Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-07-12
FOILED THE TURKS

DO you know why Vienna rolls are
shaped like crescents? The story
forms one Of the great Ifs" Of history.
Solyman the Magnificent. sultan of
Turkey, planned TO oyerrun Europe,
even as he and his MosIem predeces-
sors had seized the countries Of the
orient. With mighty army be cap
tured the fortified island of Rhodes
and invaded Hungary. annihila1ng the
Magyar forces at Mohacs Din 1926 and
Staying the Hungarian king.
so successful was the first expedition
reaching raid +. 1929. Moving on
ward almost unchecked and carrying
all before him. he captured Buda and
advanced against the city of Vienna.
All Europe stood aghast. Nothing
had been able to stem the wave Of
Moslem conquest. Men remembered
how one eastern land after another
had been seized by the MOhsmmedaD
hordes and forced to adopt MOham-
medanisr; as their religion. People
trembled for the fate Of Christendom.
1t seemed for moment almost pos
sible that the whole eastern section OF
the European continent might fall vic
tim to the Turk and become part OF
the Aoslem possessions.
To hope FOR clemency from Solyman
was to rely upon the mercy OF the
merciless- ConQuering one Christian
army and stronghold after another. the
sultsn's all powerful army threatened
70 carry destruction sud Mohammed-
anism throughout the continent. 1t
was one of Gates big movements.
On moved the Turks Vienna Ghep
capital Of the German empire) stood
sa their path. seemingly fran obsta-
Gle between such a host and the rest
OF Europe. Should Vienna fall before
the Moslem ouset Che progress Of the
suEsan's army would be made far easier
and other lesser cities would lose heart
The Inhabitants OF Vienna were at
that time more renowned for culture
Rnd thrift chan t0T warfare Yes IN
aer Nich-,iss Won Salm they CALAMITY
proposed 10 defend their city against
the foe and 10 fight to the last gasp for
their imperiied homes. The Turks
drew near. destroying Vienna's sub
urbs. and PDcamped close TO the town
itself
&c was OF Sept %. 1929. that the
enormous Turkish host laid siege to
Vienna. Solyman conducting the affair
in person. Before risking useless loss
OF life in general assault the sultan
tried TO make an entrance into the city
by means of tunnels His soldiers
We're set to work with pick and spade
TO dig a secret underground way into
Vienna by which a body of men might
catch the defenders between two
fires"
The cleverness OF the Turkish engi-
neers and the countless workers at
their command made the task a swift
one Here il was that an if inter
vened TO save the threatened capital
and perhaps Europe as well.
Some Vienna bakers were at work
one night-so the story runsUin a eel
lar. making bread for the garrison
During a pause in their conversation
one OF the bakers happened TO hear the
muffied sound OF digging. 1t seemed
10 come from spot not far beyond
one or the cellar walls Guessing at
once that the enemy was tunneling a
way into the city. the bakers rushed
out and gave the alarm The garri-
son aroused. was able to battle SOly-
mans plan.
The sultan. fainng at strategy. next
tried force He buried his army
against the city in one terce assault
after another. The Viennese fought
ike benOes- Each attack was repuIsed
with terrific loss 10 the Turks. For