At night, June 4, 1897 Russian Black Sea Fleet ships entered the Bosphorus. At dawn , the rays of the rising sun lit lined up in the Strait of battleships "Tri svyatitelya", "Georgiy Pobedonosets", "Yekaterina II", "Sinop", "Chesma" and "Dvenadtsat' apostolov", cruiser "Pamyat Merkuriya" and mine-layers "Bug" and "Dunay", surrounded by destroyers, and most importantly, about five dozen ships loaded with troops and equipment.
All of these forces were in the rear covering the Bosphorus Turkish shore batteries.
Arrived at the Sultan's palace Russian Ambassador A. Nelidov already issued an ultimatum: Turkey must immediately convey Russia both shores of the Bosphorus, along with the "holy city" of Constantinople. Turks graciously granted the right to get out to Asia, from where they once came.
The landing amphibious assault Corps, General von Shtok has a membership of 33,750 officers and men with 64 field and 48 heavy guns (the latter had to be installed within 72 hours on both sides of the Straits, along with the mining of the Bosphorus from the Sea of Marmara) has already begun. Turkish coastal batteries were seized by a sudden blow Russian troops, supported by heavy naval artillery fire.
Mining the strait was conducted in exactly the appointed time (knowingly Captain 1st Rank S. Makarov in the early 80s in a purely scientific purposes has conducted a thorough measurements of depth in the strait - the great Hydrographer!) 825 min in three rows blocked the entrance to the Strait, on the shores of which are Russian grinned vents 9-inch mortars.
By the time of the approach to the Bosphorus English Maltese fleet of nine ships of the line, shedding has been almost impregnable. Six Russian battleships, four of which were with 4 12-inch guns firing right on the nose, supported by shore batteries and covered by minefields, repulsed the British desire to engage in battle with the move.
Back in the Marmara Sea, the English ships were cruising in it until an unprecedented diplomatic storm swept over Europe. Notes of protest received Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the bundles were formed in the lobby of the building occupied by the Ministry, as no one has had the time to not wanting to deal with them.
And to the Bosphorus were approaching ships with the second echelon of Russian troops.
******
Plan landing Russian troops in the Bosphorus was discussed at a meeting of ministers chaired by Nikolai II, took place on 5 December 1896. At a meeting attended by Russian Ambassador to Turkey A. Nelidov, a former ardent supporter of the annexation of Constantinople. Confer came to the decision that Nelidov had to give conditional telegram, which would serve as a signal for sending troops.
Provided for the delay everyone in the Russian Black Sea ports of foreign merchant ships, so that they were unable to prevent the Turks.
Officially, should have been announced about the teachings of the Odessa Military District, sending the Caucasus two divisions of its composition, but released to the Caucasian coast of the squadron was to suddenly turn to the Bosphorus and enter into it at night.
Provided also that the British would have to allocate forces to neutralize the three are in the Mediterranean Sea Russian battleships, which were, of course, die with honor, but to do his duty.
Fortunately, the most sensible Russian politicians , such as S. Witte and B. Lambsdorff , managed , in the end, to dissuade the emperor from a long-cherished plan on mastering the Bosphorus and Constantinople , but fully the idea is not abandoned, but only postponed it for the future. Which did not come.