Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-25
History of Towns
In War Territory
BY THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
SOCIETY.
Mrs. John Lawrence Caldwell.

Washington. d. c., Aug. 25.-The
National Geographic society's primer
OF the war geography follows:
AIost-A town in west central Bel
GUM, situated on the west bank Of the
Bender river, midway between Brus-
sells and Client, 16 miles from each
I place. 1t was the ancient capital of
what was called imperial Flanders
/ Thierry Martens here set up one of
I the first printing presses in Europe.
| Its population is around $4,000. The
city and the surrounding region are
| famous for their hop gardens and lin
en- bleaching establishments. The
meadows south OF Alost are often COW
cred with linen undergoing a bleach
ing process.
Bender rivera stream that rises
in two branches on the Belgian-French
frontier and flows north into the
Scheldt near Termonde, at a point
about half way between Antwerp and
Client II is. in a general way, the
eastern border of Flanders.
Termonde-One of the five fortified
near it's confluence with the Scheldt.
Its Notifications are old. consisting of
two forts and a walled city. 1t was
here that Louis XIV. was forced to
beat a hasty retreat in 1867, because
its defenders opened the bikes and
flooded the country, Just as the Hol-
landers are said to propose to do IL
their territory is invaded. The popu- |
lation is approximately 1000.
Mons-A city in southern Belgium, |
the capital of Hainaut since the eighth |
century. at which time Charlemagne |
recognized It as such. II has had a !
long military history, with numerous |
sieges. being many times fortified. dis
mantled. and fortified again, and being |
finally made an unfortified city in |
1862. II is a hourishing city OF about |
80 900 Inhabitants and is the central |
point OF Belgium's great coal district.
the Borinage.
Valenclennes-A French frontier
town with a population of about $4,000.
80 miles southeast of Lille at the con-
huence of the Rhonelle and the
Scheldt. II is in the heart of great
Industrial district. II is a French edi-
ton Of the city of Liege, except that
Il is unfortified, the old Notifications
having been transformed into pleas
lre grounds and drives in 1892. 1t
has a long military history; in 1877 il
vas taken by Louis XIV. after an eight
lay siege. In 1893 IL surrendered aft
II a bombardment OF 43 days, and in
gs
Blsmont-A French town between
Avricourt, the frontier station on the
Dad from LuneYflle TO Strassburg,
which the German government claims
n army under the BaVarian crown
,rince has reached. This IS 25 miles
rest b. south of Zabern, which was
eported. held by the French two or
hree days ago. and 80 miles northeast
the French fortress at Epinal.
kiau-chau-A large inlet on the
outh side OF the promontory Of Shan
ing. in China. owned by the Germans
nd now the object of the attack of the
apanese. IL was seized in 1897 by
re German feet, nominally to obtain
sparetion for the murder OF two Ger
Ian missionaries. and in the negotia-
ons which followed China leased an
rea around the bay containing IL
Iuare miles TO the Germans for a pc
cd OF 80 years. over which Germany
as given all rights OF a sovereign.
china furthermore agreed TO give
ermany z veto upon any ordinance
lacted in the territory not leased. for
distance OF 81 miles back from the
alter front at any point.
Using Tao is the capital. About CO..
20 Chinese live In the coded area.
sing Tao is about $50 miles south
lst Of Picking, and about 1870 miles
ON the British stronghold at Wei
al Wei, which occupies the point OF
e ShaDtuBg peninsula, IL lies i'm
across the Yellow sea from
e southern end of Corea. and is about
) miles down that sea from Port
thur.