®I)£ Hamiracit WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, IMS. THE FORCING OF THE DARDANELLES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2465, 19 May 1915, Page 4

®I)£ Hamiracit WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, IMS. THE FORCING OF THE DARDANELLES

The fact that New Zealand soldiers are now_ fighting the Turks on the Gallipoli Peninsula has naturally caustid us to Watch the progress of the operations in the Dardanelles with particular interest. But the consequences of victory are so vast that apart from the more imlnediato concern which we have in the struggle in this quarter the final outcome must bo anxiously awaited.. In an article on the "Problems of Diplomacy in the Near East" which appears in the. April number of the Fortnightly Review the writer points out some of the results which wouid be attained by the forcing of ■ the Dardanelles. It would render abortive the eastern projects of Germany ahd Austria,; it would provide an outlet for the export of Russian wheat and Russian oil to Western Europe; it would enable Britain and Fi ; ance to send mtich-necded .munitions of waj' to Russia. Russia has no lack of'fighting men. "Fresh soldiers are pouring in on all sides; reinfoi'ceriients are ready, except for ono important consideration. The lack On the Russian side is that of ! equipment." The only way in which this wa.nt can be supplied is by sending ships through tne Dardanelles, past Constantinople, to Odessa and South Russia. The success of the operations in the Dardanelles would have other results of far-reaching significance. Italy and the Balkan States are keenly interested in the fate of Constantinople, and in any change- that may take place in the control of the historic waterways which connect the Black Sea with the Mediterranea-n. Indeed, every European nation is conoerned, directly or indirectly, in what is now taking place. The fall of Constantinople means the fall of. the Ottoman Empire. What is going to take its place 1 How is Constantinople to be disposed of ? What is going to happen to Asia Minor as a whole and Palestine in particular? These questions will have to be answered in due time, and a great many Governments are extremely anxious to be in a position to demand a favourable hearing when the day comes for solving these and kindred problems. They feel that unless they bestir themsslvcs they may discover when it is too late that they have missed one of those opportunities which only occur once or twice in a nation's history. It is inspiring to know that ous men are taking part in a campaign which is just as important as the operations in Franco and Belgium, or the titanic struggle' in which the Russian hosts are engaged. It should be obvious that nothing but a tremendous effort can secure the tremendous gains that victory will bring.

The writer of the article in the | Fortnightly shows why Italy and the Balkan States have been coiiipclled by the attack on the Dardanelles to reconsider their war policy. Italy not only lias claims on the Adriatic, but slio has possession of certain islands in the Aegean and has hopes and plans in regard to Asia Miuor. Greece is also interested in the fate of the Aegean Islands and in the future of Smyrna. M. Venimos, her most far-seeing statesman, thinks that she ought at once to declare war in orde,r to be able to make use of the unique, chance which now presents itself of realising some of her most cherished aspirations. The uncertainty about the policy of Bulgaria is one of the principal difficulties in the way of decisive action on the part of Greece and Rumania. The forcing of the Dardanelles, is causing great perplexity to the Bulgarian tMllJlorllirs. Ih sfiHe fif flnl'' uifta tijiuate Md J

garians recognise that they have much to gain by joining with the Allies. But tlttiy are Ull the horns of a dilemma. They arc afraid to OlTend either Austria or Hitssiaj and yet they are most anxious not to be left oin in the cold, when the new limp is being made. Tho fall of Constantinople would be a staggering blow to Austria and Germany both from the strategic and the commercial points of view. Germany's longchcrishcd plans for extending her trade aiid increasing her prestige and influence in Asia Minor would be shattered, and the military difficulties and economic troiibles'of the Teutonic Empires in the present conflict would be enormously increased. "The pressure of sea power," says the writer we have already quoted, "bright become almost intolerable if, apart from tho blockade in the north, the fleets of Great' Britain, France, and Russia swept at will throughout t-li2 Mediterranean; That is why t]ie operations at the Narrows, leading to the Sea of Marmora, are being watched with. such feverish interest ift Germany arid Austria," The capture of, the' Turkish capital would be one of the great events of history. It would undoubtedly be oiie of the principal turning points of the war. It would bring Turkey to her knees, and would enable the Allies to concentrate thc.ir effo.rts on the tremendous task of battering down the fighting power of Germany and. Austria. Russia's armies would be better equipped arid a serious liindrahc© to her cbmi'rierdia-1 activities would be removed. Her Allies are anxious to purchase her vast stores of wheat-; Their present .shortage' would be made good, and ft welcofhe reduction woul.d take place in the high prices which now prevail. It miist; however, be remembered that our enemies are just as.much alive to the great issues which .depend noon the fight for Constantinople. They are contesting every inch of the ground. When we realise the desperate nature of the resistance which our tfoops have.to overcome we have good reasoii_ for satisfaction at the progress which has been made.