MAP SHOWING FRENCH POSS of affection. They have given her scholars, administrators and great men of letters. In certain cases they derive special impor tance from their situation on the great international routes or their great resources. But, above all, their value for France is sentimental and historic ; they are the outline of the first empire lost in the 18th century. With them are sometimes reckoned Tahiti, etc. (acq. 1841 onwards), New Caledonia (acq. 1854 on wards), also the New Hebrides (held jointly with Britain). The other possessions acquired in the 19th century include Algeria and Tunisia with expansions from these that now make up a vast continuous area, while Jibuti, or French Somaliland, and Madagascar stand apart. There is also the Asiatic group of terri tories in Indo-China.
The following table shows approximately the relative impor tance of the three groups :— The African group consists of Northern Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco) ; French West Africa (Senegal, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Dahomey, Niger) French Equatorial Africa, which stretches from the Congo to Lake Chad and the Nile basin; Madagascar, the third largest island in the world ; and the French Somali Coast, at the mouth of the Red sea. In addition, France has mandates in Togo and Cameroons. This group, by its proximity, seems specially destined to act as an extension of the mother-country. It is naturally commanded by Northern Africa, which is only 75o km. distant from France, 20 hours' journey by sea, or six hours by air. From Northern Africa the railroads and aerial routes