ROADS OVER DESERT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 456, 14 February 1933, Page 2

ROADS OVER DESERT

PREHISTORIC PATH TRAFFIC OF CONTINENTS WILL PASS OVER SINAI MACADAM 'SURFACING EI Arish : Foi' several years the various automobile associations ef Europe- have been trying to emulate the Geneva spirit and to form a liason, with a view to improving trans-continental roads and facilitating communieations between Europe, Asitl and Africa. One of the most important links in the chain of roads is that which crosses the Sinai Peninsula, as it is the only possible route between Africa and Asia and Europe. Great progress in road construction h'as been made during the last 10 years in the Sudan-, Kenya> Uganda, and South Africa, and another decade will probably see Capetown and f!airo connected by a highway with poSsibly branch tracks to the Gold Coast and Nigeria. In Palestine and Syria first-class macadam roads have been ffiade recently, so that travel in these two countries, with their various places of intefest, is iiow almost as easy as in England and France, while Transjordania has not been back'ward. During the last few years, a desert road from Cario to Suez has been constructed which, though unfit for high speeds, is a p.ractieable highway, and its compl'etion was the signal for the opening of the route across the Sinai Peninsula to Jeru- ' salem. As only about £3000 has been spent on this track it is far from perfect, biit except after heavy fains it is a possible route and an average of 25 m.p.h. can be maintained. Trough The Desert The road from Cario to Suez is across rather featureless gravel desert, and the 80-odd miles can be done in two and a half hours. The Suez Canal is then crossed a few miles above Suez by means of a recently constructed motor-ferry, and for the next 20 miles the road goes through a waste of drifting sand dunes. Construction was very difficult, but by making a few detours to take advantage of good stretches

of gravel-going between the dunes, g and by building up a tract of clay | and disintegrated limestone over the P sand, and excellent highway has been made. The road, across the Sinai desert has plenty of signposts, and there is no danger of any kind as the Peninsula is thoroughly patrolled by the Sinai Camel Police, who maintain perfect public security and who are most helpful in case of a breakdown. There are also branch roads the most important being that leading due east from the Wadi el Haj through the old deserted village of Nekhl, to the frontier, where a very steep but practieable pass winds down the mountainside to the head of the Guif of Akaba, and thenee to the famous dead city of the desert Petra, with its temples carved from the living rock. Both these roads, besides being convenient for travellers and tourists are of strategic importance for the Sinai track is the oldest highway in the world, and in the course of history no fewer than 45 invading and retreating armies have crossed it. And it will be a very confirmed optimist who can hold the opinion that the invasion of 1915 will prove to be the last. f