CYPRUS FOR GREECE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 262, 1 August 1919, Page 10

CYPRUS FOR GREECE

IN ISLAND OF HISTORICAL INTEREST. The island of Cyprus, according to a cablegram froniLondoii, is tobe handed over to Greece during this month. Cyprus, which is one of tho largest islands of tho Mediterranean, has a very interesting history, and its transfer to Greece will bo regretted by many British people. In the year 11111 tho island was conquered by Richard lof England (Richard the Lion-hearted), who had been angered by the ill-treatment of some English crusaders cast on its shores. King luehard sold Cyprus to the Knights Templars, who resold it to Guy do Lusignaii, titular King of Jerusalem. The heirs of de Lusignan ruled until the Venetian Republic took possession in M 59. Eighty-two years later the Turks conquered Cyprus, and under their misrule the island stagnated until the British Government assumed control of the administration in 1878. Tlie history of Cyprus in Greek and Roman days has been the subject of recent archaelogical investigation. Tho first comprehensive survey of Cyprus was mado in the years 1878-18S2 by Captain H. H. Kitchener, R.E., afterwards Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener, The young officer, then at the beginning of liis career, worked out tho area of tho island as being a little more than 3581 square miles.