The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-09-04
National Geographic
Society's War Primer

i the ScHelut.a IL ~ Al tHo ASoAs ~ =
great industrial district near the
Amin coal region. 1t is French edi-
t1tion OF the city Of Liege, except that
lit is unfortified. the old Notifications
/ having been transformed into leas-
| ure grounds and drives in 1892. II
has long military history; In 1877 i
was taken by Louis NV, after an
eight day siege. In 1898 it surrender
ed after bombardment OF forty-three
days and in 1916 1t defended itself
successfully.
Soignies fourishing town Of the
province of Haineut, Belgium, owing
its prosperity to the important blue
granite quarries in the neighborhood.
The forest OF Soignies extended In the
middle ages over the southern part
OF Brabant up to the walls OF Brus-
sells. and is immortalized in Byron's
.Ch1lde Harold. The first blow to-
wards its gradual contraction was
struck when Napoleon ordered $4,000
oaks to be cut down In it to build the
celebrated Boulogne fiotilla for the In
vasion OF England. A considerable
portion OF the forest in the neighbor-
hood of Waterloo was assigned in ISIS
to the duke OF Wellington, and to the
holder OF the title as long as It en-
dured.
Maubeuge-A town in northern
France, in the department OF Nord,
about two miles from the Belgian
frontier. AS fortress Maubeuge has
an old enceiEte OF bastion trace which
serves as the center OF an important
entrenched camp of eighteen miles
perimeter, constructed for the most
part after the war Of 1870. but since
modernized and augmented. It is an
important manufacturing center. with
population of approximately $4,000.
The city was RACED a number OF timea
and was successfully besieged in 1914,
hut was compelled TO capitulate after
a vigorous resistance, In the Hundred
Days.
Bouillon-A small town in southern
Belgium, ten miles northeast OF the
French town of Sedan. 1t is situat-
ed In the beautiful valley OF the
Semois, and is overlooked by the ia
nous castle OF Godfrey of Bouillon.
The fifth Godfrey Of Bouillon was the
great crusader and the captor OF
Jerusalem. He sold his castle to
finance the crusade. Napoleon Ill.
after his capture at Sedan, spent the
night here as prisoner.
Sedan-A town OF nearly 10000
population, in northern France, where
the French and the Prussians met in
1870. and, where the French were
forced into an unconditional sur
render, including their king, an army
OF $4,000, 55s guns, and an immense
amount of stores. The Germans lost
5000 and the French 1900. Marshal
Macmahon gathered his retreating
army there on August 81. but made
no attempt to communicate with
Vincy's corps at Mezieres, nor to
break through the gap between the,
German third and Meuse armies. The
Germans surrounded the city. Mac
mahon was wounded, and command
fell uron General Ducrot. He dec1d-
ed to move the whole army to the
west In the direction OF Mezieres.
At this juncture, after the orders
went out, General WimpfYen, who had
arrived from AIgiers the proceeding
night, took command, and ordered the
army to move in the opposite direc-
ton. The confusion that resulted
ended with the hosting Of the white
flag in the village church steeple. and
the surrender of the French.