White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-12-09

'tPrepared by the National Geographic So
cisty. Washington, D. c. .
The recent occupation of the island
of Corfu by Italy was on the face Of
1t the taking by force of Greek terri.
tory by an alien nation; but the island
has been cuffed about and batted back
centuries that half a dozen nations,
including Italy. might lay claim to 1t
on the plea OF former ownership.
Corfu is one Of the parts of the lock
that secures the Adriatic sea at it's
narrow neck from the Ionian sea and
the open waters of the Mediterranean.
1t lies like a watch-tower in the Ionian
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
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 Adrlatic's outlet.
Corfu is shaped somewhat like a
sickle or a 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 a 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 Eplrus. In
the harbor is the little bfistling isle
Of Vido, which has often been heavily
fortified by it's 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
a pleasure spot; and 1t failed to lose
this reputation even when the sitting
I'D of a 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
beginnings. He makes it out an idyl-
lie lotus-land 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 C%orcyra, a 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 1874 B. C.-twenty-six centuries
ago. The colony grew rapidly In
wealth, in maritime power, and into a
confident spirit of independence. Cor
cyra's fleet, protected in its wonderful
roadstead, grew strong. and in 664
B. G. fought with Its mother-city, Cor
inth, the first recorded Greek naval
battle. Corlnth won but before long
Corcyra was again Independent. When
a second dispute arose with Corinth,
Corcyra allied itself with Athens,
much as our colonial forefathers al
lied themselves with England's great
rival, France. This move of Corcyra's
led to the Peloponnesian war, the
World war of classic times.
When the great fleet of Athens and
her allies was on the way to Syracuse
there was held in the roadstead of
Corcyra a review of what was prob
ably the greatest concentration of
naval strength up to that time. Again,
in 1871, the same roadstead was the
gathering place for another great
world navy, the combined fleets of
Venice, Spain and the pope, which
sailed from there to the battle of Lee
panto, in which they crushed the ris-
ing and formidable naval power Of
Turkey.
With the passing Of a powerful
Greece the island that Is now Corfu
fell into the hands Of corsairs and be-
came n pirate stronghold. Rome de-
Iiyered 1t in 90 B. @. and absorbed
1t into the empire. Augustus made 1t
his base for operations against Antony
in 81 B. G.
When Rome declined this island of
Greece .ost importance, too. The
Normans Of Sicily held 1t in the Elev-
enth and Twelfth centuries, and the
Genoese after them. The FIRST foot
hold by Venetians was gained in 1907,
but seven years later the island passed
to the Greeks Of Epirus for nearly
half a century.