NEAR A VICTORY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15500, 29 January 1916, Page 4

NEAR A VICTORY.

ATTEMPT TO FORCE THE DARDANELLES. TURKS "WERE ALMOST WHIPPED. ✓ The following message was published in the San Francisco "Chronicle'.' on December 22nd: — x VIEXXA. November 20. Had the Allied Fleet returned to its attack upon the Dardanelles batteries on the day-after the great bombardment of March 19th last the waterway to Constantinople would have been surely forced,-in tho opinion of a number of artillery ofliccrs of the defenco works near Tschanek Kale, expressed to the Associated Press correspondent, who has jus± conic from the Dardanelles front to Vienna. One of the principal batteries had for three of its largo-calibre guns just four armour-piercing shells each when night ended the tremendous effort of the British and French fleet, it appeared. For the fourth gun live shells were left, making for the entire battery a total of seventeen projectiles of "the sort which the aggressor had to fear. "What this meant is best understood when it is considered that the battery in question was tho one which had to be given the widest berth by the Allied flecst. During the evening of March 18th the Associated Press correspondent talked to several artillery officers from tho battery in question. "Better pack up and be ready to quit at daybreak," said one of them. '"Why?" lie was asked. "Oh," they aro sure to get in tomorrow." Then tho officer stated his reasons. Ho was so sure thai the British and French would r eturn in the morning to finish their task thai there was no question in his mind as to tho propriety of discussing the ammunition matter. "We'll hold out well enough to make them think that there is no end to our supply of ammunition," ho said. ''But it can't be done if they go about their work in real earnest. "With our heavy pieces useless, they can reduce the batteries on the other shore without trouble. The caso looks _ hopeless. You had better take my advice." Following the injunction just given, the correspondent early next morning arose and packed his "few belongings, keeping meanwhile a watchful eye on tho tower of Kale Sultanie, where the flag, showing that the Allied fleet was near, was usually hoisted. But. the morning hours passed and still tho danger signal did not appear. The Allied licet evidently was not inclined to risk more such losses as those of tho previous day, when tho Bouvet, Irresistible, and Ocean went down and livo other ships were badly damaged. And yet even with only tho eleven remaining ships it appears from the Turkish admissions that tho Dardanelles could have been forced on March 10th. During the day the coirespondent visited several of the batteries. Tho damago dono on the day before was slight indeed, consisting mostly of largo earth displacements from tho parapet and traverses. Four guns were temporarily out of commission, but tho general shortago of ammunition made these pieces negligible quantities. anyway. Although the British information system in this field of operations waiS efficient, it must have failed in this instance, for it soems certain that with seventeen shelis the battery in question would havo been oasily disposed of; a channel could then havo* been mado through tho mino field and the .way) to Constantinople would liave been open. This was realised in tho Turkish capital. The court mado arrangement for its transfer to Eskishehir, Anatolia, and the German and Austro-Hungarian Embassies also were ready to go to this ancient seat of tho Ottoman Government. Many of the families of the German officers in tho Turkish service left Constantinople. In short, everybody understood that a calamity was impending. - "What its exact nature was but few knew. To-day the Dardanelles forts havo all the .ammunition they can use, ancl tho position generally has been so im-! proved and strengthened that it is considered prob.able that to force tho Straits would tako moro ships than tho Allies have. ["Tu a cable message printed on pago 9 of this issue Enver Pasha is reported to have told a "Daily Mail" correspondent at Constantinople that "if the English had had the eourago to rush moro ships to tho Dardanelles, .they could have reached Constantinople, but their delay enabled us to fortify Gallipoli."!