ALLIED LANDINGS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 July 1943, Page 4

ALLIED LANDINGS

CONDITIONS ON SICILY DENSE POPULATION. GOOD ROADS AND RAILWAYS. Chosen as the scene of the first major Allied ' landings in Europe, Sicily, with its population of over 4,000,000 people, is one of the most densely inhabited Italian provinces. Comparable in size to the Wellington or Nelson Provinces, it has an area of 10.000 square miles, and a coastline of 422 miles. The urban population is particularly large. Palermo, the capital, has 411,000 inhabitants, Catania has 245,000, and Messina 192,000. On the other hand, there are areas of mountain and plain where the population is veiy sparse, this. being due to an ancient tendency of the people to live in communities for protection, although it may entail long daily journeys to the fields. MIXTURE OF RACES. The descent of the Sicilian can be traced to many of the races of Europe, North Africa and the Near East. Greeks, Romans, Saracens, Jews, Germans, French and other races have formed the island’s historical background, and the inhabitants have developed a robustness of character which still outcrops in brigandage, the underground activities of the notorious Mafia, and a liking for the sea. In the north, Sicily, is mountainous. The famous volcano, Etna, the eruption of which has caused terrific devastation. rises to 10.868 ft from a base 400 square miles, but the ranges are much lower, 4000 ft to 6000 ft being their maximum. In the east is the extensive plain of Catania, and the rest of the island is mainly plateau.

SCENE OF LANDINGS. The southern and south-eastern shores of Sicily, on which the Allied landings are reported to have taken place, are for the most part flat and not very suitable for shipping. As it extends north, however, the east coast becomes steep and rocky except opposite the plain of 1 Catania, at the edge of which is the good port of that name. The north coast generally is steep and cliff-bound and abundantly provided with good harbours, of which Palermo and Messina are the most important. Communications in Sicily have been much improved during the past 15 years. Good roads serve most of the important production areas, and all the ports, while railways, mostly single line, give alternative connections. Except that in some areas the mountainous nature of the country would make defence easier, there should be no great difficulty in the transport of military formations.

FERTILITY OF SOIL. Fertile of soil, Sicily produces great harvests of wheat and fruit, particularly oranges, lemons, olives, figs and grapes. Three agricultural zones are fairly sharply marked. Citrus cultivation is carried to an elevation of 1600 ft., while the limit for wheat and vines is 3300 ft. Above that height there is a certain amount of forest. The island’s fisheries are fairly extensive . The only other industry of consequence not related to agriculture is the mining of sulphur. Sicily was formerly the chief world supply of sulphur until the American industry overstepped ti.

The people arc hard-working, but absentee landlordism has had its effect in compelling frugal living. For several months of the year bread, with the fruit of the prickly pear, is the staple food for large numbers. Formerly there was heavy migration of Sicilians to America.