El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-28
Lens Is the Pittsburgh
Of the French Nation
City just Captured by British Is
Center Of Great steel. Iron and
Coal Industry and Very
Important.
BY MADISON C. PETERS.

I EMS. which has just been captured
Il by the British might be called the
Pittsburg Of France. because Of its
important iron and steel foundries.
/ engineering works. manufactures Of
steel cables and because it occupies
a central position in the unusually
rich and extremely vital coal fields
OF France. Covering an area Of
about 200 square miles the section
Yields 100000 tons Of fuel a year.
II has besides its colIieries, many
large manufacturing establishments.
the principal ones being sugar refin-
rious branches Of the textile manu-
facture, all OF which, except for a few
days in April, 1917, have been in the
hands OF the Huns since the autumn
OF 1914.
Lens Is Rich Section.
Lens is one OF the richest sections
in France for mineral deposits. The
population in 1906 was 26i692. A few
miles away TO the southwest lies Lee
vine, with population before the
war Of $4,000, likewise a center Of
the coal fields. Lens was partly &C
cupied April Is and IA, 1917, when the
Canadians and British IN one OF the
most desperate battles OF the war
carried some Of the suburbs and part
Of the city. In this battle Levine and
the City St Pierre, centers Of mining
industry were captured by British
and Canadians when Haig placed the
Vimy Ridge two and a half miles be-
hind his advanced lne-advances won
at the point Of the bayonet-
The city lies almost at the foot Of
the mountain, its red walls and red
roofs and chimneys standing out
boldly from around the great towers
OF the cathedral
Scene OF Ancient Battles.
The ancient town was frequently
captured in the wars Of the 18th, 18th
and 18th centuries. In 1913 Lens was
the scene OF a celebrated victory won
by Louis II, OF Bourbon, prince OF
Condo, over the Spaniards.
The more note worthy places in the
neighbOrhood Of Lens are Arras. Bo-
logne. Calais, st. Omer, Bethune,
Bruay, Merck. Henin-Lietard
Lens IS also a most important rail-
way center-lines from Douai and
Arras which pass through the valley
Of the Scarpe enter the city. Its
canal systems form a line Of com
munication from the Scheldt to the
sea by Bethune. st. Omar and Calais,
with branches TO Gravelines and Dun
kirk.
Vast PIains Fertile.
It's vast plains are extremely fertile
and well cultivated. The climate is
free from extremes Of heat and cold,
but damp and changeable- Cereals
are largely grown, giving good yields
70 the acre.
The other principal crops are pota-
toes and tobacco. The rearing Of live
stock and poultry was actively car
ried on before the war and the horses
IN this region were especially es-
teemed. Surely this victory is one OF
the most important Of the recent til
umphs over the despoilers Of Franco
notes restaurants and N every place
where men gathered It cost more than
$4,000 10 send the kilograms. but the re-
suit was that 1000. 900 Americans matched
the president and the amount OF the loan
was increased thereby to the amount Of
500, 100000 The whole OF this came
from men who had already subscribed to
the loan In some places the Watchers
were known u special name In chi
caEo they were the s.Presidertlal class
and IN New England the Wilson loyal
legion" IN many places a badge con-
sisting OF knot OF red, white and blue
ribbon tied around a match, was used
7 close this letter with few OF the
Liberty loan slogans" which VIII be
printed in some form all over the country.
You will see them In the newspapers, on
the hotel menu cards. in the store windows
in the street cars and in every other pos
sfble place. Similar slogans have been
prepared by the thousands and sent In
70 the publicity bureau. Here are some
samples:
Down the Hun with Dollar and Gun.
Every Dollar makes them Heller.
Go Down in Your Pockets or Down on
Your Knees
Tho Man who Won't Lend Is the Kais-
er's Friend
Yours not TO DO and Die. Yours but TO
Go and Buy.
Prove Yourself True to the Red, white
and Blue.
Put Your Dollars IN Uniform.
Make Your Dollars Fight. Buy Liberty
Bonds.
Buy Liberty Bonds-the Buyway 10 Ber-
In
Add your Mite to Americas Might
For the Good OF Creation Buy the Bonds
OF the Nation