The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-03-19
As It First Energes from Be-
hind Curtain which Divides
Known from Unknown.
IlEEel.L % -nE TrLEaaAn,

tsF9GtAL TO THE TELEGRAM
WASHINGTON, March 1S.-The
Euphrates 10 the largest river in
western Asia, and civilization is re-
puted to have come into being upon
its banks. For 5000 years at least
empires have risen and fallen on its
plain, conquering armies have
marched TO battle, and a hundred clt-
les have come up out Of the earth
and fallen into obliterate ruin again.
Describing this great river as It
runs Its seward course today. the
National Geographic Soci ~, whose
headquarters are in this city. says in
statement given to the press today:
Most Historic.
The Euphrates lays n strong
claim to the honor Of being the most
historic river on earth. and certain
1t Is that in the region 1t drains,
along with its twin sister. the TEgrIs.
man first energies from behind that
1mpenetrable curtain which divides
the known from the unknown past.
From then henceforth clvillza-
lions have risen and fallen, nations
have come and gone. cities OF rare
beauty have raised their proud heads
above the plain only to pass on into
obliterate ruin.
Rises in Two Arms.
THE Euphrates rises in two arms
flowing parallel to one another on
the north side OF Taurus mountain.
through narrow valleys into which
pour innumerable small streams from
the high Armenian plateau. The
northernmost of the. two branches
Is the shortest. but 1t is generally
regarded ms the real source Of the
river. 1t lies to the north Of Erezum
while the longer branch passes 1t to
the south.
"The two branches are divided by
the wild mountain district of Der
sim.
Zigzng Course.
AFTER Uniting. they form the Eu-
pirates proper. which boldly breaks
its way through the mountains by 4
ZlgzAE course that carries 1t now to
the right and now to the left. Now
it flows for thirty miles at right an
giles to its general course. then sixty
miles parallel to it, and then 1870
miles at right angles again as
though it were headed for the Med
iteranean sea. Then 1t winds to the
south for eighty miles.
Here is takes up its general trend
to the southeast and with innumer-
able sharp windings and bends, but
@with=only a=few= broad curYes,1it
heads its way to the sea. The air line
distance of the remotest spring of
the Euphrates from the sea is only
500 miles, and yet its waters must
travel 1900 before they reach the
sea.
Slow and sluggist.
"1n the last 1900 miles Of its
course the Euphrates Is slow and
sluggish, wandering all over the land
when 1t has opportunity, making that
which 1t touches a marsh and that
which 1t cannot reach a desert.
ITS fall during the last 1900
miles Is only ten inches to the mile
and It broadens out so much that
while 1t contains enough water to
float the greatest battleshfp, it is so
shallow that at places swimmer
cannot float In it.
Rise to Suit Armies.
THE river promises to rise this
year at time exactly suited to the
needs OF the armies fighting on It's
banks.
"1t is beginning its annual rise
this month, and will reach its maxi
mum in May. When at its flood
stageIit Is navigab1e, and can play
an important part in military oper-
ations,"