New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-26
Podolia Is Rich
And Populous
Province Entered by Teu-
tons One of the Most
Fertile in All Russia

When the Austro-Germans, following
the DISCRIMINATION Of the Russian ar
mics on the Galician front, crossed tho
Zbrucz River, which separates Russia
from Hungary, they entered
the province of Podolia, which next 10
Moscow is the most densely populated
in the empire. Of this province Ma
tional Geographic Society bulletin says:
"Podolia is one of the richest ana
most fertile regions in all Russia ana
IS about as large as the combined areas
of MARYLAND and Delaware. 1t lies en-
+;relv within what is known as Little
Russia. with South Russia bordering II
on the south and West Russia on the
north. The Bug River, which crosses
tho nrovince from northwest to south
cast. runs parallel to the Dnies'er'
which forms the western boundary
The railroad extending from LemDerg
to Odessa crosses the province midway
between the Bug and the Dniester'
"The valley of the Bug is somewhat
higher than that Of the Dniester, ana
for a great part of its course the RI, river
is bordered by swamps and WOODLANDS
! largely Uncomfortable to armies. An
ntber railroad crosses the province AZ
rigbt ANGLES to the Lemberg- Odessa
road whiIc in the southeastern sectoh
there are several other lines.
"Tbe climate of the province is rather
cooI in summer and cold in winter, lne
moan tenrerature of Washington IN
Tanuarv is SO degrees; that OF the capl-
tai Of Podolia is "a On the other hand'
The mean temperature of Washington
! for Julv is II degrees, while that OF
Podolia's capital is 90 degrees, Inc
average temperature is about thaI OF
Binghamton, \. Y.
"Sugar is the leading product OF the
nrovince, no other state in the empire
! except Kiev, having a larger output.
! rreat deal of grain is grown and much
/ dour is manufactured. Spirits and To-
bacco also are produced in considerable
quantities. =
"The population Of the province Is
approximately 100000 and there are
some 5000 manufacturing establish
ments. having 10000 employees, with an
annual normal production valued al
S48,OOO,OOO. The soil is largely IKE
that Of Iowa, and is to a great extent
| cultivated after Western methods, IN
| stead of those usually prevailing IN
/ Southeastern Europe. Stock raising is
also an important industry, and before
( the war there was very large trade IN
! horses, cattle and sheep with Austria
/ Hungary. >,
"The history of the province is full
( of interest. The days Of the Romans
are kent in memory by the wall OF Ira,
| ian. which passes through several oil
! its districts. When Poland became one
of Europe's principal nations Podolia
was annexed 10 it and formed part OF
the Polish Empire until the last parti-
ton. which occurred in 1895.
"The menace of the invasion OF the
soil of Podolia and Bessarabia by the
+ Austro- Germans is probably more ap
rarent than real, as least so far a
/ the predicted drive on Odessa IS con.
cerned. II must be remembered tha'
/ il is more than $50 miles as the Gro"
flies between the present battle line o.
the Austro-Germans and the city re-
puted TO be their objective. A line Of
Communications stretched that long al
a time when fighting men are more
than at a premium would either have &c
be so thinly defended or draw so many
troops from other points that the geo
graphic difficulties involved would be
many. The Lemberg- Odessa railroad Is
not in good condition, it is said, while
the highways OF both Podolla and
Bessarabia are by no means compaTaol Z
TO the macadam highways of the West
In wet weather the roads have practi
cally no bottom and are next to i'm
passable for heavy guns and Wagon
/ IL -