THE DARDANELLES

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 86, 10 April 1924, Page 5

THE DARDANELLES

CAN STRAIT BE KEPT

OPEN?

THEORY OF TREATY EVASION

WATERWAY EASILY RE-ARMED.

(UNITED PRESS /ASSOCIATION.— COPTRIGHT.)

(AUSTP.AUAN-KEW ZEA'AND CABUS ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, Bth April. " The I 'Daily Telegraph's" diplomatic correspondent says that in view of the Lausanne Treaty debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday, it. is. significant that Turkish naval ■ critics, apparently officially .inspired, emphasise the fact that foreign warships might pass through the Straits, but could not practise enforcement, despite the demilitarisation of the coast'strip. Critics declare that demilitarisation ■ will only prevent fixed batteries. It will not prevent -the maintenance within an hour's distance of powerful rail and motor-drawn batteries, which could be rushed to: Gallipoli or Chanak, where they wonld command the waterway. They declare : that Turkey means to obtain an adequate fleet of submarines, for -the use of which the Dardanelles offer admirable facilities. Critics emphasise that Geumlek .Bay and the Gulf of Ismid present exceptional opportunities as naval, aerial', and submarine bases, and recall that the 'Allied fleets' failure.to force the Straits in 1915 was primarily due to floating' mines.