The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-28
National Geographic Society's War Primer

ruined caravan station, where for
mer'y stood the great city of Zahra-
wan, destroyed by the Persians near
the middle of the fourth century. At
that time in the neighborhood Of So
600 people. of whom about $4,000
were Jews. IRE said to have lived
there. Diyadin liz place OF little
Importance. with population of
about 2,500.
KARS-A strongly fortified town
of about $4,000 inhabitants in Rus
sian Armenia, forty miles from the
Turkish border. and lis miles south
east OF Tiflis, on the Arpachia River
Located in a fertile and well-culti-
waited plain. ii was formerly flour
tshing town. but the Russian Turkish
wars OF 1928. 1855 and 1877 laid
heavy hand on 1t. destroying its trade
and robbing 1t of it's wealthiest and
most industrious inhabitants. 1t was
ceded to Russia in 1878. The citadel
of Kars Is built Of unhewn stone.
kHORASAN-A north central prov
ince of Persia, forming part Of the
great Iranian Plateau, and separated
by mountains from the Russian Trans
CASPIAN FTOFtnC0. barren sand
wastes alternate with many fertile
valleys throughout the province. The
capital Is Meshed, and the next i'm
portant city is Nushapur. Carpets
manufactured there are among the
finest of Persia. Wheat rice. tobac-
co, cotton and hemp are grown.
MERVILL.E-A small town of
Northern France, six miles southeast
of HaZebrouck, and seventeen miles
west of Lille. on the left bank OF the
Lys, at its juncture with the Canal
della Bourre. The town is we'll built
and has extensive establishments for
the manufacture Of linen. velvet and
starch, and also oil mills, breweries,
salt refineries, waxing works. tan
neries, tile and brick works. Cattle
and grain are it's principle articles of
commerce. Originated from a mon
astery built by ST. Maurand In 674. the
town was annexed by France in 1867.
Its population Is about 1000.
+ ROUBAIX-A thriving. well-built
Industrial city of France, two and q
half miles from the Belgian border.
ard six miles northeast OF Lille, on
TIE Roubaix Canal. The town is one
CT the chief seats of the French tex
tile industry. more than $1,000 peo-
pie being employed in its mills. Its
rate of increase in population has been
more than 1000 people annually for
the last century The city now has
a population OF about $780, 900. In ad-
dition to its textiles Roubaix produces
machinery. rubber goods and beer.
REISE--A small town Of Northern
France, eight miles east OF Reims,
and twenty-one miles west of north
of Chalons. picturesquely situated on
81 high plateau between the Suippes
and Vesle Rivers. The town is prac-
tically the same as 1t was seyenty-fiye
years ago. it's public buildings, bust
ress houses and dwellings having TN
dergone no material change and the
number OF its inhabitants not having
increased more than 800. Its present
population Is about 1900. The spin
ming Of wool and cloth-working are
the chief industries.
MALANCOCRT-A small town OF
Northern France, eleven miles east
OF northeast of Varnennes, and
thirteen miles west Of north Of Yer
Mouse. to the east Of the Forest OF
Arfonne. The town has button fac
tories and produces lace and en-
embroidery. 1t has population OF
about 1900.
NIEUPORT-A Belgian town, half
a mile from the seacoast. and half
way between Ostend and the French
River. 1t is badly built and unhealth-
lily situated. yet many people are at
tracted there every summer by its
bathing facilities. The town was re-
duced to ruins by the English in 1888,
hut was rebuilt two years later, and
fortified by Philip the Bold. The
French captured it in 1745, 1892 and
1894 The famous battle OF the Dunes,
in which Maurice OF Nassau defeated
the Spanish. was fought here in 1900.
It's lighthouse was erected in 1884.
Shipbuilding, rope and net making,
and fishing are Its chief industries.
1t has population of about 1000.
D1XMUDE-A town In West Flan-
GERS. Belgium. In the fertile district
called Freyeland. fourteen miles south
Of ostend. and twelve miles north of
lpres. on the User River. 1t Is a
typical oldfashioned Belgian place,
which has changed comparatively lit.
tie in the last century. In 1850 its
population was $500; today it has
few more than 1000 inha bitants.
Dixmude is known for It's butter.
cheese and beer. and has an active
trade In salt. horses and cttle. The
in 1880, and the people OF Client
stormed 1t . few years later. The
French took Dixmude in ls47. 1863,
llG3 and 1929. Its church of the
sixteenth century contains many IA
nous works OF art.
OSTROLENKA-A town Of Russian
Poland. on the left bank of the Narew
River. fifty-eight miles west Of north
" Warsaw, twenty-five miles south OF
west OF Tonga. and twenty-five miles
from the Prussian border The town
Is situated In . marchy region, with
high wooded hills on the west. Il IL
modern In most respects. and has
shown 4 healthy rate Of increase in
population In the last two decades.
Its inhabitants. ! large portion Of
eco. A Russian corps suffered Z severe
loss In an action with the French here
in February 1905, and the place. was
the scene Of the violent encounter
between the Russians and Poles In
1891. The manufacture OF cloth II
the principal industry.