Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-11-30
THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS
One Of the Most Important in the Med
iterranean Sea.

Cyprus Is one of the most import
ant islands in the Mediterranean"
says a bulletin given out recently
by the National Geographic society,
which describes England's reported
offer to the Greeks for their aid in
the world-war. There are just two
islands in the broad inland seq larger
than Cyprus, and these ere Sicily and
Sardinia. There are few islands in
the world more rich in historical as
sociations, and none, probably, more
coveted by a powerful neighbor.
The island lies in the mouth of a
Syria at the northeastern end Of the
Mediterranean, being about equally
distant from the mainland to the
north and to the east It has an area
of 1854 square miles, or is as large
as the states Of Delaware and Rhode
Island combined. Its greater length
is 141 miles and it's greater width is
go miles, while it's average width is
the island is taken up by two noun
tain ranges, one of which fills much
Of the southern and central part and
the other of which stretches along
the northern coast.
THE coast Of Asia Minor lies 46
miles to the north, and that Of Syria
between so and 55 miles to the east.
Although nominally a possession Of
the Ottoman empire up until the out
break Of hostilities between the
Turks and the Allies, Cyprus has been
administered by Great Britain since
1878, and now forms an integral part
of the British empire. England occu-
patton has done much to improve the
conditions Of health on the island, as
it has been a stimulus to the COM
mercial development.
1.-The mountains of the island are
wild and beautiful and upon their
sides the forests are still growing that
were famed and priced in early Egyp-
tian times. They also contain the
mines Of copper, celebrated among
the ancients and still richly produc-
tive. The highest altitude Is attain
ed by Mount Troodes, with a summit
6.406 feet above sea level.
"A wide valley runs, east and west,
through the central part Of the island.
This valley is about so miles long,
with a breadth varying from 10 to 20
miles. The mountain ranges on eth
er side send their waters to the val
ley through intermittent torrents.
Much Of this lowland is uncultivat-
ed, though in the northern parts
grain is grown. The soil of the whole
valley is good, and there is no reason
why the uncertain water supply
might not be supplemented, bringing
all Of the land under cultivation. In
| the days when western civilization
was in it's swaddling clothes. Cyprus
was widely known for it's impossible
forests, which not only clothed the
sides and SUBMITS Of it's mountains
with thick, dark masses Of green,
but which overgrew the whole floor of
the valley between with such an in
terlacing sturdy tangle Of trees and
underbush, that it was difficult to
clear the land for cultivation.
"The wonderful forests of the land,
however, in more than 1000 years OF
exploitation. that have passed over
them have been almost entirely cut
away. These forests built the ships of
Egypt, Of Greek Syrian rules, of
Asia Minor cities, and Of Turks, and
all that remains Of their once much
heralded glory are the pine srowths
on the mountains. Today the whole
central plain is bare and treeless, and
with the extinction of the forests
many disadvantages Of climate have
come upon the land, so that Cyprus
Of the present Is not the bright home
for men so bravely praised by the
Greeks of classic times. 1t is, never
theless, valuable land, and much of
it's former splendor could be brought
back to it by the proper administration
and development. The English have
already begun this work of rehabilita-
tion.
1.-The population Of the island Is
estimated at 100000, Greeks and