The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-30
) lADRoNE ISLANDS.
kpanish Territory Over which Our
Flag May Fly.

/ AhS ~saoy y
The information that the Unite,
States cruiser Charleston. which lef
San Francisco for Manila, via Hoaolulu
on Nay 20. has made sccoud Stop, thi
time at one Of the Ladrone islands, is
very important bit OF news. 1t means
perhaps, the hosting Of our fng on nm
other portion Of Spanish territofy Ahi
the establishment there Of coaling sta
tion. This acquisition Of a coaling sta
tion would be most valuable from o
strategic point Of view, for our navy
could then have . line Of coaling dcpots
across the Paci6c.
From San Francisco TO Honolulu is
1000 miles, from Honolulu TO the La
drone islands Is 8. 500 miles, nearly due
west, and thence On to Manila, almost
due west again, is ], 500 miles. Coaling
facilities and . largo coal pile at each
OF these points would make voyage
across the, Pacific an easy matter--as
simple ga q voyage across tho Atlantic
Though it would be longer in the ag-
gresato 1t would probably be much
smoother.
The Ladroncs are ali archipelago COM
posed Of chain Of volcanic islands cx-
tending north and south frofl latitudo
i3 degrees ~ minutes north to latitude
20 degrees 80 minutes north, and in
longitude about ifG eact Magellan dis.
covered them Oh March 9, 1921. Magel-
lan's c-ew named them Ladrones, from
the supposed thioying propcnsities of
the natives. and this name tho eroup
retained until IG6S. when it received
the name of Mariana In honor OF Maria
Anna ct Austria, the widow of Philip
Nv, king Of Spain. The only inhabited
islands are Agrigan. Saipan, Tinian,
Rota and Guam There are active vol
canoes III the group OH tho four remain
Ing islands not named. Guam, or Qua
jan, is the island where the Charleston
is reported to have gcrc to establish
coaling station.
Tho population CT tho island is CON-
posed OF Spaniards. under tho authority
OF a military governor. resident nc
ASana, where there is small garrison
the Chamorros fthc aborigires) and tho
Caroline islanders the latter having
lccn imported at various times eince
1866. These Caroline islanders are Of q
somewhat striking appcarancc-tall,
copper colorcd, with long. curly hair,
and long boards and riustaches They
wear very little clothing. The natives
OF the Ladrcsios resemble those CT tho |
philippines, except that thoy are moro |
vigorous, and