New-York tribune., 1918-01-27
The Peoples of Hungary
\ HR. CHERADAME, in his sensa-
vi tional politico-military study in
the December issue of .Tha Al

lantic Monthly" called attention to the
fact that in the eyes of the German Cen
eral Staff Hungary is of such fundamental
Importance that, in order to free her of the
Russian and Rumanian invaders, linden
burg, if it had been necessary, would not
have hesitated one minute even to evacu-
ate Belgium
Under these circumstances and. above
all, in view of the fact that America is at
war with the Austro- Hungarian govern
ment, every new light shed on the Magyar
people and its land is welcome The fol-
lowing from an article on the subject by
3. {. Wallis, in the current number Of
The Geographical Review" New York;,
is pertinent:
The Alfold, G., the almost rectangular.
great plains of Hungary, is the heart of tho
country, physically, nationally and ocononi-
cally Once an Alpine sea. the originally
salt waters gradually changed from brackisll
to fresh. South of the Alf0d lies Serbia.
the much coveted booty of the war as far as
Austria is concerned; to the east stretches
the mountainous country of Transvlvania
whose preclpltate invasion by King Ferdi-
nand is the immediate cause of Rumania's
temporary elimination from the war scene.
Very few people in this country are awaro
that the beautiful and fertile land of the
Hungarans embraces between its three main
rivers, the Danube, the Tisza and he Maros,
perhaps the largest area of true 81 nd desert
IN Europe 40 miles in length with an aver
age breadth of 10 miles For purposes of
administration Hungary is composed of coun-
tles and certain towns which are Independents
OF the county organization. The freedom of
these towns IS explained by the fact that
when the Turks overran the country. mur-
dered or carried off into slavery the noonIa
who lived in smaller villages or on remot.
farms, the larger towns alone were strong
enough to resist the INVASION and when. at
the end of the seventeenth century tba
Turks were finally driven from the country,
the urban authorities had no difficulty in
acquiring title to immense stretches Of sur
rounding land
In view OF the present Importance of the
TODD problem it is well to know that nearly
three-quarters of the people of Hungary de-.
rive their living from the land Wheat.
maize and oats are the principal Hungarian
cereals Barley is almost exclusively nro-
duced by the Slovaks, lf-brothers Of tho
Czechs IN Bohemia, and occupying part of
the southern slopes of the Carpathians
Cattle are raised all over Hungary but Inv
tar the best area is the country alone the
@NN'eiio'i oVuHudiy from tne northern
talns to the edge of the Carso, where slo-
Saks' Germans, Magyars and Croats raise
cattle almost equally well. In Transvlvania
the Rumanians raise. in addition. sheen.
Their German neighbors bestow thei. favor,te
care on the pig The sheep are frequently
MIXED, and there is an important produc-
ton OF sheep cheese.
The Pan-Slavists and the Allies dream of a
reunion OF the Slovaks, Czechs and poles
by means Of corridor of territory which
approS,mateiy includes the borderlands be-
tween Austria and Hungary. from ,ba na,,,.h..
10 the Drave. The population of the Ans.
TRAN portion OF this corridor is entirely Ger.
man. II but a small strip OF Hungary he IN
ciuded then again the people are chiefly
herman; If the area is widened. the extr,
"ldtn encroaches upon Magyar lands. Tha
solnelon OF this politlco- economical problem
Is therefore bescs with untold diiicultics