The chronicle=news., 1914-08-31
War Zone Geography
Data Issued by the National Geo.
Graphic Society, Washington.

Data Issued by the National Geo.
Graphic Society, Washington.
ANTWERP-A city Of Belgium,
regarded as its principal fortified
stronghold. Although sixty miles
from the sea 1t is still one of the
greatest seaports of Europe. because
the broad and deep Schelds river
gives 1t an excellent outlet. Its
population is almost entirely Flem-
ish. Under Emperor Charles V. it Is
said to have been the most populous
city of continental Europe. At the
middle of the sixteenth century 1t
rad population estimated at 1885,
900. The great fairs held then at
| .racted the merchants of the civilized
world. Under 'the Spanish regime
it declined and In the twenty years
| FELL to a population of $4,000. The
treaty CE Westphalia closed the
Sch elds to seagoing vessels and 1t was
not 'reopened until the French did so
in 1894. Napoleon undertook to re-
vivify the city, but it was surrend-
cred to the English in 1914. 1t be-
gan to grow again but was almost
ruined in the military operations OF
1880 and thereafter the Netherlands
retained the right to levy navigation
dues on the Schclds, which laid
Iheavy hand an Antwerp, until 1868,
when 1t was commnted by the pay
mcnt of about seven million dollars
The city and river are defended by
several advanced lortresses and by
1 s<rI,t
the environs can be placed under
water. The Notifications were built
ot serve as the rallying ground for
the Belgian army in case 1t was over
powered in the field by superior
Iforce.
MAAHSTRICHT CMahstrikt-
The capital of the Dutch state OF
timburg, situated on the lcf bank
" the Meuse. 1t belonged to the
Irankian, kings, several of whom re-
sided there 1t was taken by the
|Spanish in 1899, who plundered the
rlace and put 5000 to death. Prince
Frederick Henry of Orange captured
lit in 1892, and the French took IT
three times. in 1873. 174S and 1913.
IIt was the only town Of South Hol-
Hand that held out against the Bel
gians in 1850. 1t is unfortified
Maastricht is only about go miles
from Aix-la-Chapelle.
| DINANT (Deenons)-Taken b,
Burgundy in 1866 and all male pris
oncrs shot or ssfised. to be drownet
by being forced to jump into the riv
er from the cliffs. This Belgian cit,
has had an eventful career. Loui'
XIV. captured II In 1875 and the
French held 1t for thirty years. In
Isis the Dutch built the citadel
which was dismantlcd long ago
lDinant is a favorite summer resort
of the Belsians. Tt is about l . miles
due south of Namur.
CHARLEROI (shar-leh rwP-A
town of southern Belgium on thf
Sambre river, twenty miles above Ma
muir as the crow file and abou,
twice as far away by the river. II
Is the centre of the iron district OF
|
tion into France as well as acros:
belgium. 1t was ceded to France
soon after it was founded and was
fortified by Vauban so strongly that
, ii was twice held against the attacks
of William of Orange. The fortifi
lcations later we're razed. but the city
was rcfortified in 1916 by the order
of Wellington. These fortifications
were finally dismantled in 1853.
MARCHE-A small town in Bel
gian Luxembourg, thirty-three miles
southwest of Liege and IS miles
southeast of Namur. 1t was neal
here in small skirmisl in 179:
that General Lafayette was taken
prisoner by the Austrians.
NAMUR-A Belgian city of 40,OOC
inhabitants. at the confluence OF the
Sambre and the Meuse. The old cita'
del is on the rocky promontory form
ing the fork between these rivers. II
is no longer used for military pur'
posed. Vauban tried to make it i'm.
pregnablc after Louis XIV. captured
it in 1892, but William III. retooR
it three years later, while the French
got 1t back again in 1902. Grouchy
on his retreat into France. made Il
stand here against General Pirch and
his Prussians. a new scheme of de-
fense was laid out in 1883. which in.
cluded the abandonment of the cita-
del and the construction of nine forts
on the elevated positions around the
town. In addition to these strong
"bomb-proof' fortresses, the lay OF
i tha I'M nrrnninr tnrritary hot wnen