Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-11
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society.

Zieritsee, whose quaint historic streets have once more echoed to the crash of war, although it is a seaport of a neutral nation, is described in the following bulletin of the war geoE- "a phy series issued by the National Geegra pf1ic Society.
 Tt must have been rude shock to the 1000 inhabitants of the ancient Dutch city of ZiefikSee when raiding airplares dropped bombs upon it a few days ago, for having long ago for gotten it's bloody experiences during the troublous times which marked the rise of the Dutch Republic, it has for many years enjoyed the reputation of on earth, one writer describing it as utterly other worldly, wholely peace full whoicly restful"
 Situated on the island of Schau- wen, which with six other islands of tEf Sche.dt and Maas delta comprise the Holland province of Zealand, z2er- iksee is approached by long canal which flows between beautifu1 green meadows. The people of the com mGnity are chiefly engaged in the salt industry, in trading and fishing. Be- fore the war there was also a some
 what lively traffic in tourists who were won't te frequent the spot not only on account of it's rich historic as- sociations but also to see the inter estiag Stadhuis. at edifce begun in 1854, and the famous unfinished square tower of the minister erection of which began q hundred years earl fer. Had the tower been completed in accordance with the plans (still pre- seFVed) of the famous architect Kel dernnans the Elder it would have risen hundred feet higher than the Wash ington monument and been a rival of the Strasburg Cathedral tower in grace and symmetry. Three medic val gates also attracted the globe trotters who used to arrive here daily by the steamer plying from Middel burg, capital of the province, situated on the neighboring island of Walch- eren. An interesting legend is told of one of these gates, the pobel port It is supposed to stand as a 10th cen tury memorial to two wealthy sis ters, Anna and Maria, who wished to do something for their native city. As Anna was defofmed the crooked tow CT of the gate stands as her monu meht. while Maria, tall and straight. erected a normal tower to commen1or- ate her perfect physique.
 'zieriksee has been the scene of two famous conflicts, the first in 1904 when Philip the Fair of France re- vegened himself for the defeat of the flower of his army beneath the walls of courtrai two years previously, where the burghers Of Ghefit, Ypres and Courtrai utterly routed the richly capirisoned and armered knights uii- der Count Robert of Artois. The sec ond bloody event was the siege of the city in 1575-76. The great Admiral Boisot, he who had ia ised the siege of Leyden by navigating the drowned land' with his light fleet, lost his life in the futile attempt to drive off the investing army under the Spanish General Mondrngon. The city con tinued to hold out against the enemy, however, until June. 1876, when t:@:t- ors showed the Spaniards how they could wade across the ehcircling wa ters. The defenders fought with des- eprate fury, attacking the 1.T00 Span iards with boat hooks, t-nives and fails. but all was of no avail.
 "zieriksee lies 160 miles northeast of London in an airline across the North Sea"