 Before the war Russian planners had completely neglected the critical logistical issue of how the West European allies could ship supplies and munitions to Russia.With the Baltic Sea barred by German U-boats and surface ships and the Dardanelles by the guns of Germany's ally, the Ottoman Empire, Russia initially could receive help only via Archangel, which was frozen solid in winter, or via Vladivostok, which was over from the front line.By 1915, a new rail line was begun which gave access to the ice-free port of Murmansk by 1917.