Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-01-22

(PFopRrsd ~ the Netioaai Geographic 30
ciety. Washington. n. c.
The French inhabitants OF Tunls
have been viewing with close interest
the experiences OF the British in
Egypt, for parallel with the young
Egyptian" movement. which culmi-
mated In Independence for the land OF
the Nile there Is young Tunis"
movement. the denouement Of which
IL still an unknown quantity.
Control Of Tunis by France dates
from 1881. when q French punitive ex-
petition was sent into the country, and
after it's arrival was changed to an
army OF occupation. Tunis had been
something OF thorn In the side Of
European civilization up to this time.
having been long q pirate stronghold
snd later turbulent region in which
neither foreigners nor their property
interests were safe. For time be-
fore the entrance Of the French forces
4 sort OF ihree-sided influence toward
order was attempted BY Great Britain,
France and Italy acting IN concert, but
this arrangement was not satisfactory.
Great Britain welcomed the French
assumption Of control, but italy was
not entirely pleased with the new de-
Veiopment.
Following their occupation Of Tunis,
the French set up pr0tectorate. es-
tabiished military posts In numerous
places. ana soon had q well-ordered
government Prosperity has In
creased steadily in Tunls since the ad-
vent OF the French. and there has been
general contentment with the new
regime, which has made life easier for
ali but the robbers stlll. patriotism
dles hard and there are many Tunisi-
ans who are FESTIVE under the French
yoke.
The coast towns OF northern Tunis
are almost repetition Of those Of
coastal Algeria. The natives are mix
ture of Arabs. Berbers and Sudanese
and. In addition. there are many Jews,
French. Italians and Maltese, Tunis
is Mohammedan country and every
city has its numerous mosques. its
Moslem law courts and Its heavily
yelled women.
The city OF Tunis IL called by the
Arabs "The White Burnous Of the
Prophet Its houses are all fiat
rooted and creamy white IN color.
TunIs has changed greatly since 1881.
A large and attractive French town
has sprung Up outside the walls Of the
native city Broad boulevards, with
rows Of palms and various shade
trees large shops. with tempting dis
plays; modern hotels with every COM
fort and luxury; restaurants, cafes,
and gnrages for the motors that come
jn greater numbers every season. Troll
Jews run 10 all directions and Carthage
ean be reached In % minutes.
Remains Of the Romans
Tn-the days Of Rome northern Africa I
fTunisia) was called the "granary OF n
the world. for the Roman system Of I
irrigation was marvellous and the soil
fertile wherever water was to be had, 1
and II was 10 be found In abundance !
In the mountains. An aQueduct, built
under HadrIan, about 138 A. D.. sup !
piled Carthage with 32.0O0,00O liters {
lover 100000 gallons) Of water q
day.
A few miles northwest OF the city OF
Tunis Is BlEerta, Frances little-known
stronghold at the extreme northern {
point Of Africa Blzerta ls q dark 4
horse" In the race for naval base .
strength In the Mediterranean. II IL .
fair question whether Il Is not already 4
as valuable strategically as that house 9
hold word for strength. Gibraltar, or ]
convenient naval halfway d