Semi-weekly herald., 1912-11-11

ger of further conflict after che war
nas ceased.
With the strongest outposts or Tur-
kish frontier already fallen, the chan
celleries of Europe are asking where
the onward march of the victorious
armies of the Balkan allies is to end
Is Salonica the probable objective, OF
is it Constantinople itself?
The capture of Constantinople, the
seat of the Ottoman empire for cen
turies, would, indeed, be startling. A
month ago such contingency would
have seemed unworthy of considera-
ton, but the swiftness and 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 to be well
protected on the land side by the To-
hataldja lines. Surrounding the city
in half circle are strong earthworks
and batteries of heavy artillery. By
water, the ancient city is considered
almost impregnable, even supposing
the enemy to possess an adequate
naval force. 1t is known that during
the past year the armament of the
Dardanelles forts have been strength
ened with modern guns of the most
powerful type.
Constantinople is one of the most
prominent and interesting cities OF
the world. Its commanding position
both commercially and politically. has
been the means of acquainting the
world with its interesting features. Its
population is estimated at about
100000, its harbor holds /, 200 ships
and within its twelve miles of walls
may be found prayer houses, OF
mosques, to the number of 5000. The
most of these mosques are magnifi-
cent structures of marble or other
stones, built by rich sultans as monu-
The city of Constantinople in real
ity comprises a group of four cities.
Between the little bay called the Gold
en- Horn, where the Bosporus Joins
the Sea of Marmora, and the Sea of
Marmora itself is tongue of land
occupied by the old city of STEAMBOAT.
Here is located the Seroglio, a group
of palaces occupied by the sultans be-
fore the nineteenth century. An i'm
posing marble gate, by which the
grounds are entered, is the ancient
Sublime Porto, and from it is derived
the title by which the Turkish govern
ment is often referred to in history
and diplomatic discussions.
Upon the opposite side of the Bos-
porus is Soutari, city of residences,
schools, hospitals, military barracks,
carpet factories and other manufac-
turing establishments, with a popu-
lation of about $4,000. 1t is surround
ed by group of fertile hills, which
in the spring and summer are covered
with brilliant foliage.
Upon the opposite of the Golden
Horn, steep hill rising directly from
the water. is occupied by the city of
Galata.. Its houses and shops are ar
ranged in terraces along steep slopes
to height of 500 feet, and on the
other side of the crest is Pora, the
fourth city of the group.
The population of Stamboul around
the Seraglio is mostly Turkish, and
beyond that Armenian and Jewish.
The inhabitants of Galata are mostly
Greeks, and those of Pora are English.
Germans, French and subjects of
other European powers.
The most conspicuous edifice in
Constantinople is the mosque of Santa
Sophia, which is one of the half-dozen
most celebrated buildings in the world
and the finest surviving specimen of
Byzantine architecture. The mosque,
which measures $50 by 235 feet, was
begun in the year 532 by Justinian.
and was completed in five years. IL
is Of brick, faced with marble, and is