GETTING TO GALLIPOLI.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 283, 3 November 1925, Page 12

GETTING TO GALLIPOLI.

TURKISH VISAS NECESSARY. THE DIFFICULTIES TO BE MET. LONDON, Sept. 11. Thero are many who will bo sketching out their plans for a European visit in 1926 who will bo glad o t information about Gallipoli, and hpw to see the cemeteries there. . The inost comfortable way is to join ono of the Mediterranean cruises,, of which a number are now organised during the spring and summer,, and are now, when sufficient demand arises, arranged to include a .few hours’ stay at ldelles and Kilia. Tlip means of transport provided on slioro are rough, but effective enough, and comprise two small cars not ill their first youth, belonging to the Imperial War Graves Commission. If more accommodation is required local resources in the way of ox-waggons, mule-carts, must bo resorted to, or one can ride on the native donkey. This appears not a very luxurious means of taking the road up the long trail over the peninsula to Kilia, but thoso who arc able to join ono of tho summer cruises have tho decided advantage that passport difficulties are smoothed out. The Turkish Government provides officials to give tho steamers pratique oil, arrival, and empowers them to visa passports of visitors. But when visitors make the journey intending to use the ordinary means of travel, tho passport difficulties are trying to even travellers hardened to modern world conditions, and jts stringent passport rules -. . The trouble is due to the fact that there is no direct access to Kilia. It is necessary to get to Chanak on tho Asiatic coast, and there hire a motor boat to- tako you, across tho Dardanelles. All tliis is ;4\’complicated business, for Chanak, /which formerly was a port of call of af Humber of foreign boats, is now so used only'by Turkish boats. It is necessary therefore to take passage at Constantinople on a Turkish boat calling at Chanak. Tho visaing of passports must be carefully done at Constantinople, and specially endorsed for Chanak.

The hiring of a boat there for the passage to Kilia can only be accomplished 'after obtaining police permission, and on crossing over the passports must be handed into the keeping of the officer in charge, otherwise there jnay be difficulty in getting away. At the close of his day the traveller lias to get back his passport and obtain another police permit to land at Clianak. Landing there he will have to await the arrival of a Turkish steamer bound for Constantinople. If nono is available or expected, and he has money enough, it may bo jiossible to get a passage on board a passing steamer. This, however, is an expensive job, for such a steamer must pay harbour dues, which will have to be paid were it to put into Clianak. These must, of course, fall to bo defrayed by the passenger, and it will be a question whethers the loss of'time and living Chanak are outweighed by the quicker and dearer transport provided.;,;,by the passing steamer. v One alternative -is \.tj> take Kilia en route from Smyrna or’Splonika to Constantinople by Turkish boat. As, however,’ one may not' k;i?3f to visit either the Asiatic or thd '.European port, it is not helpful to’ visitors from New Zealand who have, jioi unlimited time at their disposal. 1 Another alternative is to use the Turkish steamship; line! from Constantinople to Kilia, J)ht once tliero you have to wait for ahother steamer inward "to Sonstantuibple. This will mean remaining oil. the peninsula for a time, dependent on' tlio services between Constantinople and the other terminal ports. '■ j.