The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-09-08
THE EVENING BANNER
Bennington, VT.
Tuesday, Sept. 9TH, 1914.
POLAND AS BIGGEST COUNTRY
Domain Gradually Observed by the
Other European Nations

Other European Nations
The Poland of IT'S was larger than
any other European country, with the
exception of Russia Today it has no
political entity. says the National
Geographic Society in a recent state
mcnt. Two centuries ago its domain
reached from the Baltic to the Carpa-
thians, and stretched from east To
west for a distance OF approximately
600 miles.
The first partition OF Poland came
in 1872, when Prussia and Austria.
alarmed by the progress OF Russia in
Poland, suggested, Z as a means of
maintaining the equilibrium of Eu-
rope, that all three powers readjust
their territories at the expense of Po-
land reads the societys bulletin.
Poland lay utterly helpless. She
and onc-fourth OF her territory. The
second partition in 1893, reduced Po-
land to one-third OF her original di-
mansions, with a population OF about
100000. A third treaty OF partition
was signed in 1886. The Congress of
Vienna, in 1915, divided Poland be
tween Prussia, Austria, and Russia.
with the exception of Cracow which
was erected into a republic embedd-
ed in Galicia. Poland and Gnesen with
population of 10000, were left TO
Prussia. Austria remained in posses
sion of Galicia, with its 100000 in
habitants. Lithuania and Ruthenian
Palatinates continued to be incorpor-
ated with Russia. The remnant was
constituted as the so-called Congress
Kingdom, under the emperor of Rus
STA as the king OF Poland.
in the same year. Tsar Alexander
tuition, which declared it 10 be united
to Russia in the person of the Tsar
as a separate political entity. Poland
retained its flag and 4 national army.
In 1880, following the outbreak of the
French revolution, a military revolt
took place in Warsaw. This war last
ed for ten months, and at its conclu
sion the Congress Kingdom was re-
duced to the position OF a Russian
province. Tho last remaining rem
nant of Poland's separate political ex
istence was Cracow, and it WAS final
" coupled by Austrian in 1876. The
last attempt OF the Poles to achieve
independence was in 1868. 1t was
ma ked by no real battle and the up
rising was soon repressed The ma
tional history of Poland closes with
this attempt at freedom In 1868. by
ukase of the Empe or of Russia, the
government was absolutely incorpOr-
ated with that OF Russia and the use
of the Polish language in public
places and for public purposes was
prohibited
Russian Poland contains the first
line of defense of the Russian En-
pire on its western frontier. The
marshy lowlands. covered with for
ests on the western bank OF the Nistu
la, offer a natural defense against an
army advancing from the west. and
they are strengthened by a number
of fortresses on that river. The cen
ter of these latter is Warsaw.
THE Poles are rather of medium
stature and well built Those in the
south are dark and in the north are
inclined to be fair. While well en-
dowed by nature they are today not
remarkable in that energy which
characterized the northern races OF
Europe, and in a sense of unity which
has been the strength of their pres.
ent rulers, and the reason is obvious
For several years past the German
element has been annually increas-
ing in Russian Poland. From remote
antiquity Poland has been ceft braied
for the production and export OF
grain. Since 1875 there has been
remarkable development OF manufac-
turing enterprise. The railroads of
Russian Poland have an aggregate
length of 1900 miles.
The entire administration of the !
province is under the governor-gener- |
al residing at Warsaw. After the in
of 1853 all towns with less |
than 1000 inhabitants were deprived !
of their municipal rights. The elect
i've municipal councils were practica, |
ly abolished and Russia officers nom