ALGERIA

Fr. colony, N. Africa (34° N., 3° 30’ E.), bounded N. by MediterW. by Morocco, Country divided by elevation and climatic conditions into three unequal parallel zones: (1) The Tell, undulating N. region (containing the Little Atlas) of forests and arable land: (2) Steppe region of herbaceous vegetation and of pasture land diversified by ranges of mountains; (3) The Sahara is po ible only by irrigation in oases. Coast, 690 m.; high and rocky. Rivers nothing but torrents (wads or waides); frequently dried up; some dammed for irrigation; in steppes they form the Shotts of the plains, shallow lakes where snow and rain-water gather in winter. Climate Mediterranean type two seasons —dry (summer), wet or cold (autumn, winter, spring); great variety of local climates. Algeria has great forests on the pers, and other trees. The cultivated plants include cereals—vast quantities of wheat, oats and barley being grown ‘in the Tell—fiax, and tobacco. Vines, olives, oranges, and other fruits are cultivated, and various vegetables grown. Olive oil is largely produced, and there are important fisheries, while horses, mules, cattle, and sheep are raised in large numbers. Minerals include iron, lead, copper, zinc, phosphates, salt, petroleum, antimony, mercury. Among exports are sheep, wool, hides, cereals, cattle, horses, fruit, olive oil, metals, phosphates, tobacco; imports textiles, machinery, paper, coal, sugar, coffee, etc. Ry. mileage is over 2,000; good postal and telegraphic communications. Chief seaports, Algiers (cap.), Bougie, Philipville, Oran, Bona. History.— After having been conquered in turn by the Romans, Vandals, and Byzantines, Algeria was invaded by the Arabs in the 8th cent., from which time dates the establishment of Islamism. The country was ruled by Arab princes till the 12th cent., and then for a time by the Almohades. The Moors settled here in late 15th cent., after they had been banished from Spain by Ferdinand the Catholic; they applied for aid against Spain to the pirate Barb a ro a, who subsequently took po e ion of the country. After his defeat and death his brother succeeded him, and Algeria became a Turk. province in 1519. Later in the same cent. a great struggle took place between Spain and Turkey; but the defeat of Charles V. in 1541 ended this, and the Turks continued their career of piracy. In 1669 the Turk. Government was banished by the corsairs, who then chose a dey for themselves, Turkey perforce acknowledging Algerian independence. From time to time attempts were made by various European powers to suppre the system of piracy carried on by the corsairs, who neverthele continued to flourish until 1830. In that year the French sent an expedition against them and seized the town of Algiers, after which the whole country gradually came under Fr. control. <A stubborn revolt which broke out in 1864 was finally suppre ed in 1871, Algeria is administered by a gov.-gen., who represents Fr. Republic, and is a isted in matters of finance and taxation by a superior council and delegations. There is also a consulting council. Algeria is divided for administrative purposes into three provinces, the northern portions of which form the ‘departments’ of Algeria, Oran, and Const an tine—together making up the ‘Northern Territory’; the southern portions being called the Southern Territory.’ The three deps. are administered as an integral part of France, like Fr. deps., and each sends two deputies and a senator to Paris. Before the Great War Algerian military forces constituted the 19th Army Corps of the Fr. army. The country has prospered greatly under French rule, especially in pastoral pursuits. The great strides agriculture made, notably in the fertile Tell, along the coast, has been due to France’s enterprise in bringing scientific irrigation and fertilizer to the land. The ports have also been improved, 3,330 miles of good roads built, and in 1921 there were 2,228 miles of railroads.. There are no navigable rivers. On the south the Atlas Mountains divides the country from the desert. The chief products are cereals and wines, with the cultivation of olives for their oil outstanding in other industries. ‘The country’s commercial activities may be gauged from the shipping, which entered its three ports, Algiers, Oran and Bona, in 1921, numbering 11,199 ve els of 9,201 A387 tons. The natives so eagerly responded to France’s call for military aid in the World War that in 1919 French citizenship was granted to many who had served in the army and navy. The northern territory along the Mediterranean sends one senator and two deputies to the French Parliament, jut only French colonists can vote. The country’s area is 222,180 square miles and its population 1921, 5,800,974, 821,427 of whom are Europe ans, mostly French and Spanish. The capital is Algiers. See Map AFRIca,.