Opening the Black Sea route to Russia

An open Dardanelles route could keep food and war supplies moving to Russia and allow Russian troops to reinforce a captured Constantinople. Possession of the city would give the tsar a victory that could be promoted through the Orthodox Church, strengthening his legitimacy. A change of government remains possible in this scenario, with a republican democratic revolution judged more likely than a communist takeover. Removing Ottoman participation would free Russian and Allied troops from regional campaigns and reduce naval commitments in the eastern Mediterranean. Japanese vessels later sent to Mediterranean waters could also serve elsewhere. Keeping Russia in the war and better supplied would shorten the conflict in this interpretation.