FORCING THE DARDANELLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 95, 7 September 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

FORCING THE DARDANELLES.

ITALY'S ACTION RECALLS BRITISH TRIUMPH. Recent Kalian action at the "mouth of the Dardanelles and the general recognition by strategists throughout the world that Italy had attempted something impossible, recalls the fact that a little over 105 years ago the feat was actually accomplished. A hostile fleet did pass through the X! miles of the Dardanelles and did cross the Sea of Marmora, and did anchor within sight of the Golden Horn In 1807, when the whole of Europe was fast being brought "under the spell of Napoleon," and those countries which had not yet been conquered by "the great despot," were hastening to make alliance s with him, Turkey suddenly severed her undefinable connection with England which she had maintained throughout the Egyptian campaign, and determined to try her fortune in an alliance with' France. The English Government, however, would have none of it. They naturally and rightly regarded the action of the Sublime Porte as a menace to British interests in the Mediterranean under Lord Collingwood, to '''provide for the Ambassador's safety, and dictate conditions to Turkey under the walls of Constantinople." Sir John Duckworth was of the stall' supremely "what obeys orders," and with six vessels of the line and a small complement of frigates he set sail east.

He found Mr. Arbuthnot, the British Ambassador, in safety on the island of Tcnedos, but "conditions" had yet to be "dictated" "under the walls of Constantinople," and so Duckworth sailed on to the mouth of the Dardanelles, and on February 17, ISO 7, commenced his perilous passage. He was favored by a strong east wind, and very quickly silenced the forts on either side, "burning several Turkish frigates which lay in fancied safety under their guns." Three days later lie come within sight of Constantinople, but owing to a contrary wind could not approach nearer than eight miles. But from there he determined to open negotiations with the Turkish Government, and proceeded to do so with vigor. At this point, however, the courage and naval skill of the Englishman were met by the crafty diplomacy of the Turk, who, whilst he kept the English admiral within sight of Constantinople and negotiated terms of settlement, hastened on under the direction of French officers the fortification of the Dardanelles both on the European and Asiatic side. When all was completed, he suddenly broke oil the pourparlers, and Duckworth realised. when too late, the way he had been outdistanced. He waited for some time and finally, on March 3, gave orders to set sail and return west. The return journey was a very different thing. Fortifications had been thrown up in all directions, castles had been repaired and guns erected on all the high places commanding the straits, and as Duckworth led his forlorn hope through the 33 miles of an almost continuous bombardment, those on board had little hope of ever again coming within sight of the castles of Cestos and Abydos. Tliey did, however, come through, and that without the loss of a single ship, although it was a sorry spectacle which the little fleet presented with broken masts, torn sails, and patched sides, as finally, after a laborious passage across the Aegean, it rejoined Lord Collingwood's squadron off Malta. There was at the time a great outcry in England against what was described as Ducksworth's folly, but Lord Collingwood defended his comrade to the utmost of his powers, and it must be said that his accomplishment of the apparently impossible, at that time, did much to enhance British prestige, a fact the importance of which could hardly be exaggerated at a time when Great Britain was practically the only effective opposition to the arms of France in Europe.