Smyrna times., 1933-03-22
REPUBLIC OF
TURKEY GROWS
Shows National Consciousness
In Nine Years by Rapid
ly Developing
GREAT STRIDES MADE

Washington.-New Turkey has
just celebrated its ninth birthday
anniversary at Ankara (Angora), !,
the capital on the Asia Minor pla-
teau which superseded intrigue-in-
tested Constantinople, long the capt.
tai Of the old regime. A bulletin
from the National Geographic so-
ciety outlines some of the forces
that have been shaping the new re-
public.
After nine years of strenuous
reforms, the Turkish republic, be-
cause Of worldwide depression, has
a breathing spell in which to take
stock" says the bulletin. 1.-The
apathy of its enemies and neigh
bors enabled it to escape partition.
Fatalism, combined with the pauc-
ity Of desires by the Turkish peas
ant, has been constant drag on
progress.
"Great strides have been made in
developing national consciousness
among the variety Of peoples who
are combined under the government
of the Ghazi (the Conqueror). The
first great step was the freeing Of
the country of its enemies, a mill
tary operation through which the
Ghazi, Mustapha Kennel Pasha,
gained political leadership.
THE country is wide. the pOpu-
lation scanty, the state of education
and literacy low. communications
inadequate. These factors have
added to a native inertia against
which Turkeys leaders have la
bored with striking results.
Turned to Western Ways.
"The fez was abolished in order
to prepare the Turk. through west
ern dress, to ally himself with west
ern thought. The visor of the cap,
which became the popular head COW
ering, could be reversed so that the
forehead could touch the floor in
prayer; but nonetheless a sharp cut
was made with the past. The veil
was not abolished, but those who
abandoned it were favored.
Another milestone was the adop-
ton of the Latin alphabet. The old
Arabic alphabet was closely related
In thought with the Koran. With
the advent Of New Turkish the
Turkish republic moved closer to
all nations using the Latin alpha
bet, but severed the strong bond with
religious forms. Not only had Tur-
keys alphabet been that of the
Arabs and Persians, but many of
the words were Of foreign origin. A
strong movement IS under way TO
employ Turkish words and free the
language Of foreign vocabulary, but
at the same time the study of for
eign languages, chiefly French and
English. is being pushed.
"The Ghazi. who entered into the
campaign for New Turkey through
many informal personal contacts
and direct personal encouragement,
has recently been directing a study
Of Turkish history. Under his per-
sonal direction the Turkish His
tory Research commission has com
piled a fOur-volume world history in
which Turkey has a larger place
than ever before. This world his
tory. written from the Turkish view
point, is to be taught in the Turk
ish schools. Thus the Ghazi hopes
to tie the depressed present to a
glorious past and hopeful future.
Roads and Railways Extended.
"Ankara formerly known to the
West as 'AngoraD has become a
wonder capital. Mushroom speed
has been combined with careful
planning and a worthy capital is
rapidly taking shape in the heart
of the arid Anatolian plateau.
Lack of funds is slowing up the
ambitious program Of railway and
road building on which the Ghazi's
government had started, but steel
bands and better roads are slowly
binding the country regions togeth-
er. For centuries. a great trade
route by way OF Trebizond CTrab-
zon) and Erzurum reached from
Persia to the Black sea. Commerce
along that historic highway had de-
clined, but through an improve
ment In the roadbed, commerce Is
again to be lured back to its his
torIc channel between highlands