Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-09-09
National Geographic Society's
War Primer

Reims (Rheims)-A city of north
eastern France, 50 miles cast of north
east of Paris, situated in a plain on
the right bank of Vesle and on the
canal which connects the Aisne with
the Marine. 1t is one of the six cities,
each of them with numerous forts,
constituting the second line of defense
to the north and east of Paris In 1874
the construction of a chain of de-.
tached forts was begun in the vicinity
of Reims. Thirteen fortresses have
been built in a perimeter not quite %
miles in length and at a mean dis
lance of six miles from the center of
the city. The hills on the Paris side
are open and unguarded. The city is
the chief wool market in France. The
manufacture of champagne, machinery,
chemicals, safes. capsules, bottles,
casks, candles, soap and paper is
carried on extensively. In the foreign
invasions OF 1914 Reins was captured
and recaptured. In 1S70-71 it was made
by the Germans the seat of a COVER
general and impoverished by heavy
acquisitions.
Compiegne-A French town, as miles
from the heart of Paris. on the north
ern railway between Paris and st.
Quentin, with a population exceeding
5000. Until 1870 it was the occa-
sional residence of the French kings.
Boat building, rope making. steam
saving. distilling and the manufacture
Of. chocolate and machinery are among
it's industries. At the siege of Com
piegne in 1890 Joan Of Are was taken
h.- he, II, ~.
town offered a stubborn resistance to
the Prussian troops. From 1870 to 1871
it was one of the headquarters of the
German army.
Noyon-A city of northern France,
81 miles north of northeast of Paris
by the railway to Brussels, and So
miles on a direct line to the French
capital. 1t is built at the foot and
on the slopes of a hill. Noyon, with
a population of about 1000, has a trade
in grain and livestock; it's industries
are chemical works, tanneries, ron
foundries, sawmils, and sugar fac
tories. The town was christianized by
st. Quentin at the close of the third
century. The English and the Burgun-
dams ravaged the town during the
Hundred Years War. In 1916 a truce
was signed there by Francis and
Charles V. The city was captured by
the Spaniards in 1862 and afterwards
by the Leaguers, who were expelled in
1894 by Henry ". John Calvin was
born at Noyon in 1909.
Roye-A town of northern France,
% miles south OF east of Amiens, "a
miles southwest of st. Quentin and So
miles east of north of Paris. 1t is the
apex Of a triangle pointing northward,
with Montdidier and Noyon at the
other two angles. The town has about
5000 Inhabitants, and carries on an ex-
tensive trade in the grain raised on
the Santerre. the fertile plateau in
which the town is located The
church of st. Pierre In Roye was be-
gun in the eleventh century and com :
pleted in the sixteenth century.
Montdidier-A town of northern
France, 20 miles southeast of Amiens
and 30 miles north OF Paris. with a
population of about 5000 situated on
the right bank of the Don. The towns
industries include tanning and the
manufacture of zinc white. A brave
and successful resistance to the Span
ish troops was offered here In 1886.
Bar-Le- Duc--A town of about 49, 900
population in northeastern France. 46
| miles west of Nancy, and so miles