Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-27
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society

PoIa-Recent dispatches from Rome
 seem to indicate that there is to be
 yet another battle front in the great
 world struggle, which front would
 stretch from a point where Austria, Italy and Switzerland meet, to the Italian border on the north Adriatic,
 around the Gulf of Venice, and thence
 and Dalmatia to join the lines of Bal
 kan soldiers at the rocks of Monten-
 egro. In connection with the possi-
 bility of such a situation. the National Geographic Society tells the story of Pola, the formidable Austria war port,
 ocross the Adriatic from the rich
 eatern coast cities of Italy.
 "Pola, the chief naval station and
 arsenal of the Dual Monarchy and one
 Of the best protected ports in the
 world, may soon become known wher-
 ever war correspondence is read as the
 most vital strategic point on a new,
 wide-spreading battle front. For Pola
 is the Heligoland of the Austrians to-
 ward their Italian neighbors; and, in
 case of a rupture between these peo-
 ples it would be Austria's most power
 full advanced basce.
 'Pola lies at the southern apex of the 1strian peninsula, about 53 miles
 south of Triest. It's almost completely
 landlocked harbor is one of the finest
 Of Europe, and upon it's roony, we'll
 guarded surface a great fleet could
 ride safely at anchor. The harbor has
 an area of three and third square
 miles, while beyond the channel en-
 trance is a fore-water dominated by
 the guns of the Brionian Islands
 History begins for this little
 known city with it's first capture by
 the Romans in ITS B. c. Pola has
 been a war port since it's appearance | in the a apninnf ohRoniHIad aa the strongest and widest of those Is-
 trian pirate retreats, where the rebel lious spirits of the Roman world -em- pire gathered, and whence they made
 their raids upon the rich commerce that flowed from every eastern Medi- destroyed the place. Under the Elm peror Septimius Severus, 193-211 A. D., 1t again became an important war harbor. and it's city grew to 50,00o in- habitants. The trade rivals, Venice and Genoa, fought each other for it's possession, as it was a key to the freedom of the Adriatic. Destroyed
 by the Genoese in 1879. it continued under the sovereignty of Venice until 1797, when it fell to Austria upon the dismemberment of the Venetian state "Pola now numbers about 5O,000 people, forty, per cent of whom are Italians and the rest largely Serbo- Croats. Besides its preeminence as a naval station, Pola does 8 considerable commerce, which has been increasing steadily through recent years. Its exports consist of fish, timber, and the quartz sand which is used in the manufacture of Venetian glass.
 "The city lies at the head of the Bay of Po1a, sheltered and screened by rugged heights. It is defended by 8 very extensive and modern system ot Notifications, defenses prepared upon a scale fitted to the importance of its harbor. The mountains around it con- ceal powerful batteries that overlook the town and harbor, while the chain of defensive works Is continued to the entrance waters and to the nearby islands. The passage to the bay is guarded by two strong forts.
 At Pola are situated the principa dockyards, dry docks, and repair shops Of the Austrian navy. together witf technical and scientific institutions connected with the admiralty. Its arsenals contain vast naval stores equal to the outftting of a large fleet | There are large naval and infantry barracks, and several well-equippe6 hospitals here. If Austria and Italy go to war. Pola may become the most l interesting point throughout the basir
 .nf the de.;dediterranean" .;d