The Dardanelles

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 251, 1 April 1915, Page 5

The Dardanelles

ALLIES' FRIENDLY VISIT,

R SIGXED TO THE INEVITABLE.

SITUATION IX CONSTANTINOPLE,

INTERESTING GOVERNMENT PROCLAMATION.

Received March 31, 11.30 p.m. London, arch.3l

A courier from Constantinople reports that the city is resigned to the inevitable.

The Government is preparing the inhabitants for the arrival of'the Allies. Proclamations posted at the mosques say it is simply a question of opening a free passage through the Dardanelles for foreign warships, a privilege which the Sultan has hitherto refused, hut which hits now become of national' political significance. The population is urged not to resort to violence. After a few weeks the fleets will sail away content to have made a simple demonstration. The phrasing of the proclamation seeks to show that the forthcoming visit is more in the nature of a friendly call which the Turkish Government is looking forward to with the keenest delight. The large Greek- population in the Phanar district has become terrorised, and the people are. prisoners in their own houses.

MORE MINE SWEEPING.

Rome, March 30. Except for twenty-four hours' bombardment, commencing on the night of March 27, to which several forts did not reply and in which the warships were undamaged, the operations in the Dardanelles have been chiefly confined to mine sweeping.

SHELLING THE BOSPHORUS.

'Petrograd. March 80.

The Russian bombardment of the Bosphorus is forcing the Turks to divide their fortress engineers. The ships are several miles out at sea and waterplanes> are directing the Russian fire on the forts, which are mostly armed with fiin guns too near the water to be very effective. The Germans are constructing new batteries on the higher ground. The Russians are specially shelling two forts on the Asiatic shore and one on I the European shore, which have large guns.

GERMAN GENERAL IN COMMAND.

Constantinople, March 30

The Sultan "has issued a decree that General von Sanders is to command the forces in the Dardanelles.

LONG RANCH

Paris, March 30.

The Russians are bombarding the Bosphorus from a distance of eleven miles.