Besika Bay

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a bay on the N. W. coast of Asia Minor, opposite Tenedos, to the S. of the entrance of the Dardanelles. The English fleet was stationed here during crises in the Eastern question in 1853-1854 and 1877-1878. former province BESSARABIA, a of the Russian Empire between the Pruth, the Danube, and the Dniester. It stretches from Galicia southerly toward the Black Sea and is bounded by Dobrudja on the S., Moldavia on the S. W. and W., and by Podolia and Kherson on the N. and E. The area is 17,143 square miles. There is a conglomerate population, consisting of Rumanians, Russians, Poles, Armenians, Jews, and Greeks. The country is agricultural and the sowing and harvesting of crops employs the energies of over two million of the people. The capital is Kishinev. When Rumania was conquered by the Central Powers and forced to subscribe to the humiliating peace of Bucharest, she was permitted as a compensation for her territorial losses to annex Bessarabia. The purpose of Germany at the time was to hasten still further the disintegration of Russia. When, however, Germany was defeated and the treaty of Bucharest annulled It contains iron foundries, coke ovens, a the question was thrown open and brought before the peace conference for consideration. It was argued by the Bessarabian advocates of nationality that the annexation was unjustified and imperialistic and contrary to the principle of the self-determination of peoples. It was claimed on behalf of the Rumanians that the bulk of the Bessarabian people favored union with Rumania, and this seemed to be borne out by the elections at the close of 1919 in which the successful candidates were chosen on the platform of union. The province was finally allotted to Rumania by the Peace Conference. Pop. about 2,700,000.