The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-02-05
So Far is Corfu, Part Of Sea
Lock is Concerned in the
European War.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-"Corfu.
whose occupation by the Italians and
Serbians recently brought forth a
protest from Greece. is one of the
parts OF the lock that secures the
Adriatlc sea at Its narrow neck from
the Ionian sea and the open waters
OF the Mediterranean" begins a
sketch on war geography Issued to-
day by the National Geographic Soci-
ETY.. Every power and alliance Of
powers, which have sought mastery
OF Adriatic waters, from the Delian
League in the fifth century before
4 Christ to the Entente Allies In the
twentieth century after Christ, have
warred for possession OF Corfu. Cor
\ fu, then, in the role OF storm CEN
ter in the clash OF southeastern Eu-
ropes riyalres, Is but experiencing
another OF the countless repetltions of
Its history.
Corfu lies like a water-tower in
the lonian sea before the narrowing
entrance Of the Strait of Otranto To
the north Of 1t. a rugged finger OF
Albanian mountain land reaches out
into the strait, and, bending back
forms the splendid naval harbor OF
Avlona, one OF the golden hopes OF
Austrian and Italian ambitions. To
the northwest OF Corfu. the long Ital-
ian heel cuts out into the waters Of
the lonlan sea. Together, these three
elements dominate the Adriatic's out
let. and around them the strife of our
civilization among Its own members
might almost be said to have kindled.
Great Fertility.
There is great fertility and much
picturesque beauty in the island, the
most northerly Of the Ionian islands
and one Of the most important. 1t
Is thirty-eight miles long, varying in
breadth from three to twenty miles,
and containing 275 square mics of
area. 1t supports about 10000 in
habltants. Abruptly mountainous
with highly fruitful valleys between
Corfu follows the nature of the other
lonian islands. Pantogrator, 5000
feet high, rises the loftiest peak on
the island. Its largely bald head is
the only present-day memorial to
many prehistoric fable and myth.
About the time Grecian states
broke through the uncertain veil of
tradition into the age of history and
criticism, Corfu was settled by COL
cnists from Corinth, the date being
placed at 734 B. c. The colony grew
rapidly in wealth, in maritime power,
and into a confident spirit of indie
pendence. In the course of a DISPUTE
with the mother-city, it allied itself
with Athens, much as our colonial
iorefathers allied themselves with
England's great rival, France. More
over, Just as our alliance with France
Is held to have been a contributary
cause to far greater, an overshad-
owing conflict. so the alliance
brought about by Corcyreans was one
OF the causes of the outbreak of the
Peloponnesian war, the world-war OF
classic times.
Scene of Battles.
Next the Romans, becoming a
jealous power on the Adriatic, felt
the need Of the island that n desire
to control this vitality important sea-
arm always brings, and took Corfu
under their protection in 229 B. C.
l'yzantium held It during the middle
ages; and the Venetians, come to
world-power as dictators of Adriatic
waters. held Corfu, defending it by
bribery, wonderful naval combats
and stubborn land fighting against
the most bitter attacks OF Turkey un-