TURKEY'S NEW CAPITAL

Evening Star, Issue 19290, 1 July 1926, Page 2

TURKEY'S NEW CAPITAL

GOOD-BYE TO CONSTANTINOPLE. Constantinople, city of history and mystery, has been shorn of one of its principal glories, for it is no longer one of Europe’s capital cities. Turkey has decided to remove the seat of government to Angora. Constantinople was erected by Constantine the Great on the site of the ancient Byzantium, in the year 330, and became the residence of tho Emperors of the East. It was built with strong fortifications, and was thus able to withstand frequent attacks by its foes, including the Persians and Arabs, the former using Greek fire against tho city—unsuccessfully—l,2so years ago. In length of time, therefore, it stands second among European capitals, only Borne being older. It contains some of the most beautiful buildings in the world. It has been the centre of many intrigues, and has harbored members of almost every nation of the world. Standing at the gateway of the East, as it were, it is neither Eastern nor Western, but both. It is bub a step from a street, which would not disgrace Paris to an openair bazaar thronged with loud-voiced, haggling natives. The new capital, Angora, cannot compare in any way with Constantinople. It stands on a rocky cliff in Asia Minor, and has a population of less than 30,000.