The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-01

The German Senports.
Nearly all the German seaports being now
controlled by Prussia, they will be blockaded
by France, and some of them will be likely to
witness severe fighting. They are both on
the German ocean and on the Baltic-the two
coasts being separated by the Danish peninsu-
la. The ports on the German ocean are the
most important, though but few in number
The principal ports in the Baltic are Memel,
| Pillau, KOnissberg, Dantzig, Colberg, Swine
munde, Stettin, Wolgast, Stralsund, Kiel, and
Flensburg On the German ocean Prussia
has Altoona, Harburg, Geestemunde, Leer and
Emden, while the North German Confedera-
tion has also many important commercial sea-
| ports. Of all these the largest is Hamburg,
which has, since 1866, been in the North Ger
man Confederation, and is now regarded as
subject to all the for tunes of war. The state
| embraces territory cf 146 square miles, with
population of 305, ,507 inhabitants. The city,
which is situated on the right bank of The
Elbe, seventy miles from its mouth, is not for
tilted. In 1866 there belonged to the port of
Hamburg 500 vessels, having total tonnage
of 241 900 tons. The mercantile navy of Ham,
burg is more than eight times that of Belgi-
um. Her trade with Great Britain alone
amounted to $14O,O0O,OOO in 1868. The emi-
grafton to this country from Hamburg is very
large. In 1867 there embarked 3S,214 emf
grants, in ninety-three vessels, at that port.
Througe it and Bremen almost all our trade
with Germany is transacted.
BIemen, the chief port of the German
American mail steamship traffic, is situated
on both banks Of the Weser, fifty miles south
west of Hamburg. In 1867, sixteen steam
ships, making 1921 tons, and two hundred
and eighty-seven sailing vessels, making 231 -
1874 tons, belonged to this port In 1856, 49,
971 emigrants embarked at Bremerhaven for
the United States. Lubbock, on the Trave,
| ten miles from its mouth, was stormed by :he
French in 1906 and subsequently annexed to
France. The state comprises a territory Of
| 127 square miles, with population of 4S 53s.
Lubbock possessed, at the commencement of
1868, fifty nine sea-going vessels, among them
| thirteen steamers.
Altoona, situated on the right bank of the
Elbe, little below Hamburg, was acquired by
Prussia from Denmark in the war of 1854. 1t
has extensive railroad communication, and
has made rapid progress in shipping and COM
merce- About 5000 ships visit the port annu-
ally. 1t was occupied without resistance in
1864. Harburg is on the south bank of the
Elbe, four and One-half miles below Hamburg
1t is surrounded by walls and has citadel
Leer and Emden are Hanoverian seaports of
minor Importance; the latter is fortified.
Passing round on to the Baltic and visiting
the east side Of Holstein, we find Kiel, which
| Prussia took from Denmark six years ago. 1t
| is fifty-three miles from Hamburg, and in rail-
road communication with Altoona. Upward
| Of 1000 vessels arrive and depart annually,
| and its commerce is radidly increasing. Since
| acquiring, Prussia has commenced 10 fortify
this port, and from the importance of its sit
uation will tenaciously defend it. Flensburg
| has also been recently acquired from Den
mark by the war of 1864. 1t is .r1oicnJ
| town, and was the scene CT hostile operations
| in 1S4S, when the Germans took possession of
| it. 1t trades with the West Indies and does a
moderate shipping business.
The largest towns on the Baltic coast OF
Prussia are Konissserg and Dantzig, both
well fortified. Konigsberg is on the Pregel,
| five miles from its mouth, and in railroad COM
municatiOn with Berlin, from which it is dis
! tant 33S miles. This fortified city consists of
| the town proper and four suburbs. The for
mer is divided into three parts, the Astadt or
Old Town, situated on the west; Lohenicht
on the east, and KneiphOf, situated on an is
land formed by the Pregel, which, before en-
tering the town from the east, divides into
| two arms. There are seven bridges between
the island and the opposite banks. The trade
of the port is principally the export of grain,
and in its ship-buiding yards considerable
number OF small vessels are annually con-
| structed. Much attention has been given to
the Notifications.
| Dantzig is seaport of West Prussia, ac.
quired by the dismemberment of Poland. 1t
is connected by railroads both with Berlin
and KOngsberg, and is situated ON the left
bank of the Vistula. three and one-half miles
| from its outlet at Weichselmunde. 1t has a
population of $4,000, and is largely engaged in
the export of grain and the manufacture OF
general products. 1t has IA ships, having a
total tonnage of $4,000 tons. The city is of
nearly circular form and is fortress OF the
first class.
The Oder is not unlikely to be the scene OF
naval operations. Swinemun1e, near the
mouth of this river, is the port where LARGE
vessels bound for Stettin, thirty-six miles in
land, unload. The entrance to the Oder is
defended by two sea-coast batteries, one on
the right and the other on the left bank.
Should war vessels Of light draft pass these
forts, and escape the :orpedoes, which will nc
doubt be useo they would be confronted at
the important city of Settin by its formidable
Notifications. 1t has been fortified city fol
a long period, and undergone several sieges
About 1000 ships enter and sail from the Oder
annually. The population OF Settin is about
65O00, and its trade is principally in genera
produce. 1t is connected by rail with Berlin
from which it is 70 miles distant, or somewhat
less than the proximity of New York to Phil
adelphia.
Stralsund is the capital of Pomerania. and
is strongly fortified. 1t is situated in the
strait which separates the island of Rugen
from the mainland, and so completely sur
rounded by water as to be approached only oy
bridges. 1t is 120 miles from Berlin. IL mas
been four times besieged. Since 1913, Its de-
fensive works have been greatly enlarged,
and it is now one Of the strongest towns be-
longing to Prussia. About 300 vessels enter
this port annually. Memel is defended by a
citadel, and is divided into three quarters
the Old, New and Frederick's towns, with
three suburbs. It's trade is very extensive
and consists chiefly of timber, corn. flax
hemp, potash, linseeG and colonial produce
These are exported principally to the United
States and England. Ship building is carried
on at this port, which owns LOG vessels, hav.
ing total tonnage of 47,164 tons. Ships tc
the number of 2500 (of $4,000 tons) an.
nually enter and leave the port, and numerous
steam packets maintain communication with
many OF the other Baltic ports. The barboi
is large and safe, and has depth of water o
from Ia to II feet. 1t is provided with exten
sve docks, and has good lighthouse.
Pillan is small seaport at the entrance o