The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1915. THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE DARDANELLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 224, 1 March 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1915. THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE DARDANELLES.

So far as Turkey is concerned as a participant in the great European war events have marched ominously rapidly, for the enemy is at the gates of Constantinople, and the reduction, of the numerous forts that guard the way to the Turkish capital has already commenced. There is need to inquire into the exact steps that led up to t'u. military and naval forces of the Ottoman Kmpirc being thrown into the scale against the Allies. It is immaterial now whether Turkey was forced into hostilities by German pressure, tricked into signing her own death warrant by her War Minister Enver Pasha, or lured by bribes into the trouble that must ere long seal her doom. It is significant, however, that Turkey's entrance into tile scene of hostilities was signallised by the bombardment at Odessa, and it may bo that the final chapter of her history will be the bombardment of Constantinople. What a terrible disaster that will be to the. Turks can be gauged by the fact that for the last five centuries they have regarded their establishment in Constantinople as a continuation of the Empire of Rome—the seat of domination of the world. Many events have happened in more recent times to undermine that faith, which, however lias still its value as a real asset of t'le Ottomans, and will not ceas? to' retain that value until they lose their city, and with it the prestige thej- have inherited. In the past Turkey has filled a place in international alTnirs that saved its extinction, but now the day of reckoning is at linad. In one way the attack oil the Dardanelles may be regarded as the counter-move to the Turkish operations hgainst the Suez Canal, but it is of far greater import than as a means of withdrawing troops from the Canal /.one, and mav be fairly viewed as the first step to gain control of the Black Sea outlet. There is no doubt that the advantage to Russia of such an outlet would be enormous, but vbether the attempt on Constantinople is made at the Aegean side through the Dardanelles, or from the Black Sea side through the Bosphonis there is bound to lie much fighting before the end is gained. The Bosphorus is eighteen miles long and less than three miles across at the widest part, while at th<narrowest it is under half a mile. The Dardanelles extends for iVrty-seven miles, the average breadth being between three and four miles. It is evident that the task of capturing Constantinople is by 110 Tt««ans an easy one. bit it is not beyond the power of ih> Allies. Already the Turks suffered very heavily at Snry Kamish, and it is piobable fh.it at most they can only place in the fielil less than half a million men. It is quite possible that Greece may now take a hand against ''urkoy and that some of the Balkan States may also take part, but even without the assistance of any of these simewhat doubtful allies the conquest c.f the Turkish, capital is still possible, as soon as events in the main theatres cf war justify the withdrawal of troops. It is fairly certain that in the meantime there will lie little difficulty i:i protecting the Suez Canal and securing the safety of the Egyptian frontier. There can be no doubt that the proclamation of a Holy War by the Sultan of Turkey was intended to bring about a revolt of Islam against British liile, but it was a miserable failure, for if the average follower of Tslam is a fanatic, he has at least learnt that he is better off under the rule of Britain than under the domination of the Tuix. It may be that the call to 'inns issued from Constantinople will find its answer in the creation of a free Arabia. Umhr any circumstances the Turkish support given to Germany seems bound to result in the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and in the betterment of conditions that can' only be improved by that means.