Show I Allies Seek Short Cut for Supplies to Russia I Through Dardanelles Instead of Iran Ports j I By John M. M V WASHINGTON ASHINGTON Dec 8 UP GT- GT The United States Britain and Russia are working at top speed speedo to o get a short-cut short route for lend- lend lease ease supplies to the red armies through Turkish waters They want to shift from the long longway longway longway way around through Iran to the dIrect passage of the Dardanelles When this is accomplished say responsible estimates here it will mark the greatest Improvement In supply shipping since the Mediterranean Mediterranean was opened from Gibraltar to o Suez in the summer of 1943 The ships that now pass through Suez loaded with guns planes and other ther equipment for Cor the Russians wilt will save approximately land and miles by going directly to Odessa or some other Russian Black sea port They have been going through Suez an and around Arabia to Persian gulf terminals Also a land haul of possibly 2000 miles from the ports through Iran and southern Russia to the red I army's arms supply centers will be elim elim- I There is no o legal barrier which Turkey lurkey could raise to prevent t use of the Dardanelles even if it she desired de de- de sired But indications Indications' are arc that the Turks have Jet let it be known they will welcome allied use of the straits Turk Turkey y does not fully hold the passageway but merely holds it in a sort of ot trusteeship under undera a treaty known as the Montreux convention This treat treaty sta stares es that any belligerent belligerent belligerent bel bel- bel- bel country may send its vessels vessels ves ves- sels through the Dardanelles provided provided pro pro- vided they are not warships and warships arc are defined as armed craft above a certain tonnage which were built bunt for combat pur pur- poses |