The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-11-06

/ supposing the enemy to possess an
adequate naval force. 1t 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. Its commanding position
both commercially and politically,
has been the means of acquainting
the world with its many interesting
features. It's population is estimated
at about 100000, its harbor holds
! 1000 ships, and within its twelve
miles of walls may be found prayer
houses, or mosques, to the number OF
5000. The most of these mosques are
magnificent structures of marble or
other stones, built by rich sultans
monuments to their own memory.
The city Of Constantinople in real
ty comprises a group Of four cities
Between the little bay called the Col
den Horn, where the Bosporus Joins
the Sea of Marmora, and the Sea of
Marmora itself is a tongue of land oc-
cupied by the old city of STEAMBOAT.
Here is located the Seraglio a group
of palaces occupied by the sultans
before the nineteenth century. An
imposing marble gate, by which the
grounds are entered, is the ancient
Sublimfe Porto, and from it is derived
the title by which the Turkish gov
eminent is often referred to in his
tory and diplomatic discussions.
Upon the opposite side of the Bos-
porus is Scutari, city of residences,
schools, hospitals, military barracks,
carpet factories and other manufac-
turing establishments, with a popula.
ton of about $4,000. 1t is surround
ed by group of fertile hills, which
in the spring and summer are cover
eu WIN brilliant foliage.
Upon the opposite side of the Col
den Horn, a steep hill rising direct
ly from the water, is occupied by the
city of Galata. It's houses and shops
are arranged in terraces along steep
slopes to height of 500 feet. and on
the othe side of the crest is Pera, the
fourth city of the group.
The population of STEAMBOAT around
the Seraglio is mostly Turkish, and |
beyond that Armenian and Jewish. |
The inhabitance of Galata are mostly !
Greeks, and those of Pera are English. |
German, 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 25O by
235 feet, was begun in the year $50 |
by Justinian, and was completed in /
5 years. 1t is of brick, faced with mar
Bile, and Is in the form of a cross .
The central dome rises 1870 feet and
Is 1OS feet in diameter. It is sup .
ported by four arches. Within the
mosque are 107 gigantic and beauti. I,
tul pillars of green marble and red /
oorphry with capitals in the Byzan-
line style. Mohammed H., after con-
luering Constantinople in 1853, had !
he great golden cross on the dome |
aiken away, and a crescent substi ,
uted. He also added four minarets.
For many years the archaeogolists
Ind savants Of Europe have been
fasting longing eyes at st. Sophia and
hoping for the expected day when the
Turks will be driven from Europe.
Cor 1t is believed that in the vaults
lnder the great church there lie,
brown there by the Ottomans when
hey conquered Constantinople, SUI.
'erb treasures of classical art and
'reat stores of ancient manuscripts.
The Turks have never permitted a
borough examination of these vaults.