The Star. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1918. THE CANARY ISLANDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12244, 16 February 1918, Page 8

The Star. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1918. THE CANARY ISLANDS.

Only a few weeks ago a cablegram stated that the German submarines were practically blockading the Canary Islands, a number of the pirate undersea boats being constantly attacking boats trading with this Spanish possession. Spain being a neutral country should, of course, enjoy immunity from the attentions of belligerents, but the Central Powers have thrown to the winds of heaven the conventions and agreements which control the actions of other countries, and have, without remorse and without shame, resorted to methods which would have brought the blush of shame to the cheek of an Attila. AVe. were told a few days ago, too, that the action of an enemy torpedo craft in sinking an Italian vessel in Spanish territorial waters had resulted in great tension between Spain and Germany, but the latter seems to be callously indifferent to the feelings of other peoples, and wantonly pursues her wicked course, regardless of the hornet’s neat which has already been stirred up. There was a time when Spain was one of the greatest of the world Powers, when her ships sailed on every sea, when her possessions were widely distributed, and when her people showed much more of the spirit of enterprise than they do to-day. The Spain of four or five hundred centuries ago and to-day will not stand comparison. The Canary Islands now constitute almost the last fragment of the large colonial empire over winch the flag of Spain was at one time wont to float. They, as a writer in a recent American journal pointed out, represent one of those lands whose history is all in the past. It is, of course, a question what constitutes History. Carlyle, it is almost certain, would not have agreed with such a statement, end it is quite certain that the Spaniard from Santa Cruz de Teneriffo or from Las Palmas would not agree with it. Still, as the world reckons history, it is true enough.

The history of the Canary Islands “ oame to an end” when Alonzo do Ll 'go completed the conquest of Teneriffe in 1495. For about a hundred years before that time, however, the stoiy of the islands had been, shirring enough. The first mention of them comes through the elder Pliny, who tolls how the Romans learned of their existence through Juba, King of Mauretania, and ho gives an account of an expedition which the King made to the islands about the year 40 8.0. Pliuy talks of “ Canaria, so called from the multitude of dogs of great sizie,” and speaks of its palms and pine trees; whilst h 6 mentions also Nivaria, probably Teneriffo, the land “covered with clouds.” Thereafter, the Canary Islands, save that they may possibly be the Isles of the Blest of Ptolemy aind Plutarch, sink back into the unknown for over twelve hundred years. Arab navigators, venturing far from tho coast of Africa, visited them, it is known, in the twelfth century; but it was not until 1334, when a French ACasel, cluvon out of its course, came within sight of tho giant peak of Tene‘ifte, and later of the islands themselves, that they were really re-discover-ed by Europe. Even then Europe could not b c quite sure of the matter. Portugal, which was, about that time, beginning to prosecute its groat voyages of discovery, sent out an expedition to establish definitely the position of the islands, but failed' to find them at all. Then Spain took the matter in hand. Juan de la Corda, grandson of Alfonso X. of Castile, obtained a giant of tho islands, but lack of means frustrated his dreams of conquest. Two expeditions went out to'the islands from Spain, some time afterwards, and a monastic mission was established on one of tho group; but the close of the fourteenth century found the Guanches, the aboriginal inhabitants, still unconquered and unconverted, and with no intention, as far as can he ascertained, of being either, if they could help it. In 1402. however, Gadifer do la Salle and Jean de Bethencourt sailed with two vessels from La Rochelle, and landed on tho island of Lanzarote. For the next ninety years or B o tho islands made up, in the matter of history hnildmg, for all the time they had lost. La Salle conquered Lanzarote and a part of Fuerteventura; and, after a. time, Bethencourt returned to Cadiz for reinforcements. Whilst there, ho secured from Henry 111. of Castile the rifle of King, and, so equipped, set sail again for tho scene of La Salle's conquest. La Salle, however, on the arrival of the new King, would have none of him, refused to remain in a position of inferiority, and returned to Spain in high dudgeon. Bethencourt himself followed two years later, having assigned the Government to his nephew, who was an expert financier. After eight years he sold his office to the envoy of Queen Catherine of Castile, and, almost immediately on the conclusion of the bargain, set sail for Lisbon, and there thankfully sold his office again to Prince Henry the Navigator, .who ho knew could never resist such a bargain. They wore in turn sold to Ferdinand and Isabella of Castile. Twice did Prince Henry tho Navigator try to enforce his claims, but without success, and Ferdinand and Isabella finally became the residuary legatees. The work of conquest was by no means easy, but, as already stated, it was completed in 1495. And, thereafter, nothing of great importance took place.