German History

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 71, 13 August 1914, Page 7

German History

A BRIEF RESUME. The power of Germany was almost destroyed by the wars immediately following tin; French Revolution. In I8(!(i, Francis 11. resigned tlic title of Emperor of Germany, having assumed lliat of Emperor of Austria, with which the Holy Roman Empire ended. in 1813, tlie allied armies of Prussia, Russia, Sweden and England, frustrated the plans of Napoleon to add most of the German states to Franco at the battle of Leipzig, and his ::is: hope was destroyed at Waterloo in 1815. The Congress of Vienna i !r:!e:: loured to restore order, and ori ani ■;■:! a (lerman Confederation, of wir... tsc Emperor of Austria, was chosen president, Frederick William HI. a.-, ruler of Prussia, receiving one-third of Saxony. In 184S, the National Assembly, which met in Berlin for tllie purpose of forming a national Constitution, was prevented from rendering material aid by the rivalry of Prussia and Austria, and was followed by a revolution, but Frederick William IV. restored order by promising a Constitution. The growing popularity of Bismarck and his firm rule led to a final union of many of the States. In 18(!6 occurred the war between Austria and Prussia, known as the Seven Weeks' War, which wa's the last great struggle for German unity, and under the leadership of von Moltke, the Austrians were utterly routed at Sadowa, in Bohemia, on July 3. The Prussians occupied Vienna on August 23, and the war terminated after seven weeks. In the peace treaty which followed, Austria was shut out of the federation formed north of the Main river. Franse, jealous of the rising power of the House of Hohenzollern, was trapped to declare war when Leopold, a member of the ■family, was offered the crown of Spain. War was declared on July 19, 1870, and the South German States were enthusiastic from the first in supporting Prussia, while the northern states slhoved an interest equal in degree to the cause of unity. Two powerful armies invaded France, and by a spirit of marked enthusiasm won battle after battle, captured Napoleon 111. with an army of 90,000 men, and sent him to Germany as a prisoner. A siege of Paris caused that city to surrender on January 29, 1871. The treaty which foiled required France to pay 1,000,000,000d01. as a war indemnity, and scde Alsace and the German portion of Lorraine to Germany. . The most important result of the war with France was the solidification of the Gorman States, the development of a spirit of nationalism, and. the restoration of the old Empire. King William was proclaimed Emperor, with the title of Williamjl., on January IS, 1871, before leaving the. capital of France, and was received on his return by his own people with signal demonstrations. Among the subsequent events of the Empire are its constant growth of influence. colonial expansion, the building of great railroads and canals, and -vast improvements in economical) and social life. The Triple Alliance, formed by Germany, Austria and Italy on March 8, 1888. strengthened the peace aspect of Europe, and was renewed by Caprivi, tne Chancellor, who succeeded Bismarck. William T. was succeeded by Frederick, Itis son, on March 9. ISSS. but the new Emperor suffered from a cancerous alTcction in the throat, and .died on June li>, and was succeeded by :his son, William fj. The latter at once adopted the policy of William 1. and Bismarck in extending the colonial empire, enlarged the army and navy, and vigorously super- ; vised the internal conditions of his dominion. lie visited many of the leading courts of Europe in 1889. Two years later he ap]>oin.tcd Chancellor Caprivi to succeed Bisina-rck, and in 1894 selected Prince von Hohenlohe for that position. Wilinm If. visited Palestine in 1898, where lie took a prominent part in consecrating an Evangelical church, the church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem. The Empire became involved in a controvcrs.- with China in 1900, owing to the murder of a German minister at Pekin (Clemens A. von Kettcler, 1853-19091. and fcnt an army and warships for the purpose of securing to the empire an adjustment of important issues between the two nations. Other complications followed, and led to an alliance of Eu--1 ropcan Powers and the United States. I the allied army being commanded by (Count Waldersee. The contentions resulted in an extension of foreign interests; in China, Germany securing its share of the benefits, in addition to a payment for individual damages sustained. A disagreement between the •Emperor and Ifohcnlohe in regard to the policy relating to China caused tihe latter to resign, when Count Von Bulow became Chancellor, to lie in turn succeeded by Dr. von Betbmann-Holhveg.

