A FLAG IN THE SKY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9373, 31 October 1921, Page 3

A FLAG IN THE SKY.

THE ECLIPSE OF VENUS.

HOW IT APPEALED TO TURKEY

A very remarkable spectacle has been seen m Turkey, though m other lands the spectacle appeared as simply a natural event. Most people remember the story of how Constantino the Great, m the final battle for the throne -of the Roman Empire against his rival Maxentius, is said to have been thrilled by the Zv! 810 ? a fl am i n £ cross appearing m the hfayens. it is said that he regarded it as a promise of victory, that he adopted the cross as his standard, and that he there and then resolved to aa°P* Christianity as the religion of the Roman Empire. The story is no doubt a legend invented to explain the emperor's sudden conversion to the new faith m the hour of his victory, but it will now be believed by millions or people m Turkey who have actually jookea up m the sky and seen there the nag of their ancient empire. They have said it truly, and the story is no .legend. During- July the rurkish newspapers have been rejoicing .m what they consider a promise or victory appearing to them m the heavens. What Las happened is this: On July 2 there was an eclipse of Venus, or an occultation, as astrono- ! mers call it, that is, a hidings caused by the moon passing between our ! world and the planet. Venus appeared '' on the left, or crescent,' side of the i moon, then disappeared as the moon j came m front of her, and finally she i reappeared on the right, or dark side, ' almost between the cusps of the moon's I crescent. - j

Now, this is the very design of the lurkish national flag, a crescent moon with a single star almost between the cusps.

Naturally, when the Turks saw such a striking reproduction m the heavens on July 2 their strong religious and superstitious sense led them to regard it as a favourable sign. Hundreds of thousands of their people saw it, and are firmly convinced that it means that their present troubles will soon be over, and the Turkish crescent will once again be flying free m the breeze.