The Washington herald., 1918-11-04

nelles. and he had directed their
movements by wireless in the Med
iterranean. By safely getting the
Goeben and the Breslau into Con-
stantinople, Wangenheim had def
nitely clinched Turkey as Germany's
ally. All his intrigues and plottings
for three years had now finally sue
ceeded.
Ships Influence Big.
doubt II any two ships have ex-
ercised a greater influence upon his
tory than these two German cruis-
ers. Few of us at that time realized
their great Importance. but subse-
Quent developments have fully justi-
fed Wangenheim's exuberant satis-
faction. The Goeben was a power
full battle cruiser of recent construc-
tiUn; the Breslau was not so large
ship, but she, like the Goeben. had
the excessive speed that made her
extremely serviceable in those wa
ters. These ships had spent the few
months preceding the war cruising
in the Mediterranean. and when the
declaration finally came they were
taking on supplies at Messina. I
have always regarded it as more
than a coincidence that these two
vessels, both of them having a
greater speed than any French or
English ship in the Mediterranean.
should have been lying not far from
Turkey when war broke out The
selection of the Goeben was partic-
ulariy fortunate, as she had twice
before visited Constantinople and
her officers and men knew the Dar-
danelles perfectly. The behavior Of
these crews when the news Of war
was received indicated the spirit
with which the German navy began
hOstilities; the men broke into sing
ing and shouting. lifted their ad-
miral upon their shoulders, and held
real German jollification. 1t is
said that Admiral Souchon pre-
served, as a touching souvenir of
this occasion, his white uniform
bearing the finger prints of his
griny Sailors.
Situation still Precarious.
For all their joy at the prospect
of battle, the situation of these
ships was still a precarious one.
They formed no match for the large
British and French naval forces
which were roaming through the
Mediterranean The Goeben and the
Breslau were far from their native
bases; with the coaling problem such
an acute one, and with England in
possession of,all important stations,
where could they fee for safety ?
Several Italian destroyers were cir
cling around the German ships at
Messina, enforcing neutrality and
occasionally reminding them tha
they could remain in port only twen-
ty-four hours. England had ships
stationed at the Gulf of Otranto. the
head of the Adriatic to cut them of
in case they sought to escape into
the Austrian port of Pola. The Brit
ish navy also stood guard at Glib
raltar and Suez, the-only other exits
that apparently offered the posi-
bility of escape. There was only
one other place in which the Goeben
and the Breslau might find a safe
and friendly reception. That was
Constantinople. Apparently the Brit
ish navy dismissed this as an i'm
possibility. At that time, early in
August, international law had not
entirely disappeared as the guiding
conduct of nations. Turkey was
then neutral country, and, despite
the many evidences of German dom
ination. she seemed likely to maintain
her neutrality. The treaty OF Paris
which was signed in 1856, as well 5
the treaty of London, signed in 1871
provided that warships should not
use the Dardanelles except by the
special permission of the Sultan.
which could be granted only in times
of peace. In practice the govern
ment had seldom given this permis-
sion except for ceremonial occa-
sions. Under the existing conditions
it would have amounted virtually 20
an unfriendly act for the Sultan TO
have removed the ban against war
vessels in the Dardanelles, and TO
permit the Goeben and the Breslau
to remain in Turkish waters for
more than twenty-four hours would
have been nothing less than a dec
laration OF war. 1t is perhaps not
surprising that the British, in the
early days of August 1914, when
Germany had not completely made
clear her official opinion that .fnter-
national law had ceased to exist /"
regarded these treaty stipulations
as barring the German ships from
the Dardanelles and dConstantinople.
Relying upon the sanctity of these
international regulations, the Brit
ish navy had shut OF every point
through which these German ships
could have escaped to safety-ex-
cept the entrance to the Dardanelles
Had England, Immediately on the
declaration of war, rushed a power
full squadron to this vital spot. how
different the history Of the last three
years might have beenl
His majesty expects the 1Goeben
and the Breslau to succeed In break
ing through" Such was the wireless