A RECORD NUMBER OF SIEGES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 255, 11 December 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

A RECORD NUMBER OF SIEGES.

Few towns in Franco can. boast oi tue samo importance in the religious and political history of the country as may 1)0 laid claim to by Soissons with its pleasant situation on tho left bank of the River Aisne. surrounded by wooded Hills. At 0110 time there was 110 more popoular place of pilgrimage, when abbeys were tho richest in the land with tho best olood of tbe coimtry at tlieir head, and when the abotts pt pt. ■Meaard, tho ni"st important of $ > abbevs during tho two dynasties, coined nionev. and were lords ol almost mnumerable villages, faras. and manors. » , • • i I Soi«on„ was the field. of the missmnarv labours ot St. Crispin and St. tnspinian. natrons of the siioemaking cialt, who brought Christianity to tho town in tho third century. They suffered sexerelv at the liands of Itictovarus the governor, under whose orders they \nere stretched on the rack and after the application of several other throw ninto the Aisue, a millstouo ha - iiic first In-en tied around the ncch ot each. They were able to swim, however, managed to reach tse opposite bank. At Soissoiis. too, A belaid ~ teaching were condemned, and he wag forced retract, while hero also Louis the rious did pen a uce after deposed by tlio assembly at C'oinpiegne. 1 The town's military importance wa> marked a* far back as the time of . "lms Cae>ar, and from it l<«d several 'iilitai: roads to the principal towns in the northern part of France. It has been tho scone of many victories and defeats, had boon sacked times without number, and enjoys an unenviable notoriety tor ■ tlio I'reat. number of s iogo s it has nnoerI gone! In the (iernians entered it after a bombardment- of four days.