Norwich bulletin., 1915-08-16
THE WAR PRIMER
BY National Geographic Society
Fortress of Rrest

Fortress Of 6rest Litovsk-The
worlds war-interest Is now held by
the Russian campaign and,
more particularly, this interest is
conferred upon the Russian fortress Of
Brest Litovsk, the point d appui on the
Bug, one Of the strongest fortresses
in Europe. the central point in the
Miscoviteis European defense and Of
Tense, and one of the most important
depots for and distributing points of
military supplies near the western
frontier. Brest Ldtoysk, rated by mil
itary critics as a much more important
strategic point than Warsaw, around
which, according to recent dispatches,
the armies Of Russia are to be re-
grouped for the defense of the Empire,
Is described in geographical sketch
issued today by the National Geographic
Society:
"Brest Litovsk, a powerfully fortified
stronghold, is one of the oldest i'm
portant fortresses in northern Europe.
and its history has been a changeful
and stirring one. 1t is mentioned on
the occasion Of its capture by Boleslav
the Brave, of Poland, in 1920. Next.
Casimir the Just, of Poland built a
tight castle here, in country where
the outposts Of several nations met.
Princes of Galicia, Volhynia, Lithuania,
grand masters of the Teutonic Knights,
Tartar chieftanS and kings OF Poland
held and stormed the city in turn, and
from its Notifications ravaged the
region around.
''Tertars swept over the place like
a plague in 1241, moving most Of the
town into its muddy river. The Teu-
tonic Knights devastated its suburbs
in 1879, and Mengly Ghyrey, Khan Of
the Crimea. burned the city with con-
scientious attention to detail, his Visi-
tation coming in the latter part of the
18th century. Polish diets were held
here 1t was out of the deliberations
Of a council Of bishops from Western
Russia, held at Brest in 1894, that the
UniaT rite was born. The Swedes gave
the city its last thorough pillaging in
1706. At the second partition of
Poland. 1t was incorporated in Russia,
and patience. technique, and money
have been lavished upon it by the
great northern Empire to make it as
near impregnabie as possible.
"Brest Litovsk is situated at the
junction Of the navfgable rivers, Bug
and Mukhovets, and at the point of
confluence stands the city fortress. II
lies upon the right bank of the Bug,
from north to northeast. Railways
from Odessa, KieY, Moscow, Warsaw
Wilma and East Prussia intersect here.
Further, it Hes upon the inland water
way from the Baltic to the Black Sea,
the course of which is connected up
by canal behind Brest. between the
upper Mukhoyets River and the Pripet
River. Thus, the city Is severed by
a well nigh perfect system OF COM
munications. reaching to the north,
the east. the south, and to points in the
interior between, and expanding again
from Brest toward the northwest, the
west and the southwest.
BreSt lies in the government Oh
Grodno, 131 miles south of the city OF
Grodno. 1t has a population of about
A, 900. more than half of which is
Jewish The synagogue at Brest
during the 18th century. was regarded
as the first in Europe. Probably due
to its large Jewish population. Brest
Litoysk has never developed an in
dustry, but rather a thriving COM
merce. Grains, hides, soap, wheat and
timber are the staples Of its trade. The
lumber in which it deals was fioate6
in great RATS down to Danzig before
the war. Flax and hemp are extern
sively grown in the country around
and. also, form important articles OF
its trade
The older Notifications lie about
one mile east of Brest and have a
circumference Of miles. The field
works have been kept up-to-date, and
everything possible has been done BY
Russia to make them unconquerable
Brest Litovsk Is regarded in Russia as
the most important individual strong
hold IN the Empire"