The Alaska daily empire., 1914-08-22
GERMAN AND FRENCH
 FRONTIER CITIES
tBy Gertrude E. Mallette.)

| ..H Nog '0NANA NAN Ats -hN-AANNNN'F As the war progresses, and much of It's activities eentering in the Vos. ges mountains and the cities in their vicinity, glance at the map will show that they form an apex to the cone of the struggle. The range Is not a high one, it's greatest height being the Ballon de Guebwiller 4.695 feet above sea level. The slope of the mountains Is very gradual and in the east and south they are covered with vine yards. A great part of the range | is densely wooded and abounds in game, while for the most part the remainder furnishes excellent past urage for the enormous cattle indus try of the section. In the Vosges range are the sources of the III, Laut- CT, Moselle, Meprthe, Saar and Sa- one Rivers, all of which will figure largely in the history of Europe's greatest war,
 Beginning at the southern end of the Vosges Range, the first important site of the present conflict with which we meet is Mulhausen, which Is situ- ated on the III River and the Rhone Canal, by rail 66 miles southwest of Strassburg and IS miles north of Ba. sel. Switzerland. Mulhausen was founded in 717 and in 127S became an imperial free city, then in the fifteenth century entered into an alliance with the Swiss which endured until 179S when 1t became French territory, In 1871 it was a part of the French cession of Alsace to Germany.
 The chief interest of the city is its
 manufacturing which is concerned largely with the production of cotton goods and railway materials. Null hausen is noted for its workingmen's colony which in it's dwellings and organization serves as a world model in that connection.
 Going northward, the next important German port is Kolmar which is 25 miles north of Mulhausen. Kolmar Is one of Switzerland's chief sources of domestic supplies and is known for its tanneries and chamois-leather works.
 In 1852 the city was surrounded by walls and towers and made an imper- ial free town. A hundred years later 1t was taken by the swedes who kept possession of the-place only two years. In 1873 many of the fortif. cations were dismantled and boule- wards were constructed which still add much charm to the city. By the Peace of Rhyswick. strangely enough, signed by England, France, Spain and Germany at the termination of the bloody war waged by England against France, Kolmar was united to France | (1697) and in February of 1871 by the Treaty of Versailles was surrendered to Germany.
 Thirty-nine miles in a slight north westerly direction, we come to the quaint mediaeval city of Strassburg, the city of statues, from which we get so many of our finer musical in- struments and from whose factories the surgeons of the world supply their cabinets. Strassburg is the site of Europe's most beautiful Gothic cath edral, the famous "Strassburg Dom" which required the labors of four cen turies' painters and builders for it's completion and which wears the dis tinction of having the highest cath. edral tower in Europe (466 feet)
 Perhaps one of the most unusual points of interest in connection with Strassburg. if one does not too sud denly drop from the sublime to the ridiculous, is its well known Pates-de. fois-gras the annual experts of which have been valued as high as $4OO,OOO, and which in English would glory in the homely label of meat-pie.
 Strassburg has always been very important as a military point and is defended by Qualifications of enormous strength and magnitude. A celtish city in its beginning, 1t was occupied by Romans and then by the Teutons, and about the sixth century became a Frankish possession, at which time it's German connection began. The city has been the scene of almost per petual strife between the bishops and the citizens, and the latter finally se- cured their independence in the four teenth century.
 In 1881 Louis XIV seized Strass- burg and made 1t a province of France, to lose 1t again when in 1870 1t was besieged by the Germans and was ceded to Germany in connection with Alsace and Lorraine.
 In the 79 miles intervening before Metz is reached on the northwest are several smaller Qualifications which will undoubtedly come in for their share of the conflict, these are Saar- burg. Dieuxe, and Morhange.
 Reaching Metz, one of Germany's strongest forts, one is reminded of Namur, for the greater part of the city stands above the Moselle. just as Namur rises above the confluence of two rivers, and is surrounded by a series of very strong detached forts. Its walls have withstood many bat ties. and in 1870 they formed a haven for Bazaine's starving army of 1S0,. 900 men who were forced by famine to surrender to Germany. In 1871 1t was ceded to Germany by the Peace of 1871, and since that time it's fortif. cations have been greatly strengthen, ed.
 Passing the city of Louxembourg on the west, at distance of about 25 miles still following the line of the German Notifications, Troyes is next