The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-14
CENTER Of INTEREST
ON THE BUG RIVER
Russian Fortress of BresAs Latovsx
Said TO he One of the Strongest
I'm Europe, Nucleus Of Defense.

Washington, ID. C. Aug. 1.-THE
worlds war-interest is now held by
the German Russian campaign and
more particularly, this interest is GEN.
tered upon the Russian fortress OF
Brest Ltovsk, the pointd appui on
the Bug, one of the strongest fort
resses in Europe, the central point In
the Muscovites European defense and
offense. and one OF the most impor-
tant depots for, and distributing points
of military supplies near the Western
frontiers. Brest Litovsk rated by
military critics as much more inn
portant strategic point than Warsaw,
around which, according to recent
dispatches, the armies of Russia are
to be regrouped for the defense of
the Empire. is described In a geo.
graphical sketch issued today by the
National Geographic Society.
"Brest Iitovsk, a powerfully forti-
fled Russian stronghold, is one of the
oldest important fortresses in North
ern Europe. and its history has been
a changeful and stirring one. 1t In
first mentioned on the occasion of it's
capture by Bolesiav the Brave, of Po-
land, in 1920. Next, Casimir the Just,
of Poland built tight castle here.
in country where the outposts of sew
eral nations met. Princes of Cali
eta. Volhynia, Lithuania, grand mas
tiers of the Teutonic Knights. Tartar
chieftains and kings of Poland held
and stormed the city in turns, anu
from its Notifications ravaged the re-
gion around.
''Tartars swept over the place like
plague in 1241, moving most of the
town into Its muddy river. The Teu-
tonic Knights devastated its subur BIS
in 1879, and Mengly Ghyrey, Khan of
the Crimea, burned the city with con-
scientious attention to detail, his wish
tation coming in the latter part Of the
fifteenth century. Polish diets were
held here. 1t was out OF the delibera-
lions of a council OF bishops from
Western Russia, held a. Brest in 1894,
that the Uniat rite was born. The
Swedes gave riie city its last thorough
pillaging in l706. At, tae second
partition of Poland, IL was incorpo-
rated In Russia, and patience, tech
nique, and money have been lavished
upon II by the great Northern En-
pire to make II as near impregna bic
as possible.
"Brest Litovs. Is situated at the
junction of the navigable rivers. Bug
and Mukhovets. and at the point OF
confluence stands the city fortress.
1t lies upon the right bank of the
Bug, here Sharply cut, where the river
turns from North 10 Northwest. Rail-
ways from Odessa, kiev. MOSCOW.
Warsaw. wilma and East Prussia in
tersect here. Further. II lies upon the
inland waterway from the Baltic to
Ion hA ~ uF
Is connected UP by canal behind
Brest, between the upper Mukhovets
River and the Pripet River. Thus.
the city is served by a weli-nigh per-
feet system of communications, reach
ing to the North, the East, the South,
and to points in the interior between.
and expanding again from Brest to-
ward the Northwest. the West and the
Southwest,
"Brest lies In the government of
Grodno, al miles south Of the city
OF Grodno. 1t has a population of
about 5000. more than half of which
! In Jewish. The synagogue at Brest
during the sixteenth century was re-
garded as the first In Europe. Prob
ably due to Its large Jewish popula :
| ton, Brest Litovsk has never develop
ed an industry. but rather thriving
commerce. Grains hides. soap. wheat
and timber are the staples of its
trade. The lumber in which II deals
was floated In great RATS down to
Danzig before the war. Flax and
hemp are extensively grown In the
country around. and, also. form i'm
portant articles of its trade.
The Older Notifications lie about
one mile east of Brest and have a
circumference of four miles. The
field works have been kept up-to-
date. and everything possible has been
done by Russia to make them uncon-
querable. Brest Ltovsk is regarded
in Russia as the most powerful In
dividual stronghold in the Europe"