The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-01-07
Scenes In 6agdad and Map Showing
How Near It Lies to The Persian Gull
on the NavieabIe Tigres River.

on the Navigabie Tigres River.
connecting link between the trade and
travel routes Of western Europe and
the Persian gulf and India. Tunnels
through the Taurus mountains have
been finished within the past few
months and several of the units Of the
line have been joined. SO travel is now
possible over a long stretch of the road
into the interior of Asia Minor. With
this concession has likewise come the
possession of the town Of AleXandret-
ia, on the coast. which the Germans
We're at the outbreak of the war rap
idly developing into a port Of consider
able Importance.
The keys to this line snd to the rich
country that lies tributary 20 it are the
western terminus at Scutari, opposite
to Constantinople, and the section
westward from .Aleppo. That the Ger
mans wish to fortify their possession
OF this road by actual occupation of it
seems one OF the motives of their pres
ent movement.
Again, the coast of Asia Minor and
Syria has for years been a matter that
has assumed great Importance in every
discussion Of the final apportionment of
the Ottoman empire. Italy and France
among the allies have tentatively di-
vlded this coast, while in the offer that
was made to Greece there was includ-
ed the section from Smyrna to the gulf
Of Adalia. The islands lying off the
coast are also expected as spoils of war
by the allies in case Of their success.
The important island Of Rhodes is al
ready occupied by Italy, as are also
Kos, Stampalia and several other Of
the smaller Sporades. Samos. Chios
and Mytilene have been included in the
concession to Greece if she would es-
pouse the allies cause. Smyrna can be
easily reached by the Germans from
Constantinople. and from the former
place they might be able to exercise a
control over much of the coast both to
the north and south of Smyrna bay.
! Meet Friends In Syria.
In Syria the Germans would come uD
against the French developments in
Palestine. Here the French have built
several railroads and have through
their commercial agencies created
growing colonies and a thriving bust
ness. 1t is doubtful, though, if the
French have as strong a hold upon Pal
estine as the Germans themselves.
Count o Bicberstein during his very
able and shreWd management of the
German embassy mt COnstantinople
succeeded in securing innumerable con-
cessions at Jerusalem. Damascus and
other towns of the Holy Land.
There is Il railroad leading down the
Syrian coast from .Aleppo to beyond the
Dead sea and on to Medina, and by
means of this the German forces, so far
as opposition from the people of the
country is concerned, could axe up the
route to SueZ. There would still be be-
fore them, however, the desert of TT
Tih. but as this was crossed earlier in
the war by a Turkish force there seems
no reason Why the Teutons might not
undertake the same expedition With
some assurance of success.
Submarines Cooperate.
The activities of the German and
Austrian submarines i'll the Mediterra-
nea sea form another interesting
phase of the proposed invasion of the
near east by the Teutonic allies. Count
Won Bernstorff, the German ambassa-
dor to the United States, announced
some time ago that many British and
French ships had been torpe'loed in
these waters. Then came the sinking
of the Italian liner .AncOna.
The German u boats succeeded in
slipping past Gibraltar, where the allies
were supposed to have many watchful
patrol boats in wait for the enemy.
Blu during the night the submarines
gained entrance into the Mediterranean
and for weeks played havoc with allied
shipping. The daring Of the undersea
boats in making the trip from the Kiel
canal to the Austrian coast has not
been surpassed during the wal.