The Coolidge examiner., 1931-06-12


Society. Washington, d. c.
a TRAIL rich in history and dot
~ ted with ruin and living cit
les that have played impor-
tant role in world affairs is being
traversed by the Trans-Asia expedi-
tiOn which recently left BeyrOuth
(Beirut), Syria, by motor caravan
for q journey of more than 5000
miles to Peiping Peking), over the
mountains and deserts of the
worlds greatest continent. The ex-
peditiOn, with which the National
Geographic society is cooperating,
is travelling in seven especially de-
signed tractOr-carS, capable Of ne
gotiating the most difficult terrain.
Its personnel of specialists has the
latest apparatus TO aid in the col
lection of scientific data. This
equipment includes motion picture
and sOund-recording mechanisms, a
Photographic laboratory, a mobile
radio station, and facilities for the
collection and preservation of bo-
tanical, geological and geological
specimens.
Leaving Beyrouth (Beirut, the
chief port of Syria, the expedition
first traversed that French man.
dated territory, passing through
Damascus and on into Iraq, stop
ping at Bagdad.
Syria, at the eastern end of the
Mediterranean, finds itself wedged
between Turkey and Palestine and
with its back against Iraq and des-
ert Arabia. Heavier rains give ag-
riculture a better chance in Syria
than in Palestine, so improved pO-
litical conditions should see an in
crease in such standard crops as
licorice TO flavor American chew
ing tobacco, olives, cotton, tobacco
and wheat.
The Republic of Syria appeared
seven years after the establishment
by France of the first republic in
her Syrian mandate, that of the
Lebanese republic which incloses
the famous mountains of Liban or
Lebanon and runs down to the Med
iterranean shore. This latter re-
public, with its capital at the an
cient Moslem center of Damascus,
includes by no means all of the area
of the mandate. In addition TO
emitting the Lebanese republic it
also excludes the state of the Alou-
ties, and the state of Djebel DruZe.
mountain home of the fiery Druze
tribesmen, the Unitarians of Islam.
Four Religions, Many Creeds.
Religion draws the political
boundaries in the Syrian mandate.
Not only is the independence of the
Alouites and the DruZeS recognized
for religious reasons, but also the
new Syrian republic and the Leb-
anese republic represent a Mos
lem republic and a Christian re-
public respectively.
Four religious states in an area
no larger than Georgia still leave
many creeds out in the political
cold. To recognize them all would
require cutting Syria up into more
pieces than Blue Beard ever
chopped his wives.
Syria's creedS and peoples are
woven of many odds and ends.
Three-fourthS of the population of
100000 are MOhammedanS, but
part of them are SunniteS and part
Shiites, and as different in point of
view as Catholics and PrOtestants.
Then there are the Alouites whose
secret religion is believed to be
halfway between MOhammedanism
and Christianity, and the DruZes.
who usually attend the Unitarian
church when they emigrate to the
United States, and the hefetical
IsmailiS, who were the original
Assassins of Crusader times.
Christians in Syria are even
more divided. Most numerous are
the MarOnite Christians in the Leb-
anon, but there are also Greek
Catholics, Armenian Catholics,
Syrian Christians. Chaldeans and
Latins, not to speak of Greek Or
thOdox, Gregorian Armenian, and
ProteStantS of various sectS.
Because it is the custom to vote
and fight as one worships in Syria,
the problem of bringing govern
mental order out of the racial and
religious melee has been colossal.
The country hopes to regain its
ancient privileges and perquisites
as doOrkeeper to Asia. The vast
trace of both Persia and Iraq with
Europe and the New World that
now goes clear around the Arabian
peninsula could find a short cut
across Syria if only the Berlin TO
Bagdad railroad could be finished.
Recent completion of the last link
In the Asia Minor rail-line which
makes possible through service
from Cairo to Calais has already
brought Syria into a more favor
able position.
Much to Attract Visitors.
But at present the country is liv-
ing on hope and America. Thou
sands Of Syrians have come to both
North and South America. Whole
villages in the Lebanon have been
abandoned for fruit stands in the
New world. Sometimes the ex-
Syrians send back money; some
times they go back with their
money. and live like lords and in