Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-17
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society

East Prussia is one of the sternest regions of civilized Europe From the shores of the Baltic southward there is a great sweep of even sands, and dTeary, much of it uncheered even by the relieving green of the forest Fin ally the sand wastes end and the lake country, covering the southern half of the province begins.
 East Prussia lies beyond the beaten path of the army of tourists who heretofore annually have invaded Ger many. A few irregulars, among them conscientious students of things Ger man, American buyers of such ware as amber, and some who went to rest filtered through to the curt hospitality Of the PruSSian plain. If they re- mained long enough to catch some what of it's spirit. they learned to love it's sternness. For nature is coIdly frugal in East Prussia, producing bounteous grain and potato yields from her dun-colored sandy soils only In repayment of intense, unremittnnt labor; and she seems jealous of eyen the meagre variety Of her pine and fir forests. few and always the same m the north, save where, at rare in tervals, they are frightened up by the glistening bark of the silver birch
 Amid such uncompromising sur roundings, it is but natural that firm tawed men and women, earnest, labor- ious, unbending, and, above all be- ievers in duty. should be found. And, as 9, rule. the people of East Prussia, peasant and Junker (gentleman far mer), are as unyielding and simple as the land in which they live.
 Somewhere around this area, cer- tain scholars hold, the Indo- -Germanic race began it's conquest Of a world, and its task of accommodating an Indi- and and Western culture. No filter country could be imagined for the dis ciplining of a people to sacrifice ef- fort and determination.
 Koenigsberg is the capital of this province. It is the central market for the grains, potatoes and commercial | alcohol produced in East Prussia, and, to an increasing extent, it has served as a. commission market for the pro- duce of neighborins Russian govern mentS. This city is most widely known through its university, and most of that institution's fame centers around brilliant teacher of about a cen tury ago, Irnmanuel Kant, author of profound criticisms of reason and conscience.
 The tireless energy of the German peasant free-holder and the scientific effort of the great estate owners have brought 1t about that the bleak steppes of noFtheasternmost Germany produce rich harvests of grain and potatoes. It is mostly the harder grains that are raised ehere-rye and oats. The potato yield of the province is largely worked for alcohol, for use in the arts: and for domestic use, such as cooking. lighting and heating: and for power engineers, Potato distilIeries are numerous throughout the country adjacent to Koenlgsberg and alonf the sea.
 East Prussia borders on West Russia. Over it's whole extent and throughout the Russian Baltic prov inces, Slav and Teuton have mingled pretty thoroughly, The East Pms sian has in his veins considerable Slavic blood; while the Baltic Rus sian. on the other hand, possesses a strong strain of Teutonic. blood. Slavic names are heard on every hand in East Prussia, both folk-names and place-nameS-aI place-names ending in itz" and ''ow'' being Of Slavic Prussiais two million people speak a Slavic tongue
 Department of AisHe-one of the northern provinces of France, lying in direct hne between Nanrur and Paris. Only g very small section of it's northern boundary touches Bel g1um. the Department of the North leaving 1t only a fve-miIe .particira- ton in the international boundary. Within its borders many historic clashes of arms have taken place-at F'ranco-Prussian War: at soissons and at Craenne a year before Water loo. Chateau Thierry. VeFvIna, St. Gohain, and many other places in the Department have figured in the his tory making of the past few months in France
 The country of the Aisne Is sue