It must have been a great anxiety to the Commander-in-
Chief to handle his ships under conditions of gale and mist in these narrow waters with their rocky shores and swift currents, and with all the ordinary navigation problems compli- cated by floating mines and concealed batteries. But whether Le is destined to complete successfully one of the most difficult operations ever undertaken by a naval force or whether he fails, he has already shown the world the quality of the British Navy. In our belief he will not fail. Even
though we have to lose ships, and it is hardly likely that we shall get through to the Sea of Marmora without such loss, the Straits will be forced. Once in the Sea of hfarniora our task will be comparatively easy. Constantinople will be at the mercy of our guns, nor will it be possible to do what sailors naturally dread so greatly—shut the doors behind our Fleet and prevent its return to open waters. We may he quite sure that the Admiralty have made proper provision to prevent any such contingency. The shores of the Dardanelles will remain in safe keeping while the Fleet is doing its business before Stamboul.
