Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-16
LONG
VITAL TO EMPIRES
Greek Entry Brings "Weath-
er Vane of World Politics"
Again to Front.

Entry of Greek troops into Adri-
anople is an event in secular history
fairly comparable to the investiture
of Jerusalem by Allenby's army, for
this Turkish city has for nearly 1000
years been a weather vane of world
politics." says a bulletin from the
Washington headquarters of the Ma
tional Geographic Society.
The rebuilding of the ancient
Thracian town by Hadrian. who gave
it his name. signalized high point
in the power of the Roman empire.
The decline of Rome was fore
Swallowed some two centuries later
when the GothS defeated Nalens
there. and made their first break
through the Roman frontier.
City Important in History.
Next Adrianople was the setting
for the Turks advent into Europe.
There Murad I established himself.
planned the capture of Constanti-
nople. and sent out expeditions to
subdue various Christian peoples.
For a time the European capital of
the Sultans, Adrianople was relegated
to be the chief bulwark of Constanti-
nople. There Turk first met Slav.
and there the Russians finally forced
their way to the Black sea by treaty
which also loosened the Turkish hold
on the Caucasus and compelled recog-
milton of the independence of Greece
"Adrianople is on the Martha,
Hebrus of Grecian legend. where Or
Thracian women. also celebrated.
under it's later name, in Bulgarian
song and story. 1t is 1877 miles by
rail northwest of Constantinople.
To-day the city wears it's past
glory with a sort of shabby gentility,
wit M Of
less sQualor than the usual Turkish
city.
ut possesses the grave of the first
Murad, or Amurath. who was assassi-
mated in his tent after he had van
quished an army of Christian allies
on the field of Kossovo.
"A mosque bearing the name of
Cultan Baiezid recalls that monarch
whose first official act was to order
the execution of his brother, who was
the first Ottoman ruler to call himself
sultan. whose conquests finally were
checked when he was taken prisoner
by Tamerlane.
An Architectural Wonder.
But the architectural masterpiece
Of Adrianople is the Selimiek, prod
uct of a Greek tribute-boy's genius
and relic of the reign of Selim II, the
Louis XIV Of Turkey.
yearly the Turks would seize a GER
tain numDer Oh sons OF their CHRISTIAN
subjects. and. in Sinan. they found
they had acquired a skilled bridge
builder. They allowed him to follow
his bent, and the Shahzadeh, at Con-
stantinople; the Suleiman, at STAN
boul, and the third famed Mosque at
Adrianople were given to posterity.
The Selimieh rests upon the highest
hill in Adrianople and four lofty
minarets tower far above a massive
dome.
Formerly Adrianople was a thriv-
ing commercial city. But it's foreign
trade was reduced greatly within the
past fifty years by Russian penetra-
ton to Turkeys dominion and by tar
if barriers of Balkan states. 1t is on
the railway from Belgrade and Sofia
to Constantinople.
'Bazaars line narrow streets and it
has been said that these, in pre-war
days. with their Austrian crockery,
German iron pieces. French jewelry,
English textiles and American phono-
graphs to do duty as 'barkers.' con-
tanned nothing Turkish save the dirt
The city's population is conglomera-
ton of Turks. Greeks. Jews and Ar
menians."