THE FORGING OF THE DARDANELLES

PANIC IN COmmOPLE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT TRANSFERRED torpedo boats reconnoitred the Nagara Pass, wfthHeavy casualties from ■the bombardment are officially admitted Panic prevails in Constantinople. . BOMBARDMENT OF INNER FORTS CONTINUED. (Reo. March 1, 9.15 p.m.) The Allied fleet continued the bombardment of the inner'fort'a oPthe Dkrnumerous £& £ eet » penetrated up to Oarophomia lighthouse, near Forts in? /iv if f The fort , s the European side were silenced " forts,'where the AngloThe Press states that Fort Kidil Bahr blew ud' with The fire of the Turkish artillery was very bad P e?ltlre gamson - TURKS SHORT OF COAL. (Rec. Maich 1, 5.30 p.m.) A report from Constantinople states that owiner f/i u"™" 1 ! ¥, ar °v ',\"i cruiser Goeben steams at a reduced speed of sixteen knots. Two of her afto guns are out of action, and the rudder is out of gear. There is only two months' supplv of coal in <•-i- , gfs l ' fagf"' • i "" r fet THE TASK WHICH CONFRONTS THE FLEET. The Nagara Pass is at the further end of the Narrows—* that portion of the Dardanelles, some 15 miles from th« i strait where the channel deflects to tho left nr European side and narrows ■to barely two miles across. .At KUid Bahr which coEd ntran™ to the Narrows, there is a point, and here there is some low ground between the water and the hill behind and on this low point are some batteries almost flush with the water On these are about forty Krupp guns, some of them mounted on earthworks,.others en barbette. The latter could net be worked when a fleet approached m fighting its way up the channel, as the fire from the small arms and of tEe ships (states a writer) would sweep them The pns ui are better protected, though even these wo£ld probably be silenced by those of the fleet; but above, on the crest of the hill, some ?r . red fu° f feet t ab ? v ® tte w ? ter ' «e some very.powerful batteries. These constitute, the greatest danger to an advancing fleet, as from their elevation tte projectiles from the ships' guns would pass over them, while thev would be able to play upon the^enemy'6. decks, the most vital part in-the modern battleship Immediately behind tills point the shore falls away almost at right angles and this greatly increases the difficulty of an ascending squadron, for the force of the stream runs across the channel and tends to take the bows of vesse s across towards Chanak This is the course that merchant steamers going up the Dardanelles usually follow, though from the entrance thev have to nass aW yards of the European shore/under the very muzzles of the gun! of Kind Bahr. . . & Thence they cross the stream in a direct line for Chanak, and then sween abruptly round agam and make for the European shore at a point called Dagumen Barum a mile and a half above Kilid Bahr, where there is another but less formidable, fort. A fleet following this line would be met as it advanced by tho fire, of Kind Bahr and Chanak. It would, too, have to pass tho guns of tho former within pistol-shot as it crossed Chanak, whilst it would be raked fore and aft by the guns of both forts, and would also receive the fire of Kilid Bahr on its broadside. Chanak is not so strong naturally as KilidBahr, but the fortifications are much stronger, the Krupp guns being for the most part in casemates. ' SEAT OF GOVERNMENT MOVED,FROM CONSTANTINOPLE SULTAN PREPARING FOR FLIGHT. Th" Porto has decreed the transfer of the seat of to Brasia (51 miles south-south-east of Constantinople).. Many of the leading inhabitants are leaving Stambul (Constantinople). . . ~ Constantinople, February 28. . Three trains are in readiness to remove the Sultan and entourage in case of danger. a ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF A TURKISH MINISTER. , . , . , .. Sofia, Februarv 28. . It is reported that an attempt was made to asMn&ituWs T»l#*t Bay (til# Turkish Minister (or tha huilst Kissed* . ~

GREAT SENSATION IN EGYPT. (Rec. March 1, 9.15 p.m.) Cairo, March 1. The news of the destruction of the Dardanelles forts caused a 6ensation itt Egypt. The p&ople were almost astounded to realise that after centuries the account against Turkey was being finally settled. The events in the Dardanelles ■will.seriously affect Djemal Pa6ha's plans. THE TURKISH ATTACK ON EGYPT BECOMING MORE AND MORE REMOTE. Cairo, February 28. The {Turks have retreated so far that any further attack on Egypt is unlikely. A small force is still at Eluake, the bulk of the army being at Elauja-.and Beersheeba. Djemal Pasha, and many Germans havs returned to Constantinople. DJEMAL PASHA UNDER COURT-MARTIAL (Rec. March 2, 0.50 a.m.) ' .... . Cairo, March 1. An inquiry is proceeding at Damascus on Djemal Pasha's conduct of the Egyptian campaign. It is believed that Envar Pasha, seleoted Djemal Pasha to lead a hopeless expedition in order to'ensure the latter's downfall. CONDITION OF THE AUSTRALIAN TROOPS. Sydney, March 1. Captain Bean (official correspondent with the Australian Forces in Egypt) carefully out that all the men returning from Egypt are not unsuitable, a large proportion consisting of those whose health has broken- down, often through hard work and exposure, and who are bitterly disappointed at being unable to go on. Senator Pearce cabled General Birdwood his delight at the high state of the efficiency -of tta Australasian, troops, as shown by Captain Bean's cablegram. • The Prime Minister (Mr. Fisher) considers it most gratifying, and says that no doubt the Australians will acquit themselves as well at the front as in the training camp.