The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-08-14
ONCE GREAT MART
Is NOW DEAD CITY
Business in Asia Minor ParaIyzed and
No Boats Have Eentered Smyrna
for Months.

SMYRNA, Aug. 13.-Smyrna, once
the greatest commercial mart in Asia,
is now like city dead. There is little
to show that it is the base Of a Greek
army Of 100000. For months no cargo
boats have entered the harbor. Bust
ness throughout Asia Minor is par
alyzed. Americans control the little
trading that exists. There are three
reasons for this stoppage of business.
One is the war, another is the hopeless
rate of exchange (the Turkih pound
is worth about SIS cents), and a third
Is lack of demand for foreign goods.
AS their seems little likelihood of
an abatement OF the war between the
Greeks and Kemalists, local merchants
see little hope of a revival of Smyr-
mas commercial supremacy. Many Of
them have left the place for Italy.
England and America. where they
hope to find greater prosperity.
The city itself is SO primitive and
unattractive that one wonders why it
has been such bitter bone Of conten-
ton between the Greeks and the
Turks for, so many centuries. But of
course 1t is the rich agricultural lands
within the province of Smyrna that
both sides covet. This area, which the
Turks call the pearl of ASIA" Is one
OF the most fertile, and produces some
of the finest fruit in the world. Smyr-
ma figs and raisins are household
terms. The country also yields the
finest leaf tobacco known. The yearly
IN AV,na rf0 or n l.
lions of dollars.
The treaty of Sevres placed Smrna
under Greek administration, with the
proviso that after Ave years the popu-
lation might express its preference
for either Turk or Greek control.
Although it has a population of up
ward OF 100000, and Is considered by
both Turks and Greeks as one of the
most modern cities In Asia, Smyrna to
the visitor is disappointing and unat-
tractive. It's narrow, winding, cruelty
coblled streets give off an offensive
odor. It's drainage system is deplora
bly, inadequate. It's transportation and
lighting facilities, too, are woefully
defective. There is only single tram,
and that consists of a single track,
one-horse line along the waterfront.
Then, Smyrna's hotels are sad af-
fairs. The most modern of them is
40 years old None of them would do
credit to the smallest town in the
United States.
When King Constantine came here
the best accommodations the author
tiles could get for him was a small.
eight-room terra Gotta house that any
farmer in. America would own. The
king and his ministers were not here
two days before they were almost
driven out by bugs and mosquitoes.
The city has few places of amuse-
nent. There are two or three indiffer-
emit moving picture theatres and nu-
merous coffee houses. All over the
Near East the coffee house" Is an
institution. Here the population sits
all day slipping Turkish coffee, drink
ing oozo Ga drink that tastes like ami
seed) and talking politics.
The natives as a rule are primitive,
indolent and superstitious. They carry
conversation heads" to beguile the
time. These they finger and tumble
by the hour. The visitors might inn
agine the holders were at prayer.
Even the horses wear these curious
conversation beads. But in these cases
they are used to keep away. as the
natives believe, the "evil eye" from
the animal