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Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1257, 12 October 1911, Page 5

ITALIAN TROOPS SAIL LANDING AT TOBRUK. Rome, October 10. The first contingent of Italian troops for Tripoli left Naples on October 5, and landed at Tobruk (Barca, Tripoli), to-day. Others aro leaving Taranto (South Italy) and Augusta (cast coast of Sicily), and junctioning in tho East. GRAIN TRADE RESUMED. Constantinople, October 10. Tho Porte has authorised grain vessels to pass through tho Dardanelles, provided tihcy are not bound to Italian ports. By this decision over two hundred vessels i now in tho Black Sea will be released. COAL NOT CONTRABAND. ' Malta, October 10. Italy does not consider that coal comes undor the heading of contraband | of war. i j The Post Office has been advised that cable communication between Malta and Tripoli has been restored, but that all ordinary and press telegrams aro sent to Rome for censorship. TRIPOLI'S GARDEN PROVINCE. WHERE THE ITALIANS HAVE LANDED. Cyrenaica, where the Italian forces have landed, lies to the east of Tripoli, and is really the promontory of Barca, flanking the Gulf of Sidra. This district bears n striking contrast to the countries on either side of it. Instead of a sandy or rocky waste, with a few rare oases, it consists of a succession of wooded hills and smiling prairies, well watered by rain and perennial springs; the climate is healthy and cool, even during tho summer months, and the moist sea breezes protect tho country from the devastating wind of the desert. Therefore, it offers peculiar attractions to an invading army. Cyrenaica is the ancient country of Gyrene, ami tho capital was in its day the most important Hellenic city in Africa. The declino of the country dates from tho reign of Trajan, when the Jews, large numbers of whom had > settled there under' the Ptoremys, massacred 220,000 Romans and Cyreneans, and were put down with great difficulty and much slaughter. These Jews were celebrated both sis friends and enemies of tho Christian faith; they are frequently mentioned in the Scriptures, and it was one of them who assisted to carry the Redeemer's cross. The loss of population rendered the country an easy prey to the Libyan barbarians, and in GIG A.D. Chosroes, the Persian, overthrew the remnants of the Greek colonies, and left littlo to be subsequently destroyed by the Arab invaders. The most important town in the modern province of Barca is Benghazi. This place does not look very prepossessing from the sea; its appearance is that of a collection of mud lints, but. its position is good, for it is oil tho coast, and coin--1 innnds a rich plain, extending to- tho foot of tho mountains about 11 miles to the south-east. Benghazi's trade consists mainly of ostrich feathers, cereals, sheep, ivory, and sponges.. There is considerable caravan traffic between this town and Wadai, and between Tripoli and Central Sudan, when the routes are free from raiders. Traces of the ancient city of Berenice are still visible at Benghazi, but, unfortunately, the most likely sitos for excavations are occupied by Mohammedan cemeteries. It was in the neighbourhood of Bevenico that the writers of antiquity placed the river Lethe. Tobruk lies 23G mile.s east of Benghazi. The largest vessels can anchor there, and n breakwater at the eastern entrance of the bay would make it an excellent port.