THE TRIPOLITAN WAR

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 259, 2 May 1912, Page 6

THE TRIPOLITAN WAR

■ «*»> ATTACK OX THE DARDANELLES! The news that the Italians bombarded the Dardanelles forts can only be regarded as an event of importance and gravity. In a sense, from the European point of view, it is one of the most momentous developments of the struggle between Italy and Turkey. 'lt bristle's with possibilities of complications. The attack, it will be noticed, comes at a time when the Powers are waiting for an answer to their Notes asking for the terms which Turkey would regard as acceptable as a basis of friendly mediation. Italy has declared already..that nothing short of the annexation of Tripoli and Cyrenaica will be acceptable to her; and that was so obviously futile that the Powers gave up the attempt in that quarter. But it has long been rumored that if Italy could find no be<' -r way of enforcing the acccjptance r" 'ier terms, pressure would be brought to bear by means of the fleet at the Dardanelles. DIPLOMATIC RUMORS/ :

Rumors of probable Italian activity in the Aegean were rife a month ago. For several days it has» been rumored (said the London Daily Telegraph, in the middle of March) in diplomatic circles which are in close touch with Rome, that the Italian Government contemplates fresh naval action against various points in Turkish territory, Smyrna, certain j islands in the Aegean Sea, such as Mitylene and Lemnos, and, finally, the Dardanelles themselves, have been mentioned. Despite tho fact that the Italian j army now holds practically the whole! length of the coast of Tripoli and Cyren- ] aica with a fair degree of security, and has even advanced a few miles into the . interior, the Porte evinces no disposition to come to terms, at least upon the basis of unquestioned Italian sovereignty over the annexed territories. Indeed, the latest news which has reached London from Constantinople is to the effect that the Ottoman Government is no more in- ! dined to make peace than it was at the I beginning of the campaign, and that the Powers have received a clear intimation J that Turkey intends to continue her reI sistance. The recent attack upon Beirut ' has, if anything, tended to stiffen the Turks in this resolution, and there is reason to believe that any attempt on the part of the Powers to put pressure upon the Porte would be followed by consequences in Eastern Europe far more serious than could possibly be involved in a continuance of the present war with Italy.

FORTS TO BE BOMBARDED. In authoritative Viennese circles it is believed that, the intervention of the Powers having proved ineffectual, the Italian fleet will probably undertake action against the Dardanelles. It is supposed that the outer forts of Jedul Balvr and Kum Kaleh will first be bombarded. The prospects for the Italians are regarded as not unfavorable, because their naval artillery is excellent. It is also considered possible that, after silencing the forts, Italian troops may be landed to form a base for future operations. A high official in Vienna remarked that it is doubtful whether the Italian Government will be able to withstand the public opinion that will be created by such action. The two forts mentioned constitute the outer defences of the Dardanelles at the point where it meTges with the Aegean Sea, Jedul, or Seddul Bahr, is situated on the European side, and Kum Kaleh on the Asiatic side of the straits, which here are about two and a-balf miles wide. The entrance to the Dardanelles is thus 160 miles from Constantinople. Not far away from Kum Kaleh are the mouths of the Old and New Rivers Scamander, upon the former of which ancient Troy was built. Kum Kaleh itself is regarded as the probable site of the city of Achillium.

DEFENCES OF THE STRAITS. . It is difficult to imagine that there exists at Rome any idea of making an attempt upon the real defences of the Dardanelles, which are placed at Kilid Bahr (European side), about 12 miles from the entrance. Here the straits are only 1400 yards wide, and warships would have to encounter the plunging fire at close range with heavily-armed batteries placed on lofty cliffs. Nor is it at all conceivable that the Italians would land troops at a place where they would be exposed to the attack of a large , Ottoman force. For this purpose the army corps station at Adrianople could easily be moved down in the course of a few days, while there are also many troops in Asia Minor available for service against the invaders. CONTACT MINES. In connection with these reports of naval action against the Dardanelles it is interesting to note (said the Daily : Telegraph) that the British Foreign'Office lias been notified that on the 10th inst. the Turkish Government commenced to lay contact mines for the defence of the straits. It is assumed that this work has now been completed, and the official warning adds that a channel marked buoys will he left, and that at least two pilot ships will meet vessels from each direction. During the RussoJapanese war contact mines were responsible for the destruction of several battleships on each side, including the Pctropavlovsk (Russian) and the Hatsuse (Japanese). The Italian Fleet is now under the supreme control of Admiral Favarelli.