The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-11-01

Washington, Nov. Cyprus Is
one Of the most important islands In
the Mediterranean" says "a bulletin
given out today by the National Geo.
graphic society, which describes Eng
lands reported offer to the Greeks
for their aid In the worid-war. There.
aye just two islands In the broad in
land sea larger than Cyprus, and these
are sicily and sardinia. There are
few islands In the world more rich
la historical association. and none
probably more coveted by a powerful
%ncighbors.
THE island lies In the mouth OF a
pocket formed by Asia Minor and
syria at the northeastern end of the
Mediterranean, beins about equally
distant from the mainland to the
north and to the east. II has an area
OF $3.50 square miles. or Is as large
as the states Of Delaware and Rhode
Island combined. Its greatest length
Is iii miles n It's greatest width II
60 ns.es. while It's average width h
more than 80 miles. 4 great part Of
the island. Is taken up by two rlauu-
tain ranges. one OF which ais much
4 the southern and central part, and
the other OF which stretches along the
uoVthcrn coast.
"1he coast of Asia Minor lies 40
miles TO the north. and that of syria
between fifty and fifty-five miles o.
the east. Although nominally a pos.
session OF the Ottoman empire up until
the outbreak of hostilities between
the Turks and the allies, cyprus has
been administered by Great Britain
since 1873, and now forms an integral
part OF the British empire. English
occupation has done much to improve
the conditions of health on the island
as Il has been a stimulus to its com
mercial development.
"The mountains OF the island arr
wild and beautiful, and upon thei
sides the forests are still growing tia
we're famed and priced In early Egyp
tan times. They also contain TN
! mines Of copper. celebrated amoni
the 8uclents n still richly product
i've. The highest altitude Is attaine,
by Mount Troodes. with "a SUNNI
O. t0b feet above sea level.
"a wide valley runs east and ives
through the central part OF Che ISLAND
This valley is about sixty miles lonl
with a breadth varying from ten q
twenty miles The mountain range
on either side send their waters 20 tn
valley through Intermittent torrents
Much of this lowland is unculticatcd
though ia the northern parts grain {
grown. The soil of the whole vale.
r Is good. and there Is 10 reason VIII.
r the uncertain water supply might no
j. be supplemented. bringing an 1T IN
= hand under cultivation. In the day
when western civilization was ia IL
D swaddling clothes. cyprus was widel
. known FOR It's impossible forest,
; which not only clothed the sides AM
SUBMITS OF its moultains with thica
dark masses OF green. but which over
; grew the whole floor of The valley be
5 tween with such an interlacing sturd.
u tangle OF trees and uudegarush that
y was difficult to clear the land for cut
q uvatiOn,
THE wonderful forests OF the land
: however. In the more than 1000 year
% OF exploitation hat have passed
% them. haye been almost entirely cu
away. These forests built the shin
LOT Egypt. OF Greek syrian rulers a
Asia Minor cities. and of Tprks, an
all thar remains of their once much
heraldcd glory are h pine growth
on the mountains. To-day the Who'll
%central plain Is bare a treeless an
, with the extinction OF the forests man
disadvantages OF climate have com
upon the island so that cyprus Of IA
lproSont In not The bright home 70