inging Constantine to Constantine's city.

Now, before entering the Cathedral of Sancta Sophia you must pass
Turkish sentries and show your passport. Otherwise you cannot get in.
The Turk has sworn that no Greek shall enter, and in order to keep the
Greeks out he is ready to hold up the whole world. One day no doubt
the Turk will be turned out from his stolen mosque--be it by Greeks, be
it by Russians, be it by Bulgars. The war has weakened the Turk more
than is generally understood. Turkey does not stand where it did in
the nineteenth century, and cannot do so again. The vital capital of
Turkey has become Angora. The Kemalists are the force of Turkey, and
they are Asiatic. In fact, Turkey has now been turned "bag and
baggage" out of Europe, and the Turks are playing a new role in
politics and international life.

Pierre Loti, in his book entitled "La Mort de notre chere France en
Orient," gives a sentimental defence of the Turk, deplores our English
rule, and urges France to endeavour to take charge, making the whole
Mediterranean what it has been once before, a French lake. The air of
the many blue soldiers in Constantinople, and the continual clash of
British and French authority in the city suggest that Loti really
speaks for France. There are, therefore, at least four powers which
wish to have the key of Europe and the control of the ways of life
between Asia Minor and the West. The one power which now does not
enter into men's considerations is the one which both traditionally and
economically is most concerned--and that is Russia.

LETTERS OF TRAVEL:

III. FROM CONSTANTINOPLE (II)

A night's journey in a trawler brings you to the Dardanelles--the
outermost vital significance of dominion at Constantinople. By the use
of mines an invincible protection is easily thrown out. By the simple
closing of the straits Russian trade is throttled, and even all the
powers of imperial Russia before the great war could not open a way. No
wonder that all ambitious Russians desired Constantinople and the
Straits. If it ever becomes possible for some small power to stand in
Russia's way again, there is bound to be a recrudescence of Russia's
passion to go south. At the Dardanelles, however, there remains Allied
control--British men-of-war, French black troops, Greek governors, and
the rest. All boats are challenged coming in, none going out, and
otherwise there is freedom of the seas.

A sentimental int