New-York tribune., 1922-10-09
200 Big Gums
Guard CIlanak:
British II eady
Asiatic Town Made Into
One Of the World ! Mos,
Formidable Forts After
3 Weeks of Preparation
Airplanes Observe Turks
Naval Artillery on Nine SUI
pcr.Dreadnoughis ALSO Ii
Available If War Comes

CHANAK, Oct. Z {By The Associated
Press I'VE are only three weeks
old, but already have the. strength OF
Gibraltar proudly said British cap
tain who escorted the correspondent
ashore at Chanak this morning.
1t. is exactly three weeks since nrcp-
aratsons for tine defense oil Chanak
were begun, and in that time this
struggling village Of waite vailed
houses has become the center Of one
OF the most formidable fortresses in
Bri.ain's earnest preparations TOT
whatever may happen in the Near East
greets the visitor on ell sides, and the
otiicers in charge, who are ali veterans
Of the World War, declare that no de-
fcnssyc positions or the west front
were more impregnablc.
From the harhor where a dozen
freightcrs end transports swing at an.
caor, there is little to DC seen except d
few gaunt earthworks and hospital
buildings to the east of. tho town. Here
ond there along the hillsidea IRE groups
OF white tents, and the lcng, white
highway, which twists across TIE town
and disappears among the close-clipped
hills, is dotted with army trucks, mule
wagons and other transport. But the
real deIenEcs are back from the tewh
In rocky valleys protected from prying
eyes,
900 Large Guns Landed
The British have landed 200 pieces
of artillery since the work Of prepara-
tion began three weeks ago, Of which
| the largest guns are OF more chan
thirteen inches caliber. These supple
nent the unlimited number Of guns
which can be brought into action front
! the water if a wireless call goes forth
to the feet now in scattered units
along The Straits and adjacent waters.
/ Opposite Chanak, along the Euro
stroyeps and an odd looking vessel like
tho childhood pictures of Noah's Ark,
which proves to be the airplanc carrier
Argus. From the great platform built
above decks airnlanes are launched
going north on winged patrol up and
down the Kelnalist lines, whence they
bring back hourly new photographs
enabling the British commanders TO
keep their maps Of the Turkish prep
arations up to the minute.
The Argus carries twenty-one air
planes, embracing all types, together
with necessary workshops for Keeping
them always in fighting trim.
In other branches Chanak is equally
we'll equipped. 1t has the most modern
encampments, hospitals and cantecns,
as well as novelties in artillery, ma
chine guns and repeating rifles. The
morale Of the British soldiers is rs
smart and satisfactory as their equip
ment, and they ere obviously ready Tor
/ war. sE
Kenalists Bear Assorted Arms
| Their appearance contrasts strangely
| with that OF the sturdy Kemalist troops
! beyond the hills, who are nondescr'pt
/ in apparel and equipmen. and are SAID
j to CARRY twenty different varieties OF
I rifles.
/ The scene at night in the district
I adjoining the Straits is spectacular.
! Brush fires are burning at many points
4 through the neutral zone on both sides
Of the Dardanelles. The effect is
heightened by the flashing senrchlights
of the destroyers which patrol the
I Asiatic shores all night and comb the
hillsides for evidences of Turkish
activity under the cover of darkness.
Contact between the British and
| Turks has been infrequent SINCE the
Turks withdrew to the positions indi-
| Gated by Tsmet Pasha in. the Mudania
| conference. In general, there has been
little friction between the two forces,
although both realize the possibility
that few days may find them in NOR
| tai combat.
The Turks for some time had devoted
considerable attention to spreading
propaganda among the British soldiers,
distributing circulars and cartoons,
and variety Of literature in English
whenever opportunity offered, but lat
terly they abandoned this campaign,
apparently realizing it's futility.
The latest troops landed at Chanak
include battalions Of fusiliers, while
4 among the additions to the naval
forces are three super r-dreadnpughts,
adding so per cent to the heavyweight
class in Turkish waters.
lCurzOHi Is Onfinisfic