BOMBARDMENT OF DARDANELLES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 22 April 1912, Page 5

BOMBARDMENT OF DARDANELLES.

ITALY FIRES ON FORTS. CAPITAL OF SAMOS SHELLED. KHEDIVE'S YACHT SEIZED. 87 leleeriDlJ—P«m A*«.elation—Coujriehl Constantinople, April 19. Four Italian battleships, accompanied by twenty-two torpedo boats, openod fire on tlie outer forts at the Dardanelles at a rango of 8000 yards. The. forts Teplied, Merchantmen were allowed -to proceed northward. Turkish mine-laying ships are completing the closing of the straits. British, subjects in the vicinity embarked on a steamer. The fleet fired 180 projectiles, but they did not seriously damage the barracks or forts. One Italian vessel took fire. The fleet has put to sea. The Governors of Mitylene and Khodes report that two Italian ships shelled the barracks above Vathy, tho capital of Samoa, for three hours and a half. Parliament has opened. The Sultan, in referring to tho war, declared that peace was only possible on tho condition of tho effective maintenance of Turkey's sovereign rights. He applauded tho bravery of Turks and Arabs. TURKISH GUNBOAT SUNK. MUCH SHIPPING BLOCKED. (Eec. April 20, 5.5 p.m.) Constantinople, April 20. The Italians Bank a Turkish gunboat at / ; Vathy, in Sainos. The garrison retired inland, abandoning the town. The prisoners then broke gaol. Vessels quitting tho Dardanelles report that shots from Fort Kum Kaleh, at the eouth-west entrance to the straits, fell eiiDrt. Tho Italian fire was badly directed at the outset, but improved later. Thirty vessels are held up in the Dardanelles, and/aro unable to proceed to the Mediterranean. Incoming merchantmen are anchored in Besika Bay, outside tho straits. It is unlikely that the straits will be reopened for ten days. The Italians seized the Khedive of Egypt's yacht, off Rhodes. ■ ■ PRESS COMMENTS. fTALIANS SEVERELY CRITICISED. (Ecc. April 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 21. The newspapers, in commenting upon the bombardment of the Dardanelles, severely criticised Italy for causing needless irritation. All chartering of vessels for the Black Eea is at a standstill. "A MERE DEMONSTRATION. , ? ITALIAN OBJECT. Rome, April 20. The object of the operations at the Dardanelles was merely to make a demonstration to induce the Turks to fight. , The Italians cut the cables. The ships ere undamaged. '