HAMBURG. A free titv of Germany, 011 the north branch of tiro Elbe, about 80 miles from rlio North Sea. The site of the city proper 'has an area of 3ft square miles, but the region included in the State oEHamburg embraces >159 square miles. With it are a number oE contiguous districts and the island of Xeinverk, in the estuary of the lilbe. Many orchards, gardens, and dairy farms surround the , city. Hamburg is the most important commercial city of Continental Europe, bavin;,' a line harbor, wharves, and steamboat connections. It contains excellent public institutions, numerous centres of learning, several libraries, observatories, arid botanical gardens, Among the chief buildings are the Exchange. Ilie Government House, the Town Tlall, the churches of St. Michael and St. Nicholas, and the Public Library of 1 ]5.000 volumes. It has monuments of Lessiug, Schaper, Schilling, and the soldiers who fell in the FranuoCcrnian War. Besides electric railways, it has waterworks, electric lighting, boulevard;, sewerage. and many parks. Tli" importance of its harbor is increased by convenient railroad and canal fn ilities. As n money exchange it is, •1. \t to Loudon, liie most important, of Kurope. Among the manufactures are •■ugar, spirituous beverages, scientific in-.-1 r■iiments, cured meats, engines, m:ielMiery, cotton, woollen and sill; goods, '• i"'!;'.ge and tobacco. Tts ship-lmi]din£ are extensive and of vast iinpor■ i a nee. , Educationally, Hamburg is in n. flouri •'.i: 1 condition, in religion, the people .11" largely Protestant. Tt dates from sr.'i. wiien it was by Oliarle!i..:iip. Ifmmvr. i!.- commercial iniliortance began 111 T1 SO. at which time it was in.'ile a free iii'. Th l - 2d 1 it led in the formation <>/ the Hansealic League of Towns, and -/." H after .increased its territory. It was occupied by the French in ISOfi. annexed to France four years later, and when French dominion ceased in ISI4. it had lost much of its commercial importance. In ISIS. it became one of the tour free cities of the German Confederation, and since then lias enjoyed phenomenal prosperity, though vast damage was done by a fire in 18--)?. Its inclii l'M the suburban towns of Cnxhaven, Kitzebuttel, and several (others. • These and Hamburg proper constitute the most important passenger and emigrant centre of Northern Europe. Population, 1905: Hamburg city, 802,793; Hamburg state, 974,478. -r

