asked him whether the mines had closed because the mineral was worked out. 'Whew,' he replied, with an expressive gesture, 'the mountains are full of it.' He did not speak with scientific information, but he had had the experience of a practical miner."

These are a few of the statements made by trained Americans who have spent their lives in the regions of which they write. And all that they tell and more is abundantly substantiated by the reports of the German engineers who have been making extensive surveys for their government.

The question arises, How has it been possible for these riches to have remained undeveloped at the very door of Europe? It does seem impossible, but the true answer is given in this sentence from one of the missionary reports: "There are hopeful indications of various other minerals at other places also; but the Turks have always discouraged attempts at developments."

PETROLEUM DEPOSITS

It is well known that the extensive petroleum deposits along the Persian frontier were a principal cause of England's desire to participate in Persian politics not many years ago, and the possession of these oil fields has been one of the chief objects of military contention between the Turkish and British in their Mesopotamian campaigns.

There are other rich prospects for oil in widely separated parts of the Empire. After careful examination one expert reports: "German engineers have made. very thorough surface examinations of this district and had great anticipation. for developing large oil fields throughout Mesopotamia. There have been found favorable indications for the development of petroleum areas in several parts of Asia Minor, especially in Syria and Mesopotamia. The indications in Syria are perhaps as promising of rich oil deposits as any in the world."

But here again one comes against that stone wall that has blocked all progress of development, for the report quoted above concludes: "The complete determination of the petroleum supply of Asia Minor must await the return of a stable

government, upon whose permanency and good faith capital can rely and which will be capable of establishing law and order throughout the territory in question."

WATER POWER

The Abana, one of the rivers of Damascus, in beautiful cascades, falls from the Anti-Lebanon Mountains to the plain below. A few years ago these waters were gathered into conduits up among the highlands and passed over waterwheels. Now they are not only irrigating the groves of apricots which surround the city, but, doing double duty, are also lighting the great mosque and the city streets and moving electric cars through the oldest city in the world.

What has been done with this mountain stream can be repeated over and over again throughout the land. Turkey possesses an unmeasured power that could be developed from the rivers that rush from the highlands to the sea. Often these streams are great rivers-the Tigris, Euphrates, or Kizl Irmak-flowing through narrow gorges, surging along with mighty force, fed by the eternal snows of Ararat, Taurus, or Lebanon.

Turkey has never been a manufacturing country, but has shipped abroad her raw materials-silk and wool and hides— and has received them back in cloth and shoes. With this water-power harnessed in its mountain valleys the future generation might see their land not only a source of agricultural and mineral products, but also a transformer of these into forms all ready for the markets of the world.

COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES

But perhaps the greatest resource, after all, of this country arises from its geographic position. Three arms stretch out in three directions-one to "the continent of the past," one to "the continent of the present," and a third to "the continent of the future."

Can there be found anywhere else in the world a position so naturally suited. for commanding the world's trade? And in the development of the people who have been nurtured in this land this characteristic of trading ability has been bred.

The Phoenicians sailed to the farthest

seas and made Sidon and Tyre the world centers for commerce. The Greeks, putting out from their islands near by the Asia Minor shore and from Ephesus and other cities of the mainland, were the great carriers and traders of ancient times. We read that King Solomon, taking advantage of his location beween Egypt and Assyria, carried on a great business of mercantile exchange between these empires and became a merchant prince, whose renown spread to the corners of the earth. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, the people of those lands, the Syrians and Greeks and Armenians, have established a reputation as traders the world over.

The great trunk lines of commerce between the north and the south and the east and the west should pass across this country. In years gone by all the nations of Europe maintained commercial representatives and warehouses in the city of Aleppo. This center was the mart of exchange between Europe and the eastern lands. That position could easily be recovered and surpassed, for the city lies at the natural point of meeting of the great world trade routes.

SPLENDID NATURAL HARBORS There are natural harbors which with little engineering could become suitable terminals for the land routes. In constructing the Bagdad Railway Germany. had obtained a concession to construct a harbor and stores at the city of Alexandretta, near to the place where Alexander defeated Darius, King of Persia. Germany was also to have the privilege of policing this port with her own subjects.

