Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-06
THE WAR PRIMER
BY National Geographic Society

Belgian Goh9o-AlInOuSn belgium
now controls less than 800 square miles
of her territory at home, she is still
possessed of colony one-fourth as
large as all Europe together. 1t is
larger than the combined area of all
the countries now at war, outside OF
Russia That colony is the Belgian
Congo, with nearly a million square
miles of territory.
This empire is carved out of the
heart of equatorial Africa, and in
cludes within it's confines one of the
worlds great rivers, the Congo, from
which the colony takes it's name. The
river has a course of about 5000 miles,
ard, with its tributaries, offers Won
derful system of communication for
opening up the rich hinterland. 1t is
estimated that there are 5000 miles Of
nayigable waters in the colony, while
the Congo River is navigab1e for ocean
steamers for 100 miles upstream. Here
follows a section of 200 miles of rapids,
above which the river is navigable for
1900 miles.
The work Of exploiting the heart Of
Africa has just begun. There has
been considerable difficulty in induc-
Ing European colonists to emigrate to
these regions and begin new homes.
First, the Congo has the evil reputa-
ton Of being no fit country for the
white man, and. secondly. a feeling
has existed that permanent home
there meant permanent burial without
the pale Of civilization. Therefore,
the promoters of the Congo have had
to overcome a great unwillingness
among their people to exchange the
comforts and certainties of the moth
erland for the questionable advantages
Of pioneering in the wild, dark coun-
try which has successfully defed all
progress for ten thousand years.
Some advance, however, has been
made. and the future Of the colony
seems to be one of promise. Although
the climate Is generally hot and moist.
it Is supportable by the white man.
endurable for the Europeans. Over a
great part of this territory, normal
temperatures range between 60 and 80
degrees. Rain is everywhere abundant.
The extreme heat of the day is gener-
ally relieved by sharp evening chill.
The white population of this land re-
mains still negligible. The total pop
u;ation has been estimated at 15,oO0,-
900. in which are counted mere 5000
whites. The native population, while
has been awed by the white mans ma
chine guns, railways, steamboats,, and
telegraphs, and forms a docile work.
ing body for the improvement Of the
land. More than 1900 miles Of rail-
way are in operation and in course of
construction. Further, las miles OF
telegraph communication have been
established, five wireless stations and
some 50 postofhces. Before the war
there was regular communication with
Antwerp, a steamer from that port
calling every night.
The agricultural possibilities of the
Congo are great, If modern methods
Of sanitation finally open it up to the
white man. Its flora is very rich and
| varied: Among the products now Gull
/ ttvated in its fields are coffee, cotton
yams, papaws, pineapples, cassava,
corn, peanuts, beans, bananas, tobacco
sorghum and kaflr corn. Its forests
abound in rubber vines, and the ma
rubber. which forms the chief article
Of the colony's export. Rich cabinet
woods are plentiful, and many import
gums and resins are collected. All Of
the domestic animals thrive in this
African country. The list of native
potamus. buffalo, antelope, chimpanzee
rhinocerous, and crocodile. Slaughter
| Of elephants for their ivory has beer
prohibited, though the ivory exports
native Recommendations. Of the minerals
large deposits OF iron, tin and Goa
| occur, and come rich deposits Of cop
per and gold are found in the south
east.
Palrn-kernel oil, white copal, cacao
coffee, corn, kola nuts, gold, ivory, cop.
per and raw-hides are the articles Of
export The total trade of the Con
go is about $4,000, 900. 1t is about
evenly divided into exports and i'm.
ports.
For many years. this territory, a.
| the Congo Free State, first recog-
nized by the United States in 1884
maintained q quasi-independence un.
der the .rule Of Leopold of Belgium
1t was formally annexed to Belgium II
1910. 1t has an annual revenue o.
about $4,000. 900, and public debt o.
more than 100000, 600. The colony i:
defended by about $4,000 native troops