Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1914-11-20
BATTLEF|ELDS Of EUROPE
EXPLAINED BY EXPERTS Of
j. 6. GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 2O.-The
National Geographic Society, of this
city, today gave out the following facts
concerning East Prussia, Germany,
and the Department of Aisne, France,
which are the scenes of much fighting
at the present time:
EAST PRUSSIA is one of the stern
est regions of civilized Europe. From
the shores of the Baltic southwark
there is a great sweep of even sands,
fiat and dreary, much of it uncheered
even by the relieving green of the for
est. Finally the sand wastes end and
the lake country, covering the south
ern half of the province, begins.
East Prussia lies beyond the beaten
path of the army of tourists who here
tofore annually have invaded Ger
many. A few irregulars, among them
conscientious students of, things Ger
man, American buyers of such ware as
amber, and some who went to rest,
filtered through to the curt hospitality
of the Prussian plain. If they remain
ed long enough to catch somewhat of
the spirit, they learned to love its
sternness. For nature is coldly frugal
in East Prussia, producing bounteous
grain and potato yields from her dun
colored sandy soils only in repayment
of intense, unremittant labor; and she
seems Jealous OF even the meagre va
riety Of her pine and fir forests, few
and always the same in the north, save
where, at rare intervals, they are
frightened up by the glistening bark of
the silver birch
| EAlIlu ouSlI SoA
roundings, it is but natural that firm
iawed men and women, earnest, labor
ious, unbending, and, above all, believ-
ers in duty, should be found. And, as
a rule, the people of East Prussia,
peasant and Junker gentleman farm
err, are as unyielding and simple as
the land in which they live.
Somewhere around this area certain
scholars hold, the Indo-Germanic race
began it's conquest of world, and it's
task of accommodating an Indian and a
! Western culture. No filter country
could be imagined for the disciplining
of a people to sacrifice effort and de-
termination.
Koenigsberg is the capital of this
province 1t is the central market for
the grains, potatoes and comercial al
cohol poduced in East Prussia, and, to
an increasing extent, it has served as
commission market for the produce
of neighboring Russian governments
This city is most widely known
through it's university, and most OF
that institutions fame centers around
brilliant teacher of about a century
ago, Emmanuel Kant author of pro,
found criticisms of reason and con-
science.
The tireless energy of the German
peasant free-holder and the scientific
effort of the great estate owners have
brought it about that the bleak steppes
of northeasternmost Germany produce
rich harvests of grain and potatoes 1t
s mostly the harder grains that are
raised there-rye and oats. The potato
ED OF the province is largely worked
Or alcohol, for use in the arts; and for
domestic use, such as cooking, lighting
nd heating; and for power-engines.
'otato distilleries are numerous
throughout the country adjacent to
Noenigsberg and along the sea.
East Prussia borders on West Rus
STA. Over its whole extent and through
out the Russian Baltic provinces, Slav
and Teuton have mingled pretty thor
oughly. The East Prussians has in his
veins considerable Slavic blood; while
the Baltic Russian, on the other hand,
possesses a strong strain of Teutonic
blood. Slavic names are heard on ev-
| In Drnocfo ho+h Folr-