The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-08-08
THE ISLE OF CYPRUS.
England's Latest Acquisition-A Terres-
trial Paradise.

from the London Daily Telegraph
A paper of research, as well as of sig
nificance, was read some days ago at
the United Service Institution, by Gen.
Sir Frederic Goldsmid, on the topic of
Communication with British India
Under Possible Contingencies Sir
Frederic GoldsInid is an acknowledged
expert upon this large problem. He has
served in the Crimea and in India, in
important posts; he helped to estab-
fish the Turko-Asiatic line of telegraph,
together with the late Col. Patrick
Stewart; he negotiated the Indo-Otto-
man Telegraph Convention, and assist
ed in settling the Seistan boundary line
between Persia and Affghanistan. A
Knight of the Star of India and Com
panion of the Bath, Sir Frederic spoke
on this matter with patriotism, expert
ence, and cO'snasssance de cause; and
the chief text of his interesting lecture
was throughout Cyprus Seeking
near and far for the most convenient
point d'appui for maritime and COM
mercial station which should best guard
the head of a new railway route to In
dia, and afford to British interests a
counterbalance for the menace insepara-
BILE from Russian annexation, the spot
to which he directed the attention of
his audience was the fair and extensive
island which lies in the Syrian corner
of the Mediterranean. Cyprus in the
hands of Great Britain, Gen. Goldsmid
said, would be an invaluable acquisition,
and worth any amount of land on the
coast. The distance from it to the sew
eral ports of the mainland is not great.
A railway terminus for the Persian Gulf
line might be reached thence in a very
few hours, and fair-Weather boats might
carry over a thousand passengers
troops or civilians-at an inconsiderable
cost. The possession of Cyprus would
facilitate the selection of such a
terminus; for, with so convenient a
tenancy, we only require on the MAIN
land landing place, offices, sheds for
temporary accommodation of troops,
and residence for small railway staff
provided from our headquarters in the
island. The General is in favor of COM
mencing work at Tripoli or Tyre for
the inevitable Indo-E European railway,
and of taking it through the Palmyra
Desert to a suitable point on the Euphra-
ties, and thence to the Persian Gulf.
But he urged that we should in any case
inaugurate our operations for overland
communication with India by establish
ing depot both for men and materials
at the island of Cyprus. He did not
consider it romancing to say that the
journey from the Island to Karachi
might in this way be accomplished with
in week, allowing day and half for
embarkation. The total distance is
2,l5O miles, which, at % miles an hour
by rail and 10 miles an hour by river,
gives total of 1875 hours; and, allow
ing for delays 80 hours, the travelling
time reached is LAG hours, or six and a
half days. The lecturer, however, prin-
cipally dwelt on the advantages of an
island stronghold in this sea, to all in
tents and purposes British; protected
by material force-not a mere ship or
two, with a guard of Marines but with
powerful garrisons as well as depots.
he concluded by observing: 81 should
be very glad to think q practical notion
OF this kind could find place among the
minor considerations of the great Con-
gress now sitting; for, if peace follows
the present negotiations, no time should
be lost in carrying out the railway,
whether its existence have been provid-
ed for by payment, or in compensation
for claims, or as part of an Anglo-Otto-
man scheme of mutual benefit.''
In connection with this 'sAnglo- Otto
man scheme of mutual benefit it is
worth while to look little closer at
Cyprus, which, having been so inn
portant in ancient times, may thus, per-
chance, recover its fame and celebrity.
Nearly $50 miles long, with breadth
OF from 55 to 81 miles, it is an ample
dominion in itself, and one of the most
beautiful and capable in the world. It's
alleged malaria is calumny founded