The Colorado statesman., 1915-07-17

~ IN OI0eT atIaCk on turkey, dl-
though the world has heard
little about it. A French fleet has
been bombarding Smyrna, with what
result the latest dispatches must be
examined to discover.
Ten times has Smyrna fallen and
each time risen from ruins to renewed
splendor and prosperity as the fore
most city of Asia Minor. BY virtue of
its commanding situation at the head
of sheltered 30-mile gulf, the gate
way to the interior and terminal for
caravan and railroad routes of Asia
Minor, the little city clustered around
the base of Mount Pagus has been a
gem sought for the crown of each sue
ceeding ruler dominating the Orient
from the dawn of history. -a.
Today-or rather six months ago
It would not be described as an ORR
entail city, but asa modern metropolis.
With population of 100000, little
larger than Providence, it has become
as an American city.
Cosmopolitan City.
More than half of it's people are
Greeks; the rest are Turks, Jews, Ar
menians and people from western Eu-
rope living in outlying sections, Burn
abat and Buja. The English and French
colonies have played large part in
Its recent commercial history.
Smyrnas export trade, in the neigh
borhood Of S1,500.0OO yearly, has been
largely with Great Britain. Seven thou
sand steamships in year come into
the narrow roadstead off the modern
quays and take on cargoes of tobacco,
figs, raisins, silks, tanning and dyeing
materials. Smyrna rugs and carpets,
so-called, come from the interior
through Smyrna.
The imports at Smyrna, cotton and
linens and woolens from England and
Germany chiefly, average 100000 an
nually. Two hundred miles southwest
Of Constantinople. it is one of the logi-
cal way stations for traffic through
the Mediterranean to the Black sea
ports.
In all but its government, Smyrna
is now predominantly Christian city.
A new government building and new
railroad are signs of it's recent prog
ress. The fine quays are backed by a
line Of good buildings. The streets are
narrow, but well kept and adequate.
The city boasts good schools, of which
the International college is the best
known, and missions of all denomina-
lions have headquarters there.
Impresses Visitors at Once.
The. first view Of the city that a
traveller gets coming up the Gulf of
Smyrna, encompassed by high hills
rising from the waters edge, is one
that is not forgotten. Passing numer-
GUS headlands and islands, which were
in Greek times resorts for philoso-
piers and later of pirates, the extern
sive cemeteries on Mount Pagus come
into view and the few remains of an
cient Smyrna and its citadel.
Then the mosques, minarets, cupo-
las, baths and little brown-roofed
wooden houses rising on the terraces
Of the hill show up above the city it.
self spread along the gulf for two
miles. Like many Turkish cities 1t is
beautiful at a distance"-more SO
than at close range, perhaps.
Smyrna is one of the cities which
claim to be the birthplace of Homer,
which is not evidence of particular
distinction in the eastern Mediter-
rapean. but it indicates the age of the
city and something of its proud posi-
ton. A rivulet north of the city is
pointed out as the true Meles. Anaxa-
goras, born on an island in the outer
gulf, is one of its philosophical heroes.
Tradition Of city's Founding.
Poetic tradition says that Smyrna
was founded by an amazon of that