Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-01-17

tional Geographic Society. "a people
who ruled along the Adriatic shores
long before the infancy of Imperial
Rome, made q pirate nest at Brindisi,
and took a rich toll on the commerce
that passed the narrow gateway of
Otranto. Later. when the port had be-
come a Roman one, Roman soldiers
left this point on missions OF conquest
for Macedonia Syria and northeast
ern Africa. In the Middle Ages, the
Crusaders made it one of their chief
ports for embarkation to the Holy
Land. With the rise of modern Italy
as naval Power and as q possessor
of colonies in Africa, Brindisi has re-
newed it's oldtime fame and activity.
THE Italian seaport is situated
about midway upon the high Italian
heel, where the Adriatic narrows into
the Strait of -Otranto. 1t is about As
miles east-northeast from the port Of
laramie. and 546 miles southeast from
the port of Ancona. 1t is builded on a
rocky promontory, which almost en-
closes its roomy bay. Its harbors-
inner and an outer harbor-, one al
most completely landlocked, are excel
lent. There is room for the largest
fleets within the inner harbor, and this
basin is sheltered from every wind
and easily defended on account of its
narrow entrance. The biggest boats
can enter and make fast to the docks
there. A channel, $50 yards long and
165 feet broad, connects the inner and
| outer basins.
THE commercial Importance held at
one time by Brindisi has not been re-
gained. The large steamers of the
| Peninsula and Oriental Steam Naviga-
| ton Company, among the most impor-
tant commercial boats to use the. port,
| stopped calling here in 1898, substitute
| ing Marseille as their West Mediter-
ranean station Small mail boats,
ycarrying express and passengers
| however, continued to leave the port
weekly, connecting with the large
Oriental steamers at Port Said. Up
until the outbreak Of the war, consid-
port, bringing about the clearing of
| some 1900 vessels yearly and the
| handling of more than $4,000, 900 worth
of goods. Coal, flour, sulphur, timber
and metals made up the bulk Of the
| pre-war imports, which imports. in all
| likelihood, have greatly increased since
the italian entry into the world COM
| bat. The exports were wine, spirits,
4 oil and dried fruits.
'Brindisi was a very famous town
among the ancients. Tarentum colon
| lists took charge Of its destinies at an
mans made it their base for their con-
| quest of and communication with the
East. The much mentioned Via Appia,
/ which was constructed in the second
| century DeIOT6 Snr1SI from rome, over
| Venusia and Tarentum, ended here
| The description of this way Is given
| by Horace in the tale of his journey
| from Rome to Brundisium in company
| with Maecenas in 81 B. c. Virgil, first
of Roman poets. died in this port on
his return from Greece in B. G. 10
| In 230 B. c., Brindisi was the starting
point for the Roman troops that took
part in the first Illyrian War, and
many Of the foremost soldiers of Inn
perial Rome have paced the streets
and squares there while their fleets
lay Quitting in the inner harbor.
1.-THE splitting up Of the Roman
| Empire into the empires OF the West
| and of the East crushed the import
ance of the ancient port. 1t was no
longer the military and naval watch
| tower over the submission and peace
| of the lands of the East. The Sara
Gems captured and destroyed the city
in S36, and, when crusading became
the order of European ambition, retri-
button upon the Moslems was launched
from the rebuilt city. With the cessa-
| ton Of the crusades. Brindisi went into