New Britain herald., 1915-12-28
VARNA IS THIRD
 CITY OF BULGARIA
Has Played Important Part in
 Military History of Kingdom

(The National Geographic Society,"
 Washington, D. C., Dec. 2s.-Var- ma. the latest port city to feel the bur- dens of war, Bulgaria's Black Sea port, is described as follows in a war primer just given out by the Nation al Geographic society:
 'Varna is the first seaport of Bull gar1a. It is situated in the north, near the present boundary of Rumania, on the Bay or Varna, a capacious, shell tered inlet of the Black Sea. It is connected by rail with all the impor- tant regions of the country which it has long served as principal outlet. 1t possesses an incomparably finer harbor than Dedeagatch, the Aegean port of Bulgaria, from whose develop ment so much future advantage is ex- pected. It lies within easy steaming olstance of Russfa's naval port, Se- VastopOl, being about 300 miles dis tant.
 Third City Of Kingdom.
 'The port is the third city of the kingdom, ranking after Sofia and Philippopolis, and it has been strongly fortified. It has played an important part in Bulgaria's s military history as the chief point in the so-called 'Varna Quadrilateral,' which formed the basis of Bulggaria's defense toward the Ecrth and east before the loss of De- brudja to Rumania after the treaty of Bucharest
 The quadrilateral was composed of Varna, Shumla, Rutchuk and Silis- tria is now we'll within the Ruman- ian frontier, close upon the Danube. Rustchuk, Sumla and Varna now form a triangle of fortresses, stretched along the northeastern Bulgarian frontier
 "Varna is 325 miles by rail east northeast of Sofia, the capital. It is connected with Rustchuk, in the northwest, and with Sofia in the west by trunkline railways, while branches connect it with central and southern parts of the kingdom. The rail- way from Rustchuk was opened 1867, and with it's coming began the city's prosperity. Burgas, south of Varna, has given it strenuous competition during recent years.
 Built on lilly Shore.
 The city is built on the hilly northern shore of the bay, which, be- sides offering peculiar facilities for defense, makes it very picturesque. At it's foot, the River Devna cuts through the mountains to the sea, and all around the hills shut in the valley and the port. Despite cOnsid era ble modern effort at improvement the city plainly shows it's age. and it's irregular, ill-paved streets, lined with outworn buildings, breathe the peace of a forgotten valley. Several industries, however, have penetrated to the city and modern restlessness and modern smartness stand just be- fore as the prosperity of the king dom and of it's first port grows Var na has a population of about 3s,0OO.
 Dairy products, grains, cattle, dressed meats. lamb and goat skins, and a rough cloth are the principal exports of the place, and it's imports are chiefly petroleum, coal iron and iron ware, machinery, textiles and chemicals. It does an annual busi- ness of nearly $4,00O,0OO, and is visit ed during the year by about 1000 ships of an aggregate 1 1,0O0,000 tons The largest number of these vessels are Bulgarian, while Austria Hungary has been represented by the largest tonnage. There are tanneries, cloth factories and distilleries in the city. Nearby, among the hills, is the sum- mer palace of the king.''