TOPICS OF THE DAY.
THE ATTACK ON THE DARDANELLES.
THE British public have recognized the importance of 1 the attack on the Dardanelles. They have seen instinctively that it means a great deal more than the mere bombardment of the vulnerable points offered by the enemy's forts on the European and Asiatic sides of the gateway to Constantinople. It may be worth while, then, to show in more detail the significance of the action, and what are the results likely to ensue—provided that the general course of events is favourable to the Allies. Let us begin by saying, however, that, should the operations for any reason be temporarily unsuccessful, it would be most foolish to feel anxiety or even special disappointment. It is just one of those occasions when if we win the results may be enormously important, while if we cannot have our way and circumstances prove too much for us we shall, at any rate, be no worse off than we were before. It is not a case where everything depends upon the event and where failure must mean disaster.
If we are able to take the forts that command the Dar- danelles one by one, and our ships can then work their way into the Sea of Marmora, we shall be in a position to dominate Constantinople. It is true that in and around Constantinople there are probably a quarter of a million Turkish troops of one sort or another ; but the position of Constantinople is so vulnerable to sea attack that it is very unlikely that the Turkish Government could long dispute the possession of the city. It is far more likely that they would without delay transfer the seat of government to the Asiatic shore, where they have a good retreat open to them. The piece of Turkey in Europe which still remains to the Sultan might become a veritable trap if communication between the European and Asian provinces of Turkey were cut by the naval forces of the Allies. So far we have spoken as if there would be nothing but sea power operating against Constantinople, We may fuel confident, however, of Russian co-operation. The Russians have at Odessa plenty of troops and plenty of shipping, and we do not doubt that at the right moment they will, as has been already indicated in the Press, land troops at Midia or some other point on the European shores of the Black Sea, and that the forces of Russia will co-operate with France and Britain. Here let us say once more what a source of satisfaction it will be to us, and, we believe, to the British people as a whole, to see Russia firmly installed at Constantinople in circumstances which will be without drawbacks and will admit of no jealousies.
People here, in dwelling upon the advantages of the opening of the Dardanelles, have very naturally thought most of the outflow of Russian trade, and of the golden stream of corn which will pour from the Black Sea into the ports of Britain and France and of all other countries which need aid from the granaries of Russia. With these supplies freed we shall hear little more of still higher prices of wheat. Russian trade and finance will be able to regain their natural position. Hitherto, owing to the war with Turkey, the ports of the Black Sea have been blockaded most effectually. But though we fully admit the importance and advantage of setting free Russian commerce and of getting Russian wheat for our market; an even greater effect, though it is a political and not an economic result, will be brought about by the placing of Constantinople, the Bosphorus,
and the Dardanelles in Russian hands. With Russia at Constantinople, and at Adrianople also, the Balkan Powers will gain a freedom of action which they have not hitherto possessed. A great many people have wondered why Greece, Roumania, and Bulgaria have seemed so quiescent, so little alive to the possibilities of the
situation. In the last resort the explanation of their inaction has been the sense of insecurity felt by them as long as Turkey is in possession of Constantinople, and a powerful Turkish Army remains in existence and ready to march at the orders of Germany. What every one of the Balkan Powers dreads, and most naturally dreads, con- sidering their past history, is a Turkish invasion, But how can they feel secure from Turkish invasion when the Turks are still dominant at Constantinople ? No man
likes to go out of his own house on a dangerous expeditioe if he knows that he must leave the back-door open, and that by that back-door a ruthless and remorseless enemy may enter and spoil his goods. While that risk continues, he very naturally feels that he must stay- at home and mount guard over his women and children and his house- hold gods. If, however, the Allies can get possession of Constantinople, and a wedge of Russian territory can be driven between Greece, Bulgaria, Roumania, and what remains of the Turkish Empire in Asia, all fear of a back- door raid by the Turks will be over. The Balkan Powers will then be able to consider, each in her own sphere, what
the new facts mean for them, and how best they can reap therefrom a national advantage. To put it in another way, you cannot negotiate successfully with men preoccupied with what they deem the instant need of self-preservation. Till that essential end has been secured they can hardly be expected to listen to high politics. Abraham Lincoln is said to have declared during the crisis of the Civil War that Ile felt like a man trying to let lodgings while his house was on fire, The Balkan States were not inclined to dis- cuss the question of letting lodgings while they were watching a burglar peering through the fence or rattling the latch of the garden-gate.
Yet another consequence which may flow from a success- ful attack by the Allies on Constantinople May well be the relief of Russia from further pressure in the Caucasus and of Britain from any renewed attack on Egypt. We very much doubt whether if the Turks are driven from Constantinople the Germans will much longer be able to persuade them that their path of glory, safety, and prosperity lies through still further devotion to the behests of Berlin. Unless we are very much mistaken, the impulse of the Turks will be to say : " We have been ruined by these bad advisers. Let us at any rate try to save something from the wreak, and not be so mad as to allow the tools of the Kaiser to dominate us till our destruction is absolutely complete."
Before we leave the subject of Constantinople we would make a special appeal to the British public not to be impatient if things go a great deal slower than they expect. If the operations on the Dardanelles are hurried, there may very well be a loss of life and ships which, though in no sense irretrievable, we should all greatly deplore. If, however, our naval officers are allowed to take their time over what is perhaps the most difficult operation ever undertaken by a fleet, there is a fair prospect of their being able to accomplish their ends without any great loss—provided, of course, that we have no stroke of exceptional ill-luck. Those who have passed down the Dardanelles will remember the dangers as well as the beauties of those narrow waters— an arm of the sea which has much more the appear- ance of a moderate-sized river than of an estuary. The whole of the Straits teems with classical and historical memories, from the exploits of the 'Argo' and Hero and Leander to the incursion of Admiral Duckworth and the swimming feats of Byrou. Here is Aegospotami, where Alcibiades lost the sea empire of Athens on a gambler's throw. Here Xerxes had his bridge of boats. And to these classical memories are added hundreds of historic episodes in the later story of the Roman Empire, of Byzantium, of the Crusades, and of the Turkish conquest. Truly may it be said that tales of strife and ruin, war and shipwreck, are written over every yard of creek and headland from the gates of the Dardanelles to the Sea of Marmora. Well indeed has one of our poets written :- " 0 fair and dreadful is the maid that dwells
Between the two Seas at the Dardaneries."s
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