They support by their own resources more than 565 churches. 652 schools. and approximately 100.000 pupils. The neighboring islands. which geographically and economically constitute a part of Greece. contain more than 100.000 inhabitants and constitute a chain binding tile mainland of Greece and the Hellenic territory of Asia Minor. The German geographer Philippsou. in his work entitled " Reisen und Forschungenim westliclien Kleinasien." states thatAsia Milnor is separated right In the middle by a great natural frontier. on the one side an inclosed plateau of an almost Asiatic nature. on the other an AEgean land exactly like the Greek regions and closely connected by nature and history with the sea and with Greece just beyond the sea. The result is that now. as In the past. Asiatic civilization reigns in the interior while Greek culture prevails in western Asia Minor. le further states that in western Asia Minor there is a conifiguration which is quite distinctive. that there has been a " sinking away of the terrain in a recent geological epoch." and that this peculiarity is recognized in Greece. so that the two may he considered as constituting but one geographical entitythat of the I1gean. Permit me to adi that notwithstanding the 500 years of .lurkish oppression. the Greeks of Asia Minor. and particularly of the two Provinces just referred to. have maintained their language. religion. culture. national consciousness. and high ideals. Within these vilayets illustrious men of ancient Greece were born.