THE TURKS IN EUROPE

New Zealand Tablet, 1 July 1915, Page 49

THE TURKS IN EUROPE

k In 1453 Mohammed 11. appeared before Constantinople with a motley army of Jews, Greeks, Homans, Poles, Huns, and Germans, as well as his o\Ai 'Musshlmen. After fifty-five days of siege the city was taken by assault, its last Christian Emperor, Constantine, buried in its ruins, fighting bravely, and the Turks gave it over to pillage. Every atrocity was practised, though Mohammed did not permit fire, and there is no estimating the destruction to human life, or the loss of priceless works of art. Saint Sophia was converted into a Mohammedan mosque, the Cross was trampled under foot the Crescent reigned (says Btnzujer's Maya*me).

In 1571 was fought the terrific battle of Lepanto, between the fleets of Venice, Spain, and the Papal States, which comprised the Holy League, and the Ottoman fleet. The Mohammedans had attempted to wrest the island of Cyprus from Venice and the allies assembled to give battle. The allies had two hundred galleys under the command of Don Juan of Austria, and a hundred other vessels, and the Turkish fleet was of about the same number. The struggle was a terrible one, the Turks fighting desperately, but the Christians were not less determined , for victory, and the sanguinary conflict ended in the complete victory of the allies. About 3000 Christians and over 30,000 Turks were killed. Not the least beautiful fruit of the victory was that more than 12',000 Christian galleyslaves were liberated from their filthy prisons in the holds of Turkish ships, where, chained to the rowers’ benches, they had been forced under the lash to row to what their captors scoffingly assured them would be the death of themselves and their Christian friends. This victory is said by historians to have forever broken the naval power of the Turks in the Mediterranean. Another struggle occurred between Cross and Crescent when the ‘ unspeakable Turk ’ pushed his land forces to the very gates of Vienna. Here he besieged the city, such fierce assaults being hurled against the gates of the city by the Turkish soldiers under the Grand Vizier, Kara Mustapha, that it seemed only a question of hours before the Turks must gain admittance. Above the zone of conflict, however, arose the Star' of Sobicski, the Christian warrior who had saved Poland from Swede and Russian. Sobieski was without doubt the greatest general of his time, and was, moreover, the idol of' his soldiers.

On the morning of September 12, 1683, Sobieski, who had left his kingdom of Poland to aid the very sovereign who had refused to regard him as a brotherking, though chosen unanimously by the Poles as their ruler, heard Mass devoutly, and then appeared before his forces, to which he made a stirring address. The contest, he told them, was not alone for Vienna, but for all Christendom ; it was not only for an earthly sovereign but for the King of kings, since in saving the city from the Mohammedans they were hindering their progress over civilised Europe and saving the land for Christ. His stirring words were received with loud acclaim by the soldiery, who cried, ‘ Christ forever ! Death to the Unbeliever! Sobieski to the rescue!’ These sounds, reaching even to the magnificent field tent of the Turkish commander, did not reassure him of the outcome of the conflict, and the hussars of Poland made instantly such a terrific charge that the army of the Pasha was swept backward in a confused melee. The Turks tried to withstand the shock, but all in vain ; they were swept from the field, a disorderly retreat followed, and - Sobieski was victor, capturing artillery, baggage, and tremendous booty. The people of Vienna went Avila with joy, hailing their deliverer with shouts, and carrying him to the cathedral, where a Mass of thanksgiving was held, the Te, Deum chanted, and a sermon preached on the text, ‘ There was a man sent from . God whose name was John.’ This battle of Vienna marks an epoch, since it stopped the encroachments of the Moslem in Europe, and blighted his power.