The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-08-25
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIEI
WAR PRIMER

/ Louvain-The capital Of Belgium
in the day before the rise of Brussels.
It's population is about $4,000, and 1t is
situated about fifteen miles northeast
of the present capital. With Tirle-
mont, st. Trond, and Tongres It furn-
ishes the line for holding back the
movement of an enemy across the ter
ritory between Brussels and Liege.
Local tradition has it that Louvain
| was established as a permanent mill
tary camp by julius Caesar. The
| common people rose up against the
| mobiles during the fourteenth century,
but were put down after struggle OF
twenty years. Thereafter the import
ance and prosperity of Louvain de-
clined, and Brussels took its place.
1t has one of the finest universities
in Belgium, which prides itself most
on its theological school.
Libau-A port of Russia, on the
Baltic sea, little less than fifty
miles from the extreme northern part
OF northeast Prussia. 1t has popu-
lation of about $4,000. Troops march
ing from Mcneil, Prussia, could arrive
80
ritory more than fifty miles behind.
1t has railway connections with Mos
COW, Orel and Kharkov. There are
numerous factories making gun pow
der, soap, machinery and tin plate.
There are also large saw mills and
flour mills. The exports are valuedl
at about S25,O0U,000 year. North of
the commercial harbor is the naval
stronghold, consisting of extensive
Notifications, breakwaters and moles.
These defenses were finished eight
years ago.
Diest-A town equidistant from
Liege, Antwerp and Brussels, about
twenty-three miles from each, and al
little north of the air line betweenl
Liege and Antwerp. 1t is one of the
five fortified places in Belgium, and
has many breweries. It protects both
Brussels and Antwerp from military
movements by way of Maastricht.
Hasselt-The capital Of Belgian
Ltmburg, at the junction of several
important railroads. 1t has many
breweries and distilleries 1t is ia
nous for it's great septennial cele-
bratton of the day of the Assumption,
in honor of the Virgin-under the
name OF yirga Jesse. On these oc-j
casions. the date of which is August
IS, the town is converted into a for
est of frs, by the collection and
planting of trees and branches from
the neighboring forest. Hasseit is on
the main road from Maastricht toi
Antwerp.
Alsace, on the river Iii, an affluent Of
the Rhine, and also on the Rhine
Rhone canal. 1t is great textilei
center The manufacture of railway
equipment and other machinery isl
also an important industry. 1t passed
to Germany with the close of the
war, and thousands
Of the French inhabitants returned to
French territory. The population is
100000.
Muhlausen-A city of about 10000.
in Prussia, which figured in the refor-
nation and in the thirty years war.
1t is largely engaged in textile indus
tries, and has many other manufact-!
uring enterprises-such as the making ,
of needles, machinery, cigars, soap,
furniture and shoes.
Antwerp-A city of Belgium regard
ed as it's principal fortified strong
hold Although sixty miles from the
sea it is still one of the greatest
seaports of Europe. because the,
broad and deem Schelde river gives ilI
an excellent outlet. It's population is,