Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-09-01
old PORT
MARsElLLEs A POINT OF lMPoR.
TANcE FOR CENTURIES.
French City, Older Than the Country
Itself, Is Now the Naval Base Of
the Forces Of the Entente
Allies.

"MorspillpS. the unWearlcu cOntcS-
faint far Mediterranean trade during
26 centuries, and the city wherein the
earliest naval traditions of France
were formed. whence fleets were sent
before Rome's day Of power to chal-
longn the great Mediterranean port
city, Carthage, is today the principal
naval base for the allies upon the Md
die ocean; and, with the shifting OF
the stress Of the wOrld-war toward
the east, to the Balkans, to Turkey-in-
Europe. to Syria and Mesopotamia, 1t
IS become n place of first strategic con-
sequence, while, from its harbor, a
steady stream Of the 'sincws 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.
"Marsrilles has been an important
clty through all Of Europe's historic
ngcs. II has been in competition for
the of its inland sea from
earliest times; has seen its cOmpetl-
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, q newcomer into the fold
of cOntcnding world-ports.
Genoa, though OF about equal age
with Marscilles as n harbor, first came
into commercial fame during the early
middle ages. Sidon, Tyre, Athens, Co
rinth, Carthage, Ragusa, Pisa, Venice
and n host of other cities have at one
time and another fought a bitter rival
ry with Marseilles, and Of some of
these ever the history OF their efforts
IS forgotten, while their one-time rival
has passed through several declines to-
ward an ever greater future.
"Tracing its descent from early
Phenician times, the fortunes Of Mar.
seilles have fluctuated with the for
tunes of civilization upon the Mediter'
ranean coasts. The Phoceans, a Greek
people whose trading instincts carried
them beyond the confines Of the known
world of their day, came after the
Phenlcians, 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, It's aid saved Rome.
SITUATED in the center Of things
Mediterranean on the Gulf Of the Lion
enjoying the advantages Of an excel
lent harbor, we'll equipped, together
with a rich and productive hinterland
Marseillcs has again become the frs,
port on the inland sea, the first port
of France, the second city Of the re
public and one of the wealthlest com
munities in Europe. 1t lies 534 miles
south-southeast of Paris, with which
1t Is connected by the Parls-Lyon-Medi
torrance railway. The manufacturing
city of Lyons lies 30 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
chltectural extravagances, it Is wei
and solidly built and thoroughly mod
ern. 1t has preserved NJ interesting
remains from ancient times; for TIN
modern spirit, which has characterized
It's long life, has left it little appetite
for "reminiscences, and the wars tina
have swept over It have dcStroye'
much of its heritage. The publ
works of the city and its conveniences
however, are on n par with those o
the beSt-administered m~unicipalitie
of today.
"The port does a vast export an
import in peace times; buying cattle
coffee, raw cotton and silk, hides an
grain, and selling cotton and woole
goods. ribbons, soap, silk, sugar, grair
; fruits, wine, oil and perfumes. 1t
shipping business Is carried on alon
II miles of model Quays where $50
vessels can be accommodated at on
time"
LA:--f. E-.