The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-15

Vast hop fields surround this town
of West Flanders, 10 miles southwest
of Dunkirk, seven miles west of Ypres
and two and half miles from the
French frontier. One OF the oldest OF
Belgian towHs. having held charter
since 1917, II was sacked and burned
by French troops in 1882 and by the
English in 1886. Fires practically de-
vastated the place in 1913 and in 1858.
The place reached a population of 1o,-
600 in 1870 and at present only num-
bers slightly more than 1000. There
I is considerable manufacture of coarse
woolens. thread, leather, soap tobac-
co, chocolate, pottery. crockery, pipes,
salt and vinegar, and the town IA
known for its cotton weaving. dyeing
and bleaching. The cultivation of
hops. however is the chief industry of
the neighborhood and this product Is
the principal article of commerce
The town Is on a small branch Of the
User River.
WARRENTON--On Of several Bel
gian villages In West Flanders whose
Inhabitants suddenly dropped the
Flemish language at the beginning Of
the Eigh zenith century and hes gan
speaking French. 1t Is estimated that
at this time 1000 people changed
their language among them being the
residents OF the neighboring towns Of
| Ploegstraet, Confines and Houtem
lWarneton Is a mile from the French
border. nine miles northwest of Lille
and eight miles east of south OF Ypres
Half century ago 1t had 5000 inhab-
jitants; today there are but few more
than 5000 The people manufacture
linen and lace and there are extensive
distilleries and tanneries.
| NECRNE-One OF the westernmost
towns of West Flanders. Belgium, also
known vs. Furnes, with a population
/ Of about 6 900, but hardly more than
village in its activities. 1t Is old
fashioned and embarrassing. except
for a spectacular pageant. depicting
the twelve principal events in the life
of Christ, held there annually since
/ 1850. The country around Is noted for
its fertility and supports large herds
Iof cattle and horses. The inhabitants
trade In corn, stock, hops ana GARY
products. The town is six miles west
of south of Nieupoort, and is three
miles from the coast
| MIDDELk ERkE-~A town OF about
/ 900 inhabitants In West Flanders,
Belgium. five miles southwest OF Os-
tend and one mile from the seacoast.
Here is the starting point of sub
marine cable to the English coast,
watchmans hut on a sand Hill being
the only marker of the spot. Nearby
, is an institution Tor Invalid children.
BECELARE-~A small town IN West
Flanders, Belgium, six miles east OF
Ypres, Ave miles from the French hor~
der and Is miles north OF Lille. The
town IS in a fertile district gwen over
to the raising OF hops. hemp and some
grain. Extensive wooden factories are
located in the place. Its present popu-
latfon, slightly exceeding 5000. Is but
about 1000 more than it possessed rs
years ago.
/ vLADsLOO-A small town in West
Flanders, four miles northeast OF DIX
nude and II miles south OF Ostend
Il has a population OF approximately
5000. Its inhabitants are engaged In
the manufacture of oil.
MARIANNE or LADRONES-A
group of islands in the Pacific Ocean.
1850 miles east of the Philippines. OF
which all but Guam, owned by the
United States are German possessions.
The name Ladrones, meaning thieves,
was given TO them by the sailors OF
Magellan, because of the inclination
of the early natives to steal Exclud-
Ing Guam. there are fourteen islands
OF which only seven are inhabited. Vol
canoes are scattered over the ten
northern islands, while the southern
members of the group are coralline In
structure and fringed with coral reefs
1nelr totat area as about ESQ square
miles, and their population close to
5000. Climate and soil lend them
selves readily to agricultural pursuits,
but the inhabitants have failed to real
lie their opportunities in this regard
tGof1ee. sugar, cotton, tobacco, cocoa
mother OF pearls, sweet potatoes and
lcocoanut are produced, and copra the
dried meat of the cocoanut is exported
Germany paid Spain approximately
S4'oo0,ooo for the archipelago, with
the exception of Guam. In 1899
LA BRESSE-A village OF North
eastern France, beautifully situated In
the valley of the Moselotte. In tho
shadow of the Vosges Mountains,it has
remained practically unchanged for
many years, Its inha bitants doing their
best to uphold the reputation OF their
forefatirers as the best cheese and but
ter makers of the district. They are
also skilled in wood carving Lower
down on the river are several cotton
mills. The place is 20 miles southeast
of Epinal, and but four miles from
the border of Alsace.
MODZON-A town Of Northern
France which enjoyed some import
ance until 1860. 1t Is on the Meuse
seven miles from the Belgian border
and / 8 miles southeast of Mezieres It's
ancient name was Mosomagus, Field
Aof the Meuse.'' Nails. railway rolling
stock and agricultural machinery are
manufactured there by the more than
5000 Inhabitants. Here may be seen
the remains of an abbey founded in
the Tenth century.
GERARDMER-One of the most
beautifully situated of Frn1ct1 towns,
in the extreme northeast section OF the
repu blic seven miles from the Alsatian
border and 90 miles south of east OF
{, Epinal It's location in the forest clad
Il Nosges, near the much visited Hob
meek. the Schluct Mountain pass and
the detile of Oranges, makes 1t the
1 most popular summer resort in this
part OF France. 1t is the principal
seat of the famous wood carvers of the
Nosges. and the head loom may be
found in nearly every home in the
town. In addition, the inhabitants arc
engaged in cloth weaving bleaching,
the sa ring Of wood and the manufac-
iture OF cheese. Gerardmer Is located
on a lake OF the same name. at an alti-
tude of 1900 feet. 1t has population
Of about 5000.
BERRY AU-BAC-A village on "A
line between Laon and Reims in
Northern France, about II miles from
/ the latter, on the Aisne River. 1T Is
near q branch OF the Aisne and Marine