Pola
until the World War of 1914- 1918, the most important naval station of Austria-Hungary; situated near the S. extremity of the peninsula of Istria; 105 miles S. of Trieste. The harbor is thoroughly sheltered, deep, and spacious gest fleet. enough to accommodate the largest The town is protected by forts and batteries, and is overlooked by the citadel, by which it and the bay are commanded.
There are also artillery and powder stores, docks, slips, etc. The cathedral dates from the 15th century. Pola is also a shipping port, exporting wood, fish, sand and building stones, and importing provisions, coal, and bricks. Founded traditionally by the Colchians who were sent in pursuit of Jason, Pola was destroyed by Augustus, but rebuilt at the request of his daughter, Julia, on which account it was named Pietas Julia.
It was destroyed in 1267 by its Venetian masters, who had conquered it in 1148; and in 1379 the Genoese, after routing the Venetians in a sea fight off the town, once more ravaged it. But it only passed from Venice in 1797 to Austria, who chose it as her chief naval harbor POLAND. in 1848. It contains numerous interesting Roman remains, among them a well preserved amphitheater, 450 feet long and 360 broad. A temple and several ancient gates are also extant. Pop. about 75,000. Pola was the scene of several mutinies during the World War that led to many executions. In the night of Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 1918, two Italian officers, Col. Rossetti and Dr. Paolucci, swam into the harbor and destroyed the new Austrian superdreadnought, "Viribis Unitis."
POLAND and hastened its fatal end. Count Poniatowski who, in 1764, was elected to the throne with the name of Stanislaus Augustus, was the last king of Poland.
Under this unfortunate sovereign, the country became the theater of a long and devastating war; the cities were pillaged, the country deluged by hosts of Cossacks and brutal Muscovite soldiery, and Poland in the end divided between Catharine of Russia, Joseph II., Emperor of Germany, and Frederick of Prussia. This shameful partition of an ancient nation, which drove Stanislaus in exile to France, was perpetrated in 1772. In 1795, a further dismemberment was effected between the three great powers, and the whole of Poland absorbed, except the ancient city of Cracow, with a few miles of adjacent country, which, elected into a free and independent State, was left to point to future ages where the once warlike nation of Poland stood on the physical map of Europe. Frequent insurrections have occurred. In 18 1830, a revolution took place, but ended in the surrender of Warsaw and the dispersion of the Poles. In 1832, what remained of Poland was declared a part of the Russian empire. In 1846, an attempt was made at Cracow to recover independence, but it ended in the subjugation of the last remnant of the country, which was annexed to Austria.
In 1863, the Polish people, under the leadership of Langiewicz, made another abortive attempt to free their country from the Russian yoke. In 1864, Poland was deprived of its administrative independence, and in 1868 was incorporated absolutely with Russia; trial by jury was abolished and the use of the Polish language officially (for signboards, railways, wills, etc.) was prohibited. At the outbreak of the World War (1914- 1918) Austrian Poland enjoyed autonomy. Russian Poland was invaded and occupied by German and Austrian armies in 1915. In November, 1916, the German and Austrian Emperors proclaimed the independence of Poland. Regency councils were appointed in 1917 and attempts were made to frame a constitution, but nothing effective was accomplished. In October, 1918, the council and convocation proclaimed a Constitutional Assembly to take direction of the country. In December, 1918, a republic was established and Joseph Pilsudski was made president. In 1919 Poland suffered from enemies without and within. She was attacked by Russian Soviet Government forces, and in the spring and summer of 1920 waged a successful offensive war against the Russians, which concluded with a treaty of peace between the countries in December, 1920.