The midland journal., 1916-08-25
OLD PORT
aaARsElLL Is A POINT OF lMPUR-
TANcE FOR CENTURIES.
French City, Older Than the Country
!, itself, Is Now the Naval Base OF
the Forces ef the Entente
Allies.

ssMarseilles, the unwearied contes-
tnnt for Mediterranean trade duriA.
26 centuries, and the city wherein the
earliest naval traditions of FraLce
were formed, whence fleets were sent
before Rone's day of power TO chal-
lenge the great Mediterranean port
city, Carthage, IS today the principal
naval base for tie allies upon the Mid
die ocean; and. with the shifting Of
the stress Of She world-war toward
the east, to the Balkans, to Turkey-in-
Europe, to Syria and Mesopotamia, it
is become place Of first strategic con-
sequence, while, from its harbor, a
steady stream Of the 'slnews of war
fare is pouring into the vital fields
bordering the Eastern seacoast," be-
gins the primer on war geography is
sued today by the National Geographic
society.
'sMarseilles has been san important
city through all OF Europe's historic
ages. It has been in competition for
the commerce of its inland sea from
earliest times; has seen its competi-
tors, one by one, reach their. zenith
and decline, while it still remains a
foremost Mediterranean port. Its ri
walls today are of the younger set of
cities, Genoa, comparatively youthful,
and Triest, 8 newcomer into the fold
of contending world-ports.
''Genoa, though of about equal age
with Marseilles as a harbor, first csme
into commercial fame during the early
middle ages. Sidon, Tyre, Athens, Co
rinth, Carthage, Ragusa, Pisa, Venice
and q host of other cities have at one
time and another fought bitter rival
ry with Marseilles, and of some of
these even the history of their efforts
is forgotten, while their one-time rival
has passed through several declines to-
ward an even greater future.
Tracing its descent from early
Phenician times, the fortunes of Mar
seilles have fiuctuated with the for
tunes of civilization upon the Mediter-
ranean coasts. The Phoceans, Greek
people whose trading instincts carried
them beyond the confines of the known
world of their day, came after the
Phenicians, took Marseilles from
them and made it the New York of
the ancient world. Due to their en-
terprise Marseilles became the first of
trading cities, and, during the Punic
wars, its aid saved Rome.
SITUATED In the center of things
Mediterranean on the Gulf of the Lion,
enjoying the advantages of an excel
lent harbor, well equipped, together
with a rich and productive hinterland,
Marseilles has again become the first
port on the inland sea, the first port
of France, the second city of the re-
public and one of the wealthiest COM
munities in Europe. 1t lies 534 miles
south-southeast OF Paris, with which
it is connected by the Paris-Lyon-Medi
terranee railway. The manufacturing
city of Lyons lies PIG miles to the north
upon the River Rhone, whose princi-
pal channel reaches the Mediterranean
sea, 25 miles west of Marseilles.
'While Marseilles possesses few ar
chitectural extravagances, it is well
and solidly built and thoroughly mod
ern. 1t has preserved no interesting
remains from ancient times; for the
modern spirit, which has characterized
Its long life, has left it little appetite
for reminiscence. and the wars that
have swept over it have destroyed
much of Its heritage. The public
works Of the city and its conyeniences,
however, are on a par with those of
the best-administered municipalities
of today.
'The port does vast export and
import in peace times; buying cattle,
coffee, raw cotton and silk, hides and
grain, and selling cotton and woolen
goods ribbons, soap. silk, sugar. grain.
fruits, wine, oil and perfumes. It's
shipping business is carried on along
II miles OF model quays where $500
vessels can be accommodated at one
time"