The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-01-07

1
LII from southwest to northeast
the route to Berlin that Allied air
men longed to take, but could not.
A green and smiling country it lies
below us, about the size of Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois and Michigan COM
bined. It stretches from the Alps
and the Bohemian mountains north
west TO. the Baltic and the North
Sea, and from Belgium and Luxem-
bourg on the west to the restored
republic of Poland on the east.
Like silvery ribbon the Rhine,
the king of German rivers, flows
from Switzerland to the sea. 1t is
connected by canals with both the
Danube and the Rhone, so that COM
merce from its shores can pass
either to the North Sea, the Medi-
terannean, or the Black Sea. It's
falls at Schaffhausen are the largest
and most picturesque in Europe.
Palatial steamers bear travellers
down it's stream. past historic cities
of the Middle Ages, past busting
seats of modern industry and COM
merce, to sunny vineyards on ter
raced hills, and innumerable heights
crowned with ruined castles. The
middle Rhine and the valley OF the
Moselle, its chief tributary from the
west, produce some of the finest
wines in the world.
D1os., =, Nyo,HI.
Northern Germany unfolds itself
before us as fairly uniform plain,
a part of the great lowland that
extends from the vast expanse OF
Russia to the English Channel.
Across its numerous large rivers
flow northward-the Ems. Weser,
Elbe, Oder and Vistula--all with
large seaports at or near their
mouths, and navigable for steam
boats either entirely across or far
into the heart Of Germany.
The German plain Is narrowed in
the west by the Thuringian hills and
the Harz mountains. Like all noun
tains of Germany proper, these are
'old, worn down ranges and are forest
covered. In places, also, low hills
parallel the sandy shores of the Bal
tic. Forests of beech, spruce and
pine and numerous marshy lakes are
found in the east, and near the
western coast desolate moors.
The sandy soil and harsh climate
OF the northern plains are unfavor-
able to agriculture, but science and
patient labor produce on the great
estates of Prussia and Pomerania
bountiful crops Of rye, barley, oats,
sugar beets and potatoes-potatoes
by the millions of bushels, for these
are the chief food Of the German
people. Horses, cattle, sheep and
hogs are also raised extensively,
while the turf cut from the Lune-
burg moorlands supplements the
coal and Ignite from more favored
regions.
Berlin Is Capital
In this northern half-the essen.
TALLY Prussian part OF Germany
lies Berlin the most modern Of
European capitals. No American
city can, present a more amazing
example of growth and none any
where such cheerless and pretentious
magnificence.
Only three important ports-the
quaint Hanseatic town Of Lubbock,
humdrum Stettin, and Konigsburg--
remain in the possession Of Germany
on the Baltic today; for Danzig and
Mcneil are in the Treaty of Yer
sailles. Facing the North Sea, how
ever, are the still thriving maritime
cities Of Bremen and Hamburg. The
former naval harbor of Kiel also
stands at the Baltic end Of the great
canal which cuts across the neck Of
Jutland. Excepting Kiehl, all these
German maritime cities are river
mouth ports. Shipbuilding and fish.
cries are among the most important
industries in this region.
Finally we shall notice that this
plain. owing to it's lack Of
protecting mountain barriers, lies
open toSeasy invasion. IIords OF bar.