The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-09-02
CITIES OF PRESENT INTEREST.
Something About Some Places Where
Great War is Raging.

Inc NOl III > dl co.. ID INV
held by the German-Russian cam
paign and more particularly this in
terest is centred upon the Russian
fortress of Brest Litovsk, the point
ed'appui on the Bug, one of the
strongest fortresses in Europe, the
central point in the Muscovite's Eu-
ropean defense and offense, and one
of the most important depots for, and
distributing points of military sup
plies near the western frontiers.
Brest Litovsk rated by military critics
as a much more important strategic
point than Warsaw, around which,
according to recent dispatches, the
armies of Russia are to be re-group-
ed for the defense of the empire, is
described in a geographical sketch is
sued today by the National Geos-
raphic society:
"Brest Litovsk, powerfully forti-
fed Russian stronghold, is one of the
Oldest important fortresses in north
ern Europe, and it's history has been
changeful and stirring one. 1t is
first mentioned on the occasion of its
capture by Boleslav the Brave, OF
Poland, in 1920. Next, Cashmir the
Just, of Poland, built tight castle
here, in country where the out-posts
of several nations met. Princes of
Galicia, Volhynia, Lithuania, grand
masters of the Teutonic Knights,
Tartar chieftains and kings of Po-
land held and stormed the city and
ravaged the region around.
''Tartars swept over the place like
a plague in 1241, moving most of
the town into it's muddy river. The
Teutonic knights devasted it's su-
burhs in 1897, and Mengly Ghyrey,
Khan of the Crimea, burned the city
with conscientious attention to de-
tail, his visitation coming in the lat
ter part of the 18th century. Polish
diets were held here. 1t was out OF
the deliberations of council of bish-
ops from Western Russia, held at
3rest in 1894, that the Uniat rate
was born. The Swedes gave the city
it's last thorough pillaging in 17O6.
AIT the second partition of Poland,
it was incorporated in Russia, and
patience, technique, and money have
been lavished upon it by the great
northern empire to make it as near
impregnable as possible.
s'Brest Litovsk is situated at the
junction of the navigable rivers, Bug
and Mukhovests, and at the point of
confluence stands the city fortress. 1t
lies upon the right bank of the Bug,
is sharply cut where the river turns
from north to northeast. Railway
from Oddesa, Kiev. Moscow, Warsaw;
Wilma and East Prussia intersect here.
Further, it lies upon the inland wa
terway from the Baltic to the Black
Sea. the course of which is connect
ed up by canal behind Brest, between
the upper Mukovests river and the
Pripet river. Thus, the city is serv-
ed by a we'll nigh perfect system OF
communications, reaching to the
north, the east, the south, and to
points in the interior between, and
expanding again from Brest toward
the northwest, the west and :. the
southwest.
s.Rrest lies in the government OF
Grodno, 131 miles south of the city
of Grodno. 1t has a population of
about $4,000, more than half of
which is Jewish. The synagogue at
Brest, during the 18th century was
regarded as the first in Europe. Prob
ably due to it's large Jewish popula-
tion, Brest Litovsk has never de-
veloped an industry, but rather
LuT1NluS GULL vi olAAo, AAoSo,
soap, wheat and timber are the
staples of it's trade. The lumber in
which it deals was floated in great
RATS down to Danzling before the
war. Flax and hemp are extensively
grown in the country around, and,
also, form important articles of its
trade.
The older Notifications lie about
one mile east of Brest and have
circumference of 4 miles. The field
works have been kept up to date, and
everything possible has been done by
Russia to make them unconquerable.
Brest Litovsk is regarded in Russia
as the most powerful individual
stronghold in the empire