Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-11-07
ALLIES EYES ON
C0MsTANT|NOPLE
Capital of Turkey Seems
Objective Point of In
vading Army

.'+f'"t''fN t'Hff'ftf Nff '''Hff' 30 ~
Europe are beginning 10 ask where
the onward march OF the victorious
larmies % the Balkan allies Is 20 end
Ia salonlca the probable objective. or
Is 1t Constantlnople itself
The capture OF COnsiantlnOple
the seat Of the Ottoman empire for
centuries. would, indeed be startling
! a month ago such a c0ntingen-
cy would have seemed unworthy OF
consideration. bu' the sgiftness AMI
efficiency displayed By the allied
armies In their onward march have
opened the eyes Of Europe and the
possibility OF the fall OF the Turkish
capital Is being seriously discussed.
Constantinople is believed 10 be
we'll protected on the land side by
the Tchatalia lines. Surrounding the
city In a half circle are strong earth
works and batteries OF heavy artil-
lery by water. the ancient city IL
considered almost lmpregnable. even
supposing the enemy TO possess an
adequate naval force II is known
that during the past year the arma-
ment Of the Dardanelles forts has
been strengthened with modern guns
OF the most powerful type
Constantinople is one OF the most
prominent and interesting cities OF
the world It's commanding position
both commercially and politically.
has been the means OF acquaintlne
the world with It's interesting fea-
lures Its population Is estimated
lat about 900. 900, its harbor holds
goo ships. and within It's twelve
miles OF walls may be found prayer
houses. or mosques. 10 the number
of 5000. The most % these mosques
are magnificent structures OF mar
BILE or other stones. built by rich sui
tans as monuments 10 their own
memory.
The city Of Constantinople in real
ity comprises group OF four cities.
Between the little bay called the
Golden Horn. where the Bosporous
Joins the sea OF Marmora. and the
Sea of Marmora itself Is a tongue OF
land occupied by the old city OF
STEAMBOAT Here is located the Sera-
Clio. group OF palaces occupied by
the sultans before the nineteenth
century An imposing marble gate.
by which the grounds are entersa>1n
the MISUNDERSTANDING Porto, and
II is derived the title by which tk4I
Turkish government is often REFER ]
red TO in history and diplomatic dis
cussion.
Upon the opposite OF the Bospor-
Ms is Soutaria. city OF residences,
schools. hospitals, military barracks.
carpet factories and other manufac-
turing establishments. with n popu-
ation OF about $4,000 II IL sur
rounded by group OF fertile hills.
which in the spring are covered with
foliage.
Upon the opposite side OF the Gold
m Horn, a steep hill rising directly
rom the water. is occupied by the
lily OF Galata Its houses and shops
ire arranged in terraces along steep
Hopes 20 height OF 500 feet, and
IN the other side OF the crest is Pera.
he fourth city OF the group. ,
The population OF STEAMBOAT ,
Iround the Seraglio is mostly Turk ,
sh, and beyond that American and ,
ewlsh. The inhabitants OF Galata /,
re mostly Greeks. and those OF Pera :
re English, Germans, French and =
ubiects OF other European powers.
The most conspicuous edfice In
onstantinople Is the mosque OF San A.
4 Sophia. which Is one OF the half
Oxen celebrated buildings In the
orld and the finest surviving spscl- 4,
Zen OF Byzantine architecture. The ,
osque, which measures ESQ By 1886 y
'et. was begun In the year 532 by !,
istinian. and was completed In five =
'ars. II Is OF brick. faced with mar =
o. and is in the form OF cross n
he central. dome rises $50 feet ana n
100 feet in diameter. II Is sup n,
'rted by four arches. Within the
osque are lo7 gigantic and heauti- /
! pillars OF green marble and red :,
rphry with capitals In the Byzan- :,
he style. Mohammed H.. after nj
nquerlng Constantinople In 1853. n,
"a the great golden cross on the n,
me taken away. and a crescent sub w
tuted He also added four nina nj
Is. 10
For many years the archaeologlsis ps
d savants OF Europe have been rs
sting longing eyes at ST. Sophia and X
ping for the expected day when %
e Turks will be driven from Eu. ri
pc For Il II believed that In the nj
ults under the great church there No
. thrown there by the ottomans tis
zen they conquered Constantinople.
perb treasures OF classical art and 90
sat stores OF ancient manuscripts
Q Turks have never permitted a =,
trough examination OF these waits.