The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-22
0R PRESENTATION. December

WY (special)-At this time when IJ.1' the
 central powers seem to be strain- ing every nerve to control the lower Dan ube, and thus make that river from It's source to it's mouth bearer of their war munitions and trade, the following bull letin, prepared by the National Geo graphic society, with headquarters at Washington, is of striking interest:
 'The scenic glories of the Danube are chiefly to be seen along the upper reaches of the river; but the broad highway of the lower reaches is at present of more interest, for the traffic it carries may be factor in the conflict of European nations. Meanwhile. the river is weav- ing itself into the present-day history of it's continent as it has woven itself into the events of 2o0O years past.
 Below Giurgevo and Rutschuk the Danube widens to about three miles from bank to bank. Giurgevo, point of great strategic importance, is accessible by river steamers at high water and has ther down stream.
 ''The lower Danube has very slight fall, only 12O feet in the last coo miles of its length, but because of the great volume of water, increased as it goes on by the Alt, the Argesch, the Jalomitza the Sereth and the Pruth. as well as smaller streams, it flows with great force. The Bulgarian banks are high; the Rumanian shore is low and flat and often overflowed The one-sided arrangement of alluyial deposits which results has led to the formation of many swamps and swampy islands on the Rumanian side, which provide the chief characteristics Of the scenery. The Balta Islands are the two largest formations. They are really vast fens oyergrowns with willows and reeds. abundant with wild birds and half wild swine, and cut in every direction by little streams.
 "Silistria, the fortress of the Danube since Roman times. though of less mill tary importance today than Galatz, is the I next place of striking interest below Rutschuk A Roman relic, Trajan's Wali' may be seen from the river below Sllis- | tria, and 40 miles from that city there | is a railroad bridge over two and 2 halr miles long and the only one below Bel ! grade. connecting Bucharest and the | Black sea port of Constanza. This is one of the most remarkable examples Of It's 1, kind of engineering and was buiit at | cost of $7,000,0O0. It has 6S spans, one | of which, over the main stream, IS can | tilever more than 600 feet long. The bridge has a height of 12O feet above low water, l and the piers go down to bed rock 100 l feet below the water surface, making them nearly one-half as high as the | Washington monument
 1 "Hirsoya and Gura-Jamoitza are the
 next places of importance. both fortified. | The river at Hirsova broadens like sea
 win many islands. The town with it's
 fortified castle is prettily situated on a hilltop above the surrounding flats.
 orhe more important of the rivers ports are next approached Braila, un- lovely and monotnous of aspect, is how l ever. the chief Rumanian port of entry before the war town of over 5O,oO0 in | habitantS, ana center or the gram ana timber trades. Between Braila and Galta7 are the ruins of an ancient bridge, said to have been built by Darius the Great
 .sThe latter city, about 10 miles below
 Braila, is very thriving port of peace times Vessels of 4,0O0 tons can come UT l the river to this point Between Galtai
 and the confluence with the Pruth, ths
 Danube makes it's turn to the east. Here
 begins a section of the river which ever
 complete success of the central power.
 in Wallachia and Dobrudja will not plac,
 in their control, for on it's left bank lies
 Bessarabia, Russian territory.
 An interesting feature of the Russian , side here are the ends of long lalSel
 which run north and south. These wer, once streams which flowed down into tht Danube, but were gradually barred b,
 alluvial banks from reaching the river