Norwich bulletin., 1916-11-23
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic sociesy


 nouncement of the formation of the new kingdom of Arabia few days ago failed to elicit in America fSe in terest which the vast extent of terri tory involved would seem to war rant" according to q war geography bulletin issued by the National Geo. graphic Society from its Washington Headquarters. Tine area of the AIa- bian peninsula, including that region known as Arabia Pctraea and the Syrian desert, is about equal to the area of all the United States east of the Mississippi River plus Texas" con- tinues the bulletin, and it extends through more than 21 degrees of lati- tude, so that if transposed to tliis con- tinent it's northern boundary would coincide with the northern parts of Arkansas, while It's southern tip would reach far beyond the northern border of Nicaragua in Central America
 Having a maximum length equal to the distance between Montreal and the southern extremity of Florida and maximum breadth corresponding to the airline distance between New York southwestern extremity of tEe con- tinent of Asia is very sparsely settled, the estimates of it's population vary ing more than 100 per cent. One au- thority places the number at l,500, 900, whic is conceded to be excessive, while
 
 which is conceded to be excessive, while an ultra conservative figure is B. 100000.
 Fully one third Of the Arabian pen insula is a waste of sand, the three most extensive of barren regions be- ing the Great Nafud or Red Desert, the Syrian Desert, and the Dahna Desert. And in addition to this wholety hope less area there is a vast extent of ter ritory where the supply of water is so sporadic that the land cannot support a settled population. The inhabitants are divided into two great classes-the nomadicz Bedouins, who move from place to place as pasturage for their fioclks of sheep and goats and their herds of horses and came1s is exhaust ed, and the Fellahs, who follow agri- cultural pursuits iE the small fertile areas and where wells and cisterns are relied upon to store up the rain water of the wet season.
 While the early despatehes from Mecca, the capital Of the newly form ed kingdom, were silent on the sub ject, it. is probable that the Grand Shereef Hussein Ben Ali is building his hope of empire chiefly on tie three provinces of Hejaz, Asir, and Yemen, which extend from the Sinai peninsula along the northeast shore of the Red Sea to the British proteetorate of Alden. In these provinces are the larg- est cities of the peninsuia-Mecea, Jidda, Hodeida, Medina, and Yambu. Both Hejaz and Yemen are vilayets of the Turkish empire and are governed by officials sent out from Constant nople. Asir is the home of war-1iISe, mountainous tribe which has success fully opposed numerous attempts of the Turks to subjugate it's members. Asir lies. between Eejaz and Yemen and it's valleys are among the most fertile in Arabia.
 Several important political divisions of Arabia doubtless will be unR1olested by the Grand Snereef. Among these are the Sinaitic peninsula, a depend- ency of Egypt which extends into the Red Sea, between the Gulf of Suez on the west and the Gulf of Akaba on the east; the British protectorate of Alden, occupying the most southerly extremity of Arabia and extending along the Gulf of Alden, it's area be- ing about 5000 s1uarc miles, and the independent State of Oman with a coast line of nearly 1000 miles along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and embracing an area of 3D. 900 square miles.
 "The provinces of fIeJaz and Yemen have a combined area about equal to the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, but with a popuIa. tion scarcely exceeding a million, whereas the equivalent American area supports more than 24.000,0o0 inhabi- tants.
 sJn those restricted sections of Arabia, near the mountains, where the torrents bring down sufficient sup ply of water the soil yields abundant crops of wheat, barley, tobacco, sugar, indigo, cotton, and roffee. while the date palm and tie hanana flourish lux uriantly. The mineral wealth of rhe new kingdom is somewhat doubtful although iron, copper, 5asalt. lead, coal l and asphaltum are known to exist while the precious stones include em- eralds, onyx, carneliaI,and agate. The pearl fisheries of the Persian Gulf are among the richest in the world, and l these waters also yield quantities ot l sponges.
 Travellers ascribe to the Arabs many virtues. They are a proud, and earnest people, sharp-witted, courage ous, temperate and hespitable, but when wrongeG are bloodthifsty and vengeful. One of their most striking l characteristics is their great love fol | poetry. The children of the noInads as we'll IS the offspring of the fellahs I are early taught to read, write ant calculate, as might be expected of ths I descendants of taht race which gave us our Arabic numcraIs.'