St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-07-12
FOILED The TURKS
Vienna Bakers Saved Europe
From the Grip of the MosIems.
CAUSE OF soLYMAN's DEFEAT.

A Mensentous incident in History That
Carries With IL an Explanation Of
Why Vienna Rolls Are Melded In the
Form Of Crescent.
Do you know why Vienna rolls are
shaped like crescents? The story
forms one OF the great ''ifs" of history.
Eolyman the Magnificent. sultan of
Turkey. planned to overrun Europe.
even as he and his Moslem predeces-
sors had seized the countries Of the
orient. With a mighty army he cap
tured the fortified island of Rhodes
and invaded Hungary. annihilating the
Magyar forces at Mohacs Tin 1926 and
Staying the Hungarian king.
So successful was the first expedition
that he planned second and more far
reaching raid in 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 Mohammedan
hordes and forced to adopt Moham-
mechanism as their religion. People
It seemed for moment almost pos
gible that the whole eastern section Of
the European continent might fall VIC
tim to the Turk and become part of
the Moslem 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
Eultan's all powerful army threatened
to carry destruction and Mohammed-
anism throughout the continent 1t
was one of fate's big movements.
On moved the Turks. Vienna (then
capital of the German empirel stood
in their path. seemingly frail obsta-
Gle between such a host and the rest
Of Europe. Should Vienna fall before
the Moslem onset the progress Of the
sultan'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
and thrift than for warfare. Yet IN
der Nicholas Won Salm they CALAMITY
proposed to defend their city against
the foe and to fight to the last gasp for
their imperiled homes. The Turks
drew near, destroying Vienna's sub
urbs, and encamped close to the town
itself.
It was on Sept. 27s 1929, that the
enormous Turkish host laid siege to
Vienna. Solyman conducting the affair
in person. Before risking useless loss
Of life in a general assault the sultan
tried to make an entrance into the city
by means OF tunnels. His soldiers
were set to work with pick and spade
to dig a secret underground way into
Vienna by which body of men might
later pour into the place and thus
catch the defenders between two
fires.'
The cleverness OF the Turkish engi-
neers and the countless workers at
their command made the task swift
one. Here it 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 runs-in Gel
lar. making bread for the garrison.
During a pause in their conversation
one Of the bakers happened to hear the
muf1ed sound OF digging. It seemed
to come from a spot not far beyond
one OF the cellar walls. Guessing at
no 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, failing at strategy, next
tried force He hurled his army
against the city in one fierce assault
after another. The Viennese fought
like heroes. Each attack was repulsed
with terrific loss TO the Turks. For
four entire days the Moslems assailed
the city, fresh detachments ever TAX
ing the places OF those who reeled back
defeated. On the fifth day OF the as
sault, Oct Il, Solyman gave up the
attempt to crush Vienna He with
drew suIlenly from the scene OF his de-
feat. leaving $4,000 dead Turks on the
field. The price Of conquest was for
once too high for him.
Vienna was saved. and not only Vi
emma. but Europe. Vienna had been
Europe's barrier against the Turks
farther advance. and the barrier held
firm. The northern limit OF Europe's
Turkish raids was reached
Once more. In later years. Vienna
was besieged by the Moslems, and she
again beat them OF. The high tide
Of such invasion had come and reed
Cd. Europe at large was now forever
secure from this long dreaded foe.
In the moment OF victory. according
Co the account. the bakers who had
given the alarm were not forgotten
10 commemorate the event they and
their descendants thenceforfh nodded
their rolls into the shape OF a crescent
(the sacred emblem OF Turkey. The
custom prevails to this day.