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Show THE DARDANELLES. 'According to reports from the allies and from Athens, the forts of the Dardanelles Darda-nelles appear to be falling fast, and yet one is tempted to believe that tho importance of the progress made by the allied fleets is exaggerated. For nearly forty miles the Asiatic and European shores of the Dardanelles are lined with fortifications and batteries and the wa ter is strewn with mines. Were the great battle cruisers to pass beyond the four forts which were silenced last- week and penetrate into the Dardanelles tbey would be taking frightful risks, and yet we read that already the warships have destroyed the Dardanus batteries, which are about fifteen miles from the entrance. en-trance. In this immediate vicinity there are other fortifications, and a few miles farther there are six forts on . the Asiatic side, near a point where the two shores come closest together. Still other fortifications must be destroyed before the ships can get into the Sea of Marmora Mar-mora and -within range of Constantinople. Constanti-nople. Even then they must remove the mine fields and reduce the forts on a number of islands. It would seem folly to attempt the reduction re-duction of all these forts solely by gun firo from the ships. Landing parties, if in great streuth and armed v.itb heavy guns, would be taking less risk? and would immensely lighten the task of the fleet. The allies are playing for great stakes in their attempt to capture Constantinople. Constanti-nople. When they succeed the Turki-h resistance will be utterly broken. If the. Turkish forces remain in the field their efforts will be confined for the mo3t part to guerrilla warfare, and even this resistance re-sistance must cease soon. The opening of the Dardanelles will permit Russia to exchange her surplus wheat for vast quantities of ammunition ammuni-tion sorely needed in this year's campaign. cam-paign. Moreover, the political effect will bo great. The warring Balkan states will be impressed profoundly by such a triumph and will be much more inclined than at present to cast in their lot with the allies. |