Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-20
THE WAR PRIMER
BY National Geographic Society

Lublin.- "The region where the
Austro-German forces were brought
to a halt in their campaign in southern
Poland by the first determined Russian
stand is of the nature of an elevated
plateau, secured here and there deeply
by rivers, and heavily wooded with
forests of oak, beech and pine In
belts, the land Is severely torn, a
complex of hill and ravine. Over much
of it's area. it is thinly populated. and
presents stretches of wild, unkept,
.trackless forest and thicket. There
is plenty of natural cover for armies
operating there
"Lublin is the southeasternmost gov
eminent of Russian Poland. It is con-
tanned, east and west, between the
rivers Bug and Vistule- The River
Bug divides Lublin from the Russian
government of Volhynia, while the
River Vistu1a divides 1t from the Rus
sian Poland government of Radon
Galicia bounds it upon the south. and
the government of Siedlce upon the
north. Thus, the war reports that
announced the intended withdrawal of
the Russians to the line Of the Bug.
were looking forward to the abandon
ment of almost all of Russian Poland.
The Bug River flows in a wide area
to the northeast and north of Warsaw,
joining the Vistula River near the
powerful Russian fortress, Novo
Georgievsk, about 40 miles north
northwest of the Polish metropolis.
THE government has an area of
$500 square miles, and a population
estimated at about 1,400, 600. 1t is a
rolling plain. interrupted with knots
and belts Of hills. In the northern
part, where the Lublin- Kholm Rail-
way, of strategic Importance, crosses
the government, on it's way between
Warsaw and Kiev, is the densest for
est growth. Also, in the northern
wznfrr I'll t.. Al y
third manufacturing town Of Russian
Poland. The Vistula, the Bug, the
WieprZ. San, Tanev Rivers drain the
district. A treacherous region of lakes
and marshes and black quicksends oc-
ours in the east, reaching into Galicia.
A marshy lowland also extends be-
tween the Vistula and the Wieprz
Heavy, black earth of rich fertility,
is found in parts of the government
and this is mostly under careful cul-
t1vation. Rye, oats, wheat, barley and
potatoes are the principal crops A
good deal of the Lublin grain harvest
is exported. Flax, hemp and beet root
are cultivated on the larger estates
and stock raising is carried on The
sugar beets are worked for their pro-
duct in mills within the government;
spirits, flour, leather, and lumber ere
other Of its manufactured products
There are some horse farms in tha
pean reputation. The character of the
government Is distinctly agricultural;
there are few cities and very little
| railway mileage, especially are the
railways hacking in the south and
central parts.
"At one time. German Immigration
threatened to over-run this region. tns
Teutouic settlers being attracted b5
the rich, promising soils, and the
| great consumers markets easfl,
reached from Lublin. In 1887. how.
ever, this immigration was effectuall,
stopped. There were, probably, NOR,
than $4,000 Germans in the fisfric
at the beginning Of the war. 1t wa,
| the influx OF German settlers tha.
| largely brought about the adoption o
| modern methods in this part OF Rus.
sian Poland for the cultivation of tn,
SOIL The roads running north are O.
| Indifferent qualities, and, taken TO-
| gether with the almost entire lack o
railway facilities, the maneuverine O
armies through this territory must b,
surrounded with considerable effor
and difficulty"