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Show I CONSTANTINOPLE READYJOR WAR (Correspondence of Tne Associated Press. ) Constantinople. Feb. IS Though the Russian fleet Is not prevented from occasionally appearing before The Bo6phoms nor the French and British men of war from occasionally taking a pot shot at sme point along the coast near the Dardanelles, it is difficult to realize that Constantinople Constantino-ple 16 the solar plexus of a country at war with three of the greatest nations na-tions of Europe. There are those who insist that the population of Turkey is apathetic to wards the war It is certain that the people of this city are highly un demonstrative An event that would cause the streets of Berlin and Vienna Vien-na to ring with cheers leaves those of Constantinople strangely silent Through the Grand Rue de Pera marched yesterday a battalion of stur dy. well equipped infantry' headed by a band. Later some very businesslike business-like looking cavalry' passed along the Bame thoroughfare en route for the palace, where the sultan would give them colors. But the people seemed merely interested There was no cheering and the men seemed to ex pect none. At one corner the people peo-ple Just clapped their hands a little a very little. But things were different at a mov- I ing picture shott, of which Constant: I nople has a good many. The films first showed Turkish soldiers some Where, then German troops in Poland, and later Au8tro-Hungarians in Gall-cia. Gall-cia. Each film was heartily applaud ed. At a charity entertainment een the Turkish women i heered the German Ger-man emperor and the other monarchy of the nations at war with the triple entente. Talaat Be , minister of the inten or, minister of finance, minister of ma tine and up to a few days ago j minister of war, told Tho Associated Press' correspondent a few days ago I that the Turkish puhlic never had wel- I corned any war with as much enthu siasm as the present one The statement state-ment seemed extraordinary' in view of observations made in streets, in cafes, In restaurants and other pla ces where, the quiet-lolnc Turks con-grogated. con-grogated. But there Is no doubt that the war even if not extremely popular, is at least accepted as a 6ort of grim necessity Food Necessities High. Bread Is 25 per cent higher than il used to be and cheese and olives, the two other staples of the Ottoman, have doubled in price Food also Is dearer, coal is extremely scarce and of poor quality and petroleum Is high in price and hard to get. De spite all this the population of Constantinople Con-stantinople seems to be ctieerful enough. While the business of the small merchant has fallen off. yet it cannot can-not be said to be very bad. according to inquiries made In the Grand Bazaar Ba-zaar of Stamboul the onlj complaints were heard and these were due to the absence of foreigners on whose pur chases the owners of Bazaar Btall deal almost exclusively. Business had been ery bad all summer owing to the war and now sales were fewer yet, said most of the merchants in terviewed They hoped that the war would soon be over Small Artisans Get Contracts. The tradesmen of Constantinople are better off Because of the lack of factories in which the equipment of the arm could be turned out in large quantities, the Ottoman government govern-ment has divided its contracts among the small artisans, most of whom live in Stamboul There is a street in which the leather workers predoml- J nate. In that street thousands of saddle, harness, belt6, ammunition cases ca-ses and shoes are made for the army The practice is to supply these artisan ar-tisan with a pattern of what is wanted want-ed and to supply the material. After that everybod in the little shops works from early morning till late at night There is another street in which most of the streets are occupied by j metal workers. Rifles are beyond their range, of course hut bayonets and the like are not So a hundred anvils ring day in and day out, under the Iron that is being converted into the tools needed by any army In the wood workers quarters they are turning out wheels and cartH and parts of carts, in a rather systematized systema-tized fashion, and in another part of the real Constantinople an army of tailors is busv making uniforms from cloth that ha8 already been cut. Six Army Corps Ready. In and around Constantinople is quartered a large force of military, kept in readiness for a possible attack at-tack on Turkey in Europe. While the attitude of Bulgaria gives rise to no apprehensions that of Greece Is doubted, to say the least nor is there assurance that the forces of the triple entente will not attempt a landing near Constantinople. To meet this contingency is the duty or some six army corps stationed in and about the capital. Almost daily part of this garrison marches through the streets well uniformed and equipped as a rule. The men make a good impression, im-pression, as do also the officers. Now and then one sees men. or an organization, or-ganization, whose uniforms need attention at-tention badly but these are mostly from out of the way stations where life is not calculated to leave much inclination to care for personal appearance ap-pearance Through the city also move large army supply trains and it mav be said that the bridge of Galata Is never without ono The wagons are well kept in a majority of cases and the animals appear decidedly too good for the hard work they are called up on to do An occasional batters or field artiller, or platoon of machine gnns completes the military aspect ol the streets of the capital. All in all, Constantinople Is a rather restful place in these times of stress, say the oldest European resident. resi-dent. Needless to say the many reports of riots and bloodshed are pure Inventions Tho capital has never been quieter than at present, or better managed |