The importance of Beirut, Tripoli, and Smyrna as ports has already been recognized and they are destined to increase. Constantinople is perhaps the finest harbor in the world, and at this point must pass most of the trade between Europe and Asia.

Asia Minor has been and still should be not the bankrupt nation, but the banker nation of three continents.

With each of the topics here presented there has always been an "if" or an "ought to be" or "might become." Turning the pages of history, one reads what this country has been. Reading the daily

papers, one knows what the country is. Letting imagination dwell upon the resources provided by nature and the capabilities of the people, one can form a vision of the country's future if only one great change can be brought about.

In 1453 Mohammed the Conqueror surrounded the city of Constantinople and finally caused the downfall of that city, which had stood for eight centuries as the eastern outpost of Christendom. In 1517 the city of Jerusalem and the land of Egypt also fell.

The succeeding 400 years have witnessed the gradual degradation of the land. The cotton and corn fields of Mesopotamia are now deserts and swamps. The mines once worked have been abandoned. The cities, once busy with the trade of the world, are today but bazaars for petty bargains and deceit. The people, with the history of a great past and with capacities second to none, are by injustice and persecution driven from their homes to foreign lands or subjected to a determined plan of extermination by deportation, massacre, and famine.

The one change that must precede all others, therefore, in order to take the first steps toward realizing the possibilities of which this land and these people are capable is to rid the country of its present rulers. It is not merely to "drive the Turk out of Europe," for that has practically been done already, but to deprive him of every vestige of authority. Not only have the Christian races suffered at his hand, but the common Turkish people themselves have suffered almost equal wrongs. Before all bars of judgment, because of his incapacity, his inefficiency, and his atrocities, he has forfeited every right to rule.

THE PARABLE OF THE UNPROFITABLE
SERVANT

The parable tells of the servant who, having failed to develop the one talent entrusted to him, had this judgment passed upon him: "From him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness." And there is no longer one judgment for individuals and another for governments.

This one change having been made and the forfeited talent having been given to a government that has proved its ability, then the dream for these long-oppressed lands can become a reality. But this change should not mean the handing of Turkey over to be divided up into "spheres of influence" to satisfy colonial ambitions, no matter how long cherished, nor the breaking up of the country into a series of petty States, thus repeating the Balkan menace; but it should mean giving this land a good reorganizing government backed by the much-hoped-for League of Nations.

With this good government the country, which has long been an unsanitary plague spot, a constant health menace to Europe, will be cleaned up; adequate schools will be provided; courts of justice will replace those of injustice; proper means of transportation will be constructed; industries will spring up and the resources of mountain and plain will contribute their share to the support of the world.

"Then shall the wilderness blossom as the rose" and "every man shall sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree and none shall make them afraid."

T

HE first time I visited what used to be called the American Ambulance Hospital at Neuilly, just outside of Paris, and what is now American Military Hospital No. 1, I lost a lot of my horror of such places.

It was a glorious afternoon in early spring. On almost every street corner an old woman was selling flowers. There were marguerites and tall, graceful sprays of tiny button-roses, and a perfect wealth of lilacs. I bought a great many of the lilacs, though they were expensive, for I knew that our boys would like them better than most anything else. They're such a homey flower. The scent of lilacs recalls the yard at home and stands for the reawakening of spring and all that

called a supplement, though I called it a hold-up.

At the hospital I found less than fifty soldiers a few slightly wounded, the rest sick only. The warm, sweet breeze was swaying the curtains, and the new leaves on the trees just outside the windows were sparkling after a heavy shower. The nurses were reading or embroidering, and I remember one fellow said it smelled "just like fishin' time." Another assured me that although the Yanks had done nothing as yet, "it wouldn't be long before Fritzie 'd know they were in it."

And it wasn't. A few weeks later I made my second trip to Neuilly. The lilacs had long since disappeared, but I was able to take an armful of sweet peas of every color. I bought out all that one stand held, and when the little applecheeked vender asked me why I needed so many I told her. She insisted upon taking two francs off the bill.

"I am

THE ENTRANCE TO AMERICAN MILITARY HOSPITAL NO. I AND ITS FLEET OF AMBULANCES WHICH BRING THE WOUNDED FROM THE HOSPITAL TRAINS AS THEY ARRIVE FROM THE FRONT