The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-18

Nl\ v NASHlNGTON, D. C.. August WNV 7,-(Special. )--The compile ton of the internationaliza-
 tion of the Danube by the recent for
 nal action of the interested allied powers announced in Paris dispatches is the occasion for the issuance from
 the Washington, D. C., headquarters
 of the National Geographic societx, of the following bulletin descriptive of the famous river:
 From the Black forest to the Black sea, over course 1,So0 miles
 in length, the Danube has long been chain upon which romance and his-
 tory have vied with each other to
 hang interesting traditions and oc- currences. Geography, too, has done
 it's share, and although the volga exceeds its rival in length, and all
 though the Rhine in Thackeray and Hood has had better press agents, the
 Danube is large enough and beauti- ful enough to rank in interest with
 the great rivers of the world.
 There was time when the Dan- ube was symbolized by an old-fash-
 toned waltz. But since the World
 war began, nothing but hesitation l typifies the place the river has held
 in the economic life of the countries through which it runs. 1t has been less the highway and more the bar rier than in pre-war days. Not yet tions through which it passes into a 1 friendly and cooperating group. It has been officially open to ships of all nations since the forming of the various states interested long CO., operated to improve the navigation facilities, especially in the lower
 reaches of the river; but political conditions have done much to weaken
 the economic link which once bound
 Linz and Vienna to the great grain shipping center of Braila, to which
 ocean going vessels can steam, and | eO sAiS i1&NSH SSR POi tS tICihoCiNCSs Charming villages, \. beautiful
 meadows, picturesque hills crowned
 with ruined castles, princely palaces, ecclesiastical piles and two of the
 worlds most fascinating capitals are
 strung along the lengthy and wind ing river. Thriving industries raise
 their smokestacks beside the stream
 whe se legendary color is blue. but whose true tint varies from dirty
 green to muddy yellow. More tragic than the encroachment of fac tory smoke has been in late years the
 sad sight of countless chimneys from which the life breath of industry seemed to have expired forever.
 Near it's source at Donaueschin- gen. the river passes between the castle which gave it's name to the late
 ruling family in Germany and war l monument to the Hohenzollern men
 who fell in the Franco Prussian war
 Farther down it passes through the once proud capital of Austria Hun
 gary. where the fine government
 buildings stand to the despairing Inhabitants as a mocking reminder of better days. and beside the Prater, once deer park and later a pleasure garden, noted for it's Viennese gaiety. The Danube
 Still further along it's course just after entering Czecho- -Slovakia. at it's l junction with the March. there is a towering cliff spired with a monu-
 ment erected to celebrate 1000 years 1 of Hungarian nationality. This is Czecho- -Slovakian territory now, and
 there last summer the Stars and
 Stripes were draped on >the occasion of the visit of large Group of i Czech Americans to the newly freed I land of their fathers.
 "Bratislava, now Czecho- Slo- Evakia's river port, was once the city
 in whose dignihed cathedral the Hun
 garian kings were crowned The
 boat station there reveals the
 changes which history has wrought.
 Over the center of the landing the present name is given. but to the
 left one can see most of the letters lof the German name 'Prcssburg and
 Ito the right there is the Hungarian
 came 'Poszony.
 Vienna broodins in it's lovely
 rarks. which lack the care that was
 once lavished on them. and contesn-
 plating with cyntcism the motto! sl
 Wis Pasem. Para Belium, whose ] golden letters decorate the walls of