El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-05
BreSt LSCenter
OfDiSabbearing
Race OfPeObIe
Bretons, Picturesque and
Lovable, Most Unique
In All France.

Washington. D. c., March~5.-Brest
debarkation port in France for Amer
lean troops and supplies, where presi-
dent Wilson first set foot on French
soil. is the subject OF a bulletin just
issued by the National Geographic So
ciety. The city recently has attracted
wide attention because OF allegations
and denials concerning the sanitary
condition Of the American rest camp
in its vicinity.
Thousands OF American boys viii
say goodbye 70 France at the historic
port Of Brest, which now contains few
reminders of its eventful annals says
the bulletin
Men who fought in Flanders will
have heard the name Of Sebastian
Nauban. famous soldier-engineer, who,
when governor Of Lille $50 years ago.
had charge Of all military work in
Flanders As the Americans sail away
from Brest. the sky line viii show
the donjon and towers OF the old cas-
tie, 18th century defences reinforced
by Vauban.
Noted Military Engineer.
Left an orphan at 10, so poor At
Il that when he was offered a COM
mission he had to refuse il, Nauban
won lasting prestige in military en-
500 old IOrrresSeS, built numerous
new ones. including the Dunkirz and
Namur Qualifications; had part in
so sieges and many other battles. and
developed the siege method Of parallel
column approach. ricochet firingg and
vertical fire attack
should an American soldier have
missed Paris but seen Brittany-Brest
is at the extreme west ened Of the
land Of the picturesque BretOns-he
may not regret that fate in after life.
For Paris always viii be there But
the unique Breton folk, with their
Celtic speech. legends, lore, and folk
songs, and medieval customs. in
some respects suggesting a little
patch Of ireland kransplanted TO
France, are disappearing. Even now
the war has caused the abandonment.
in large measure, OF the varicOlored
costumes. red, violet and blue, worn
alike by men and women
The BretOns always have been IN
dependent and liberty loving In the
middle ages IL was often said, He IS
not duke Of Brittany who IS not lord
Of BresL" The Bretons had conferred
upon them by Charles VII. CT
France. the right TO pay only such
taxes as their assembly Of estates ap-
proved in the very year that Colum bus
set out TO discover a land which was
TO raise that point some 800 years
later
Anne Of Brittany.
should any returning soldier think
he has evolved an original idea in
marrying by proxy, a procedure sol
EMMY approved a few weeks ago by
the judge advocate general Of the
army. he has failed 10 learn much
about the famous Anne Of Brittany.
Becoming duchess Of Brittany
when she was but = years old. Anne
d -sr IA
older male monarch want TO flee 10
Holland. When aler duchy was in
Vaded by a French army. Anne mar
ried Macmillan Of Austria. by proxy,
10 protect her lands Having resorted-
paradoLfcally, TO marriage as
means Of independence she later
married two kings Of France and ar
ranged 10 marry her daughter 10 a
third monarch
'Brest overloolzs a large. land
locked harbOr. Il miles long and half
as wide, which accommodates hun
dreds Of vessels The city IS hllly-
Flights Of stairs often take the place
Of sidewalks In many houses one
may gaze from a first story window
into a second or third story Of
neighbOring residence.
Divided by n River.
The Penfeld river. emptying INFO
Brest roads, divides the major portion
Of the city from the section known
as Recouvrance- In this river was
Frances naval port, excavated from
rock Along both sides, before the
war, extended foundries, magazines
repair docks and work shops, en-
ployinE 1000 men Across the river
was built one OF tho largest swinging
bridges in the world
In peace time Brest was a COM
mercial port Of importance. 1t re-
ceived timber, coal, fertilizers and sea
food, and exported wheat flour. fruit, I
and chemicals made in Brest from
seaweed- Other Brest industries were
milling. the manufacture OF
shoes, linen and candles, and metal
work
Along a boulevard. the Cours