
lish dreadnought, the Queen Eliza
beth. which sends projectiles weigh
ing a ton fully 20 miles; some re-
ports say nearly 80, but 20 miles is a
far shot. One shell from Fort Sed-
del-Bahr, and only one, did much
damage, according to the accounts
of the action thus far received: it
hit the battleship Agamemnon at H.
600 yards, killing three men and
wounding five. In the further ad-
vance through the strait, however,
after sweeping up the mines, the
fleet is bound to encounter further
perils and will probably suffer some
loss. The newer German fortifica-
tions at Niagara point and on an is
land in the Sea of Marmora, may not
be so easily passed.
But that they will be passed and
demolished, and that Constantinople
will soon fall into the hands of the
Allies. is not doubted by the military
and political authorities in London
and Paris. It's safe to infer that a
tremendous operation like this. en-
tered upon with no undue haste, but
after careful consideration.
would not have been undertaken
without reasonable assurance. of a
triumph. That triumph will mean
much. The very beginning of the
operations has opened a new phase
of the war, and the expected an
to-day by England and
France of an embargo on all shipping
to and from Germany may well be
with the Dardanelles action
as a step which must quicken the
progress of the great conflict of ma
tions and lead to some definite re-
suit.
The capture of Constantinople will
mean the extinction of Turkish rule
in Europe and the collapse for all
time of German plans for Asiatic
1t will not only check
the Turks plan to invade Egypt, but
will stop all German supplies to the
Turkish troops in Asia Minor and af-
ford free passage from Black Sea
ports of vast Russian stores of grain
and oil, to the great betterment of
Russian finances and the substantial
relief of the Allies and neutral ma
tions. There will be no more talk of
fresh accessions to the alliance of
Turks and Germans. Apart from
the object of the naval warfare now
going on in the Dardanelles and the
far-reaching effects of a victory for
the Allies, the engagement in its
present stage is of tremendous in
terest as the greatest of its kind ever
fought. The latest results of mod
ern naval architecture and armament
are being put to the supreme test.
In this view the defeat and destruc-
tion of the well-protected and we'll
armed forts at the mouth of the
are particularly signif-
York Times.