Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-06-15
NAL IA OF BAL TIC
UNIQUE POINT IN
RUSSIAN EMPIRE

IIUUU1ltlB 6Bss I'LL
WASHINGTON, d. c., June 15.-In a
war geography bulletin the National
Geographic Society gives the following
information about the fortified city OF
Kronstadt where rebel Russians at
tempted to set up separate govern
ment:
1.-The Malta of the Baltic" is the
name given to Kronstadt and the small
island of Kotlin which it occupies, but
a more appropriate name would be "the
Gibralter of Petrograd," for the sup
posedly impregnable fortress com
mands the sea avenue to the great
Russian capital.
"The island of Kotlin, which is lit
/ tie more than seven miles long and a
mile and quarter wide, lies at the
western extremity of the Bay of Neva,
in the fresh water discharged by the
River Neva. To the west is the Gulf
OF Finland.
"Kotlin was first fortified in 1903 by
Peter the Great, when it was wrestled
from the Swedes, but it was not until
seven years later that the great mon
arch laid out the town Of Kronstadt
and be.Ian the systematic erection of
it's defenses. Three thousand men are
said to have been employed on this
work, and it was not completed until
the reign of Peters daughter Eliza
beth.
1.-THE town, which had a population
of 65 1000 at the beginning of the world
war is intersected by two waterways
the Canal CT Peter the Great, begun in
1721 but not completed until 81 years
later. and the Catherine Canal, con-
structed in 1882. Between these two
canals stands the Italian palace of
Prince Menschikoff, one of the most
picturesque figures in all Russian his
tory. Born of the most humble par
ents, Menschikoff at the age of 20 was
selling meat pies in the streets of Mos
cow when he attracted the attention OF
Lefort, Peter the Greats fayorite. On
the death of the latter Menschikoti
lsuceeeded to the place of honor with
Ibis sovereign and served him energet
lically. 1t is said of Menschikoff that
he could drill regiment, build
Ifrigate, administer province and de-
Icapitate a rebel with equal facility.
Upon the death of Peter he became the
virtual ruler of Russia during the brief
treign of Peters widow, Catherine |. A
turn of the wheel Of fortune finally
cast him from his high estase-his
great wealth, largely acquired through
corruption, was confscated, and he and
his family were exiled to Siberia
where he died in 1923.
"The modern Notifications of Kron-
lstadt were designed in large measure
by General Todleben, the famous in
Igineer whose system of earthworks en-
labled Sebastopol to resist the siege of
1.-THE French and English allies for BAY
DAYS during the Crimean war. Todle
ben devoted Is years to Kronstadt's de-
tense. profiting by his wide expert
enee at Sebastopol The Notifications
are in the main low. thickly armoured
earthworks with large Krupp guns.
There are three well-equipped harbors
the naval, middle and commercial.
guarding the approach to Perograd,
which is 10 miles to the east, Kron-
stadt is also the chief station OF Rus
sias Baltic fleet.
while the city has some trade in
iron, hemp, fax, tar. and oil it is hand
icapped to some extent commercially
by the fact that the harbors are ice
bound from December to April. During
these winter months the place is de-
cidedly dreary in appearance.
"Peterhof, town of 10000 inhabit-
arts founded by Peter the Great in
l1711 and famous for its imperial palace
built in imitation of Versailles. lies to
the southeast of Kronstadt distance
of ten miles.
During the summer season in peace
times passenger steamers ply between
Kronstadt and ePtrograd with ferry
boat frequency, the trip requiring an
hour and half.