■BERLIN" The third city in Europe and the capital of the German Empire. H ia situated in ti>o province of Brandenburg, on the Spree river, and it capital of the. kingdom of Prussia. The city ia located in the centre of what was originally a sandy plain, but the region has lia-i been improved by' fertilisation and culti\ation, and .produces abundantly. In ll«. thirteenth century it was a soiall li.-.ni.;;.' village inhabited by Wends, its growth and prosperity date from The reign of Frederick William, the Great j Elector, from lG4cj to Ki!iS, who united the separate duchies of what Prussia is now formed, and made Berlin the capital, larjfi'ly because of its central location. In 1881 it covered an area of 14.™ aires; in ISBB, over 1,000,0(10 ( acre.-,; and at the present time it is , the largest city m the German Empire.' The original or older part of Berlin lias narrow streets, and is built irregularly, but the newer part is well plantted, lias wide streets covered with sub- " stantial pating, Una its edifices and pub- I lie buildings are constructed of durable 1 stone in fine architectural forms. 'Fred- ' ericx William (tevotecl much energy to ' enlarging ami beautifying the city, and at the end of ins reign it lias a popula- ' tion of 50.000. Many substantial improvements made by him are still intact. At tlhe end of the reign of Frederick 11. the city had grown to a population of , 145,000. After tlie defeat of Napoleon in 1815, the rise of the German power , made Berlin tlie centre of art and , science and an important sense of commerce, while following the successes of Germany in 1870-1,-it growth was stimulated with a rapidity never before known In 1905 it had a population of •2,040,148./ Berlin is. one of ffic greatest centres of art and intelligence. Tlie Royal library- contains more than a million volumes, besides 16,000 manuscripts and charts. Its museums are among the' most famous, containing magnificent I specimens of ancient and modern trcas urea. Eight public museums, besides the National Gallery and Royal Museum, arc maintained and liberally endowed. Each has an old and new part, in which the. defTerent exhibits are located. Among them are antiquities of - remote ages; easts of ancient, medieval, and modern sculptors; pictures representing the six great epochs in tram an progress; collections of engravings; and galleries of curiosities. Among tne many vory elegant, churches of Berlin arc the Michaelskircne ■ (Caitliolic) and the Protestant Dukeskirche, Heilegekranskirche, Zionskirche, , and Thomasckiirche. The system of ed- r ueation is compulsory. Schools, public • and private, are divided into kindcr : j garten, elementary, middle, and higher. 1 There are about 30 high schools, some ; of which _ have gymnasiums attached, while othfera are called realschulen, in which Latin, higher mathematics, modern languages, sciences, and commercial pursuits are taught. The universities, normal schools, and academies, ' culminate in the University of Berlin, ', one of tlie_ great seats of modern learn- j - in*. ' I Among the noted thoroughfares of Berlin is >Unter den Linden, reputed to be the most beautiful street in the world. It is adorned by magnificent structures its entire length of twnthirds of a mile. Many public places are beautified with costly monuments. The most noted is the one dedicated to Frederick the. Great, opposite the Emperor's Palace, which was completed by Ranch in 1703, and is regarded as the tin- I est monument ill > Europe. Other noted monuments are those dedicated to Fred- j prick William TIT., those, commemorating 1 tlie generals of the Seven Years' War and the generals who fought against •Napoleon 1., and a beautiful bronze Gothic monument erected by Frederick William ITT. to commemorate the victories of 1813-15. The monument built by | Emperor William T., in the Konigsplatz, to commemorate the triumphs of ISU4, 1806, and 1870, rises to a height of 187 j feet. These and others represent l>y statutes and "busts the celebrated German promoters of literature, science and military and political life. There are zoological and botanical gardens remarkable for extensive and beautiful collections of animal and plant growth. The city has 750 public buildings, including the Royal Palace, the Reichstag buildings, and the Brandenburg Gate. . The interior of the city is devoted almost exclusively to commerce, while he resident portion is distribute'dt round the outside. Railroads, electric street railways, extensive canals, and tramways are accessible in all parts of the city, and make it at once a notable centre o[ modern convenience and business activity. The electric lights, gas system, telephones, and tramways are owned, controlled and operated under the government of the city. The sewer system of Berlin is not only complete and serviceable, but is counted one of r the most practical in the world. All the refuse matter is carried to one point, ! from which it is pumped by means of great tunnels to ouflving districts and used for fertilising the soil. This condition makes it possible to utilise the- rcfuso animal and vegetable, matter of the city for the purpose of increasing the production of vast areas of tillable land, a result that should be obtained in all cities. Manufactures and trades are conducted on a large i scale. The production of ladies' mantles alone is over 25 million dollars annually, while sewing machines, clothing, machinery, hardware, jewellery, musical instruments, and other productions are of equal importance. The government of the city is under the. direction of a mayor and 3-1 magistrates, who are elected without regard to politics. The council consists of 108 members, elected for si\ years. Voters are divided into 'three classes —those, who pay one-third of the whole city tax, those who pay taxes equal to two thirds, and the remainder. Each of these classes have an equal representation on the council. Under this system the, problem of citv government has .been successfully solved, and Berlin is not plagued with the usual corruption in government common to most large cities.

"BREMEN. An important fret! city in (lermany, ou (lie Wiser river, about 50 miles from its mouth. The free district ilia-; an area of IMVsqiiare miles, ami. besides the eify, iiiclmli . Tiremer!iave:i. a porl on the estuary of the Wcser. The port has wet and dry docks, an excellent harbor, and a hospitium for emigrants: population, •2:lfl!ll. Bremen is one of the most important and historic cities of Europe, ft was made n bishopric in the year 788 by Charlemagne, awl was for some time a member of the League of Cities. The government is by a senate and council, lmder a constitution which is republican in form. Bremen is the principal seat of the German export and import trade, and tlie most important port for emigrants. Its foreign trade extends to all the foreign countries of the world, including a large trade with the I'liiled Pta'The imports aggregate ' about fi,".()n;).(!Ofldol. worth of-commodities, while its exports aro eorrcs|,eii(iit!!'lv large. The manufactures in'dude sugar, tobacco products, ironware, machinery, pottery, fabrics, chemicals, cordage, steamboats, am! engines. Among the chief buildings, are a Gothic council house, the Town Hall, the Merchants' 'House, the Exchange

Buildings, and a eatlhedrai founded in 1050. The school system is open to free admission, and tho attendance is compulsory. Tiie public schools carry courses which range from the kindergarten to the high school, and the instruction - is closely articulated with that' given in (lie gymnasiums and trade schools. Tt lias a large public library, many wellkept promenades, two extensive" parks, , «nd a large number of magnificent churches, among them the Protestant Church dedicated to St. Elizabeth, with a steeple 304 feet high and a splendid organ. Wihile the city contains a number of old parts, it has been largely affected by modern trade, and has responded liberally to the demands of modern culture ami architecture. It has manufactures of wooden, silk, linen and cotton goods, jewellery, machinery, Sace, : and so on. j