Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-05
FROM THE ANTIPODES.
ENGLAND STEALING AN AMERICAN
COALING STATION.
Particulars of the Annexation of john
ston Island to the Britfsh Pos.
sessfons-Uncle Sam Is
Unconcerned.

San FRANCISCO, Aug. 1.-THE steam
ship Mariposa arrived this morning
from Sydney, via Honolulu.
The Auckland, N. D.. Evening Star,
received per the steamship Mariposa,
says; III. M. S. Curacao, which re-
Gently annexed the Gardiner. Danger
and Nassau islands, in the Central Pa
cifc, returned to Suva, Fiji. from Sa-
moa, June I'd. The Curacao, left Apia
harbor June 10th and proceeded to the
island of Tutuila with the land commits
sioner of Apia, Mr.. Hazard, who went
ashore there toeettle some land disputes
and select place for q coaling station,
and the ship returned to Page Pago
harbor. This was formerly used by the
Americans as eoaling depot, bnt with
the loss Of thair ships at Apia, III 1889,
by a hurricane, it has been discontinued.
England seems to intend to use it for
the same purpose, as the commission
has allotted piece of land there with
that design, although it may be some
considerable time before the depot ia
ready for use" 49,
1t is not understood here how England
can secure a coaling station at Pago-
Pago, the title to that harbor having
been confirmed to the United States BY
the purchases of cites made by Harold
M. Sewell. while United States consul
general to Samoa.
The steamer Alameda, which left here
July 22d, for Sydney, via Samoa, had on
board Lieutenant John II. Coffin, from
Mare Island, whose duty was to put the
United States coaling station at Pago-
Psgo in order and appoint officers and
men to take charge of it.
ANNEXATION OF JOHNSTON ISLAND,
The Mariposa brought information
from Honolulu OF the formal annexa-
ton of Johnston island to the British
crown, by HI. M. S. Champion.
A copy eff the following proclamation
was left in IA secure place on the island:
A PROCLAMATION. a
In the name of Her Majesty Queen
Victoria, Queen of the United King
dom of Great Britain and Ireland and
Empress of India, by Euetace Brooke,
ESQ, captain in the royal navy, COM
manding her Brittanic majesty g ship
Champion.
Whereas, / have it in command from
her majesty, Queen Victoria, through
her principal secretary of state for the
colonies, to assert the sovereign rights
of her majesty over the group of islands
known as the Johnston islands, the
same having been taken possession Of
by her majesty;
Now, therefore, /, Eustace Brooke,
Esq, captain in the royal navy, COM
manding her Brittanic majesty's ship
Champion, do hereby declare and pro-
claim to all men, that from and after the
date of these presents, full sovereignty
of the Johnston islands, situated in 16
deg. 15 min. NJ, 169 deg. 80 min. W..
veets in her majesty Queen Victoria, her
heirs and successors, forever.
Given under my hand at the Johnston
islands, this 10th day OF July, 1892.
EUsTAcE BROOKE,
Captain of H. B. M. Ship Champion.
Witnesses: James Weston Little,
Charles Wilson Fowler, lieutenants.
| UNCLE SAM DOESN'T CARE.
| WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-The report that
the British government has taken pos
session Of the Johnston island, in The
Pacific ocean, does not excite much in
terest in official circles, for the reason
that the island is OF no value fol
strategic purposes. and because its sup
ply OF guano is practically exhausted
At the department of state. it is said
that the United States has exer
cised jurisdictional right over tht
island since 1858, when the American
Guano company landed partl
thereon and occupied it. Territoria
jurisdiction. however, has never beer
claimed by the United States, and th'
island has never been annexed. Th
United States would exert its jurisdic
tional rights over the island, to protect
the guano company in pursuit OF it
business, but it is SAID there would b.
no conflict with the territorial jurisdic
tion set forward by any other govern
ment. In case the guano compan,
abandoned operations on the island, thi
government would have no jurisdiction
whatever over it.
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