HISTORIC ISLE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 167, 14 June 1940, Page 6

HISTORIC ISLE.

BRITISH CONTROL OF MALTA. “MILITARY HOTHOUSE. NAVAL DEVELOPMENTS. With the bombing by Italian ’planes of Malta another chapter is about to be written in the turbulent history of this tiny British dependency, referred to by Disraeli as “the little military hothouse.” Malta is only 17J miles long by 8J miles broad and lias an area of 95 square miles. Standing on the submarine plateau which, stretching from Sicily to / Africa, divides the Mediterranean into two basins, it is only 58 miles from Sicily, the “hoot’ of Italy. Through the centuries Malta, bare and stony in appearance', with its towering southern coasts but fine harbours, thin but remarkably fertile soil, lias been steeped in the history of the Mediterranean peoples. The Hyperion of Homer is sometimes identified with Malta. The Phoenecians colonised the island in the .11th century 8.C., and after 700 found rivals in the Greeks, who were driven out about 480. The Homans finally took possession in 216 B.C, During the sth century A.D., it fell successively under the Vandals and the Goths. In the 9th century the Arabs occupied Malta and retained possession until it fell to Pedro of Aragon. Jn 1530 it was given in perpetual sovereignty by Charles V. to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, who raised stupendous fortifications, and sustained successfully a three months’ siege by the Turks in 1565. The island surrendered to the French in 1798, was occupied by the British during the French War. and in 1840 finally became British. HANDSOME RACE.

Including the other islands in the group, Gozo and Comino, the ' population of the group is estimated at 230,000. In appearance the Maltese are a handsome race, about middle height, well formed and sturdily set up. They have escaped the negroid contamination by former importations of black troops noticeable 111 Sicily, and their features are less dark than those of the southern Italians. The women are generally smaller j than the men, with black eyes, fine hair and graceful carriage. They are a thrifty and industrious people, and for the most part are' adherents to the Roman Catholic Church. 'The teaching of Italian in the infant schools and in the first and second year of the elementary, schools was entirely abolished in 1923, and the Maltese now speak English. The increased importance of Malta as a naval base'developed considerably under British rule, and produced a period of increased prosperity. A floating dock .was installed in 1925 capable of lifting the largest ships. An aerodrome was built at Hal Far, suitable for main line airways. An air Force base was established at Marsa Scirocco Bay. The greater part of the old fortifications was made over for civil purposes, as the importance of aircraft altered fundamentally the needs and methods of military defence. CHANGE IN NAVAL STRATEGY.

So urgent_ has been the necessity of revising military strategy that in recent years the importance of Malta has declined. It was recognised by naval authorities in 1936, when the series of crises in the Mediterranean drew pointed attention to the peril of Malta, that there was a possibility of the base being made untenable in the face of intensive aerial bombardment. This belief has been strengthened by the fortification by the Italians of the island of Pantellaria; to the east of Malta, and the fact that during recent months the British Fleet has had'its base at Alexandria suggests the partial abandonment of Malta as principal Mediterranean base.

The capital of Malta is named after its' founder, the Grand Master de la. Valette, but .from its foundation it lias been called Valletta. It contains the palace of the Grand Masters, the magnificent Auberges of the several subdivisions of the Order, the unique cathedral of St. John with the tombs of the Knights and magnificent tapestries and marble work. To the south-east, at the other side of the Grand Harbour, are the cities of Senglea, VittOriosa and Cospicua, often spoken of as the “Three Cities.” The old capital, near the centre of the island, is variously called Notabile, Citta Vecchia, and Medina. Here are the catacombs'and the ancient cathedral of Malta. Across the Marsamuscetto Harbour, of-Valletta is the large modern town of Sliemu. In Gozo the chief town is Victoria.