Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-06-05
MONS FAMOUS IN
HISTORY

WASHINGTON, d. c., June 5.-Mons
famous in the world war as the scene
CT the great battle after which the
Anglo-French forces began their mem
orable retreat towards Paris, retreat
which finally ended on the banks of the
Marine, has come once more into the
limelight through recent order OF
the Germans providing for the deporta-
tion of its citizens fate which has
befallen the citizens of many of Bel
GUMS stricken cities. The National
Geographic Society, in war geography
bulletin issued from its Washington
headquarters, gives the following in
formation about Mons, its industries
before the outbreak of the war, and
something of its Interesting history:
''As the capital of the province OF
Hainaut, Mons was, up to August, 1914.
one of the most thriving cities OF Bel
GUM, for it was the center OF the
cOuntry's richest coal region, LIE
Barinage. Of the $4,000 coal miners
Of the kingdom three-fourths of the
number lived in this province and
we're known as Borains local borers)-
Mons occupies the site of castrum
established here by julius Caesar dur
ing his campaign against the Gauls. 1t
crowns a hill on the banks of the little
River Trouble, SO miles by rail south
west of Brussels. It's foundings as a
town, however, is attributed TO Coun-
tess Waudru in the eighth century,
and the first five hundred years of its
history constitute a period of much
hardship and poverty, the whole region
being known in that age as the poor
land of a proud people.
Count Baldwin of Flanders, one o.
the noblest and most popular leaders
of the Fourth Crusade and the first
emperor of Romania, being crowned in
Constantinople, was one of Mons most
generous benefactors. 1t was he who
granted the city its charter in 1900,
Just five years before he met death at
the hands of the Bulgarian king who is
said to have cut off the hands and feet
of the captured emperor and thrown
him thus mutilated into valley where
he fingered for three days before death
ended his agony.
Mons has been the scene of several
great military struggles. 1t was forti-
fed in the 14th century by Jean d
Avesnes. In 1872 it was captured in a
surprise attack by Louis of assau who
held it for four months against the
Spanish forces of the Duke of Alva,
thus giving the northern provinces o.
the Netherlands time to organize that
heroic resistance to oppression which
resulted in the establishment of the
Dutch Republic.
THE town was captured by Louis
XIV. in 1916 but was restored to Spain
six years later.
"Only ten miles south of Mons lies
the village of Malplaquet, which has
given it's name to one of the creates;
BATTLES of the eighteenth century. 1t
was here that the English, Dutch, Ger
ran and Austrian allies, under the
Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eu-
gene, won costly victory over the
French commanded by Louis XIV's
most distinguished general, Villars
More than 10000 troops were engaged
on each side, and the allies lost 10000
men, while the French retired in good
order after sustaining casualties plac-
ed at 10000.
"The battlefield of Jemappes, where
the French Revolutionary Army, under
Dumouriez, defeated the Austrians in
1892. is also near Mons.
"rhe Notifications of Mons were dis
manteled in 1852 and attractive prom
Grades were laid out along the encircl
ing military works.
1.-THE 10000 inhabitants of Mons
found occupation in the manufacture
O.. cotton and wooden goods, in sugar
|refineries, lace works and iron found
ries before the war. The trade in
grain and coal was also considered,