Arizona republican., 1916-02-13
Republican A. p. Leased wire1

tncpupHCdn A. v. Leased WtreI
 LONDON. Feb. 12.-The Royal Ge- ographical Society is d hive of in- dustry these days, not in the ordi- nary way as one of the conservative old British institutions for scientific research, but as part of the war ma chine-making maps. of the rapidly shifting geography of Europe, sup plying the war office and the admir- alty with geographical data and maps worked out with scientific minute ness on land and water routes, to- pography, mountain passes, and all the details which the military strat- egists must have in laying out the campaigns in all the great theaters of war,-the Balkans. Egypt, Meso- potamia, Persia, the mountain passes between Italy and Austria. The huge establishment fronting Kensington Gardens has practically given itself up to this war work. The vener- able president, Douglas Freshfield, himself, a famous Alpine mountain climber in his day, said recently of this work:
 We have at hand ready for use a store of facts as to any possible seat of war, with that habit of mind the sense of country, the geograph ical attitude-that can reason and act promptly on such facts, which are obvious conditions of military and naval success. In these matters of practical and mental equipment we are doing more from month to loI,, perform a function that in the pres ent crisis is essential. It will not be less essential when the time comes for framing and dictating terms of peace.'
 This last remark indicates that the scientific geographers are thinking ahead to the time for framing and dictating terms of peace,' when the map of Europe will be made over agin and new boundaries laid down a stupendous work considering the vast areas of territory which has shifted through military occupation and which ultimately will have to be settled as temporary or permanent at peace congress Belgium, Luxem- bourg, Northeastern France, Serbia Montenegro, Poland, and the waver- ing battle lines along the fronts in Russia. France. Italy, Austria, the Balkans, Central and East Africa, Persia, and the Pacific Islands and ports.
 Dr. Kettle, secretary of the Royal Society and the administrative direc- tor of the institution, told the As sociated Press correspondent it was quite too soon yet to outline the so- called new map of Europe The areas of occupation were indefinite and constantly shifting. and it re- mains to be seen whether recognized and established political boundaries of the past are to be changed per manently. as it requires something more than military occupation to change them.
 One of the recent maps of the Geographical Society shows the fight ing area between Italy and Austria, and the present and proposed boun- daries in the Trentino and Trieste districts. The area in dispute seems very small compared with the mag nitude of the struggle going on in the Italian-Austrian frontiers. In the Trentino district the disputed district is about 15 miles wide by about 30 miles long, and in the Trieste district about IS by p miles in all less than a small county in New York state.
 President F'reshfield gave a graphic description of the Alpine campaign. at a recent meeting of the society, based on his personal knowledge of these peaks and passes which he has tra- versed during his days as an Alpinst. He recalled that fifty years ago he was one of the first party to scale the highest peak of the Trentino Alps, the Presanella (11.SO0 feet), where Austro- Italian mountain fighting has been go- ing on.
 "A mountain region-the Alps are nc single range-rnay serve as a good de- fenSe to those who hold it strongly up to the summit ridge" he said. The Alps are proving so now in the case of Austria. But if you hold only the low CT slopes on one side it may be more of a snare than a defense. The i'm portance of mountains in warfare has been exaggerated in popular estima
 finn The fariciya l,attIac nf bisforx