Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1914-09-05
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
s0B|ETYS WAR PRIMER
CONTINUED from Page ~

to the Gulf of Danzig. It was Polish
prior to 1927, when it was taken oy
the Germans. 1t was retaken by the
Poles in 1a43, and during the centur-
les that followed it suffered so much
from war and pestilence that in 1772,
when the Germans again took posses
sion of it, it's population had fallen to
less than 600 inhabitants. Later it
was transferred to the duohy of War
saw, where it remained until occupied
by the Russians in 1913. Two years
later it was restored to Prussia.
ODER RIVER-One of the most i'm
portant rivers of Germany, rising in
Austria-Hungary and flowing north
west through Breslau, Frankfurt and
Stettin to the Balti Sea. At its near
est point, it is 95 miles from the heart
OF Berlin, to the northeast. About 480
miles of its length are navigable for
barges. The Oder is heavily fortified
In its northern reaches and is regard
ed as the point of final stand of the
German army in case of an attack
upon Berlin from east.
| POSEN-Capital of the province Of
Posen, Prussia, situated in a iwde
and sandy plain at the confluence Of
the Cybina and the Warthe Rivers, $50
miles east of Berlin and 35 miles from
the Russian Poland frontier. The
city lies at the center of network OF
railroads conencting it with Berlin.
Breslau, Thorn, Kreuzburg and Sch
neidenmuhl Its population in the
l6th' century reached 10000, but
sank to 10000 in the 18th century. To-
day, it has approximately 100000 in
habitants. The inner line of fortii-
f1cations as removed in 1902 and the
city has been completely modernized.
Posen is the headquarters of the 5th
army corps and, in times of peace, has
a garrison of 5000 men. The manu.
featuring of machinery, spirits furni-
ture, sugar and beer are its principal
industries.
OSTERODE-An East Prussian
town of about $1,000 inhabitants. rs
miles by rail northeast of Thorn and
20 miles west of Allenstein, on Lake
Drewenz and at the junction lines to
Membel, Elbing and Schonsee. It IS
80 miles north OF the Russian po-
land boundary. Osterode has a castle
built by the Teutonic knights in 1870.
The manufactures are machinery.
beer, spirits and bricks.
MARIENBURG-A town in West
Prussia, q few miles east of the Wis.,
tula River, and 20 miles south of the
Gulf of Danzig. 1t is situated in a
fertile plain on the right bank of the
Nogat, tributary of the Vistula, and
has population of about $4,000. II
contains lareg chemical wool-cIeaning
works, and is the seat of important
horse, cattle and wool markets. For
century and half it was the resi-
dence of the grand masters of the
Teutonic Order, a religious organiza-
ton which controlled that region. On
the decline of that order in the mid
die of the 18th century, their castle
passed into the hands of the Poles. 1t
was allowed to fall into decay 5y
them, but has been restored by the
Germans, and is now one of the most
important secular buildings dating
from the Middle Ages.
KONIGSBERG-One of Germanv,s
strongest fortified cities, with a popu-
lation of about 100000. The fortifca-
tons, begun in 1843, were not com
pleted until 1905. They consist of an
inner wall brought into connection
with outlaying Notifications and u
detached forts. The protected position
CT the harbor makes Konigsberg on
ot Tie imt artani commercial cite. 9f
Germaney. The Industries consist Of
large printing works, locomotive
works, machine shops, toy. sugar cell
lulose, tobacco and cigar factories
and hemical works. Konigsberg was
Oh hvr