The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1915. THE DARDANELLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 230, 8 March 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1915. THE DARDANELLES.

% The news cabled to-day tliat the Allies contemplate an attack On Smyrna suggests that very extensive military operations are to lie carried out in Asiatic Turkey. There is no information to hand of the probable strength or the disposition of the Turks in Asia Minor, besides being the chief port of that country, Smyrna is the terminus of two lines of railway that can be used in transporting troops eastward. It. may be that from this 'point troops will be launched at the land fortifications on the southern side of the Bospborus, opening the way to the Black Sea. One thing is certain, that the Indian naval unit would not have been brought into the Mediterranean unless some very big scheme is afoot. It may be that a large force is already being convoyed from Egypt, and it is interesting to note from a New Zoalander'g letter rcceTvci? in New Plymouth from Egypt that our men were expecting something of this kind. As the operations in the Dardanelles progress, it becomes increasingly clear that very momentous consequences may early result from this unexpected development in Soutli.Eastern Europe. It appears to be tolerably certain that the modern naval "big gun" lias rendered it possible to (lestroy land fortifications from a great distance without serious risk; wliile within an enclosed space like these narrow straits, minesweeping under the protection of artillery becomes almost an exact art. There seems to be no particular reason why the passage should not be forced along its whole length by the means already employed, and in that ease Constantinople is no longer invulnerable. Naturally, if these operations are to be regarded as more than a naval reconnaissance, they must be backed up by a military demonstration, and already a strong Allied expeditionary force, ineluding some Canadian troops, has been convoyed to the mouth of the Dardanelles. It is reported that there are 100,000 Turkish troops near Gallipoli, on the long narrow peninsula that lies between the "Dardanelles and the Aegean Sea, In such a position they cover one approach to Constantinople; but a glance at the map shows that they might easily be isolated, and their position would be seriously imperilled if the naval advance is carried far along the straits. All these facts have naturally produced a deep impression upon the European Powers, and especially upon those States in the Near East which are still hesitating about the part they ought to play in the war. Hitherto it has always been supposed that the Dar. danellcs were impregnable, and it was assumed that with the Germans to help and direct them, the Turks could always ■prevent any attack upon Constantinople from this quarter. But, seeing the turn that events have now taken, Bulgaria and Greece are beginning to wonder whether the time has not come for them to take a more decided stand. And even in England the possibility that Constantinople may soon be in the hands of the 'Allies is engrossing the attention of the diplomats. For it is certain that Russia will not be willing to see any other Power established on the Bosphorus, along the boundary line cf Europe and Asia; and already rumours are heard that England and France have agreed that Rus?ia shall claim Constantinople as part of her reward when the war is over. This may only mean that Russian commerce is to be free to use the Dardanelles without let or hindrance. But as several war s have been fought, and several treaties have been signed during the past century to prevent Russia from reaching Constantinople, the bare possibility of such a solution of the interminable Eastern question is enough to explain the great and widespread interest aroused by this sudden onslaught of the Allies upon the outworks of the Imperial city on the Golden Horn.