TO ODESSA VIA THE DARDANELLES

1 * POLITICAL VALUE OF CLEARING THE STRAIT • • ' London, Februaiy 22. ■ "The Times," in a leader on the Dardanelles bombardment) says it appears to mark the beginning of serious operations.' Immeasurable advances would follow the opening of.-a clear way to Odessa. The political results would be equally great. A wedge would be driven into the enemy's fighting line, and the effect on the hesitancy of the Balkan kingdoms and other nentrals would be instant. The; fall of Constantinople would probably mean the collapse of the Turkish offensive.

■ , (Rec. February 24, 0.55 a.m.) , Copenhagen, February 23. German advices from Sofia state that the Russians are concentrating large forces at Odessa with the object of shipping them to Midia, and-then attaok Constantinople. - • • THE CAMPAIGN IN EGYPT TURKS RETREATING TO DAMASCUS. London, February 22. The "Evening News" Cairo correspondent states that the Turks have praoti'cally made a general retreat to Damascus, leaving a small force at Beersheba. (Rec. February 24, 0:10 a.m.) Cairo, February 23. The abandonment of the Egyptian campaign-is attributed to the Turkish fear that the British would land in Syria and cut off their communications.