The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-11-07


ciety, Washington, D. CO
The recent occupation of the islam
of Corfu by Italy was on the face 0
1t the taking by force of Greek terri
tory by an alien nation; but the islam
has been cuffed about and batted bacl
and forth so continually through tn,
centuries that half a dozen nations
including Italy, might lay claim to i
on the plea of former ownership.
Corfu is one of the parts of the loci
that secures the Adriatic sea at its
narrow neck from the Ionian sea ant
the open waters of the Mediterranean
1t lies like watch-tower in the IoniaI
sea before the narrowing entrance OF
the Strait of Otranto. To the north
of it a rugged finger of Albanian
nl0untain-land reaches out into the
Sriiit, 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 italian heel cuts
out into the waters of the Ionian sea.
Together, these three elements domi-
nate the Adriatic's outlet.
Corfu is shaped somewhat like a
sickle or rough crescent, the points
or horns Of which are toward the
Greek mainland. The northern point
lacks only two miles of meeting the
mainland, but the southern point is
some ten miles offshore. The bulge of
water which Corfu and the mainland
almost make into lake forms a Won
derful land-locked roadstead which has
played its part in naval affairs for
two millenniums.
The town and harbor of Corfu are
on the east side of the island on the
shore of this roadstead across which
some twelve or fifteen miles away
rises the rough shore of Epirus. In
the harbor is the little bristling isle
of Vido, which has often been heavily
fortified by its various owners.
Homer Told Its Beauties.
Bathed in Mediterranean sunshine,
with a rather dry climate for a con-
siderable period of the year, the island
of Corfu has always been considered
pleasure spot; and it failed to lose
this reputation even when the sitting
up of number of arms of the sea and
the, formation of stagnant lakes
brought malaria to some of the low
lands.
Homer describes the island as a sort |
of paradise in the dim days of Greek
hnpinninOc lx1
lie louisiana of beautiful people and |
beautiful scenery with an abundance
of figs and grapes and other fruits.
The island first energies in history
as the site of Corcyra, city founded
only a few miles from the present
town of Corfu by colonists from Cor
nth. The date of Corcyra's birth is
set at 734 B. C.-twenty-six centuries
ago. The colony grew rapidly in
wealth, in maritime power, and into a
confident spirit of independence. Cor
'yra's fleet, protected in its wonderful
oadstead, grew strong, and in 664
3. G. fought with its mother-city, Cor
nth, the first recorded Greek naval
'attle. Corinth won; but before long
>orcyra was again Independent When
second dispute arose with Corinth,
,orcyra allied Itself with Athens,
ouch as our colonial forefathers al
ed themselves with England's great ,
wal, France. This move of Corcyra's
I'd to the Peloponnesian war, the +
World war of classic times c
When the great fleet of Athens and /
er allies was on the way to Syracuse '
lere was held in the roadstead of q
orcyra a review of what was prob v
bly, the greatest concentration of il
avail strength up to that time Again, f
1871, the same roadstead was the A
place for another great h
orld navy, the combined fleets of Il
enice, Spain and the pope, which
lied from there to the battle of Lee c
INTO, in which they crushed the ris- is
g and formidable naval power of II
Irkey. ri
With the passing of a powerful V
'eece the island that is now Corfu c
II into the hands of corsairs and be- tr
me pirate stronghold. Rome de- OF
cred 1t in 800 B. G. and absorbed w
into the empire. Augustus made it ii,
J base for operations against Antony III
81 B. G.
When Rome declined this island off oil
eece '5st Importance, too The hr
rmans of Sicily held it in the Elev- be
III and Twelfth centuries, and the i'm
noese after them. The first foot a
d by Venetians was gained in 1907,
seven years later the island passed tai
the Greeks of Epirus for nearly We
4 century. In