382 ANNAL,^ \/:\\ YOlx'K ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



surface topography. Special attention was given to the Ehine graben 

 and the strong cojitrast between the steep eastern and gentle western 

 slope of the Vosges ; the maturely d issected peneplane of western Germany 

 and the Ardennes trenched bv the incised nieaiKlerinf]: vallevs of the 

 Rhine, Moselle aiid Meuse ; the concentric cuestas northeast and east of 

 Paris, with their steep escarpments facing toward the Germans; and the 

 comparatively level plains of central and northwestern Belgium. 



The topography of western Europe limited the Germans to four prin- 

 cipal routes of invasion: (1) from Strassburg in the Rhine Valley over 

 the Vosges or via the Belfort Gateway into France, and then over the 

 successive cuesta scarps to Paris; {2} from Coblentz via the Moselle Val- 

 ley route and Luxemburg into France, and then across the remaining 

 cuesta scarps to Paris; (3) from Cologne via the Meuse Valley route 

 through the Ardennes in Belgium to France, thus encountering a still 

 smaller number of the cuesta scarps; and (4) from Cologne and Aix-la- 

 Chapelle across the plains of Belgium through Brussels and Mons to 

 northern France, and thence via Cambria and St. Quentin to Paris. This 

 route (385 km.) is 50 per cent, longer from German territory to Paris 

 than is the one most feasible (Moselle Valley route, with distance 260 

 km. from German border to Paris, air line), but is topographically the 

 most favorable, although the choice involved longer lines of communica- 

 tion, the violation of Belgian neutrality and the possibility of war -with 

 Great Britain. Germany preferred that route whose topography most 

 favored the rapid advance of great armies and heavy artillery in the face 

 of an enemy. 



The influence of topographic details upon maneuvers at different 

 points of the battle lines was discussed, the strategic value of water gaps 

 and wind gaps, marshes due to river capture, and cuesta scarps being 

 especially evident in the battles of the Marne and Aisne. 



The paper was illustrated with maps, charts and lantern slides. 



The Section then adjourned. 



A. B. Pacini, 



Secretary. 

 SECTION OF BIOLOGY 



12 OCTOHKII, 1U14 



Section met at 8:15 p. m.. Professor Raymond C. Osburn presiding. 

 The minutes of the last meeting of the Section were read and approved. 

 The following programme was then offered : 



W. D. Matthew, New Discoveries in the Lower Eocene Mammals. 

 W.K.Gregory, An American Eocene Lemur {Notharctus Leidy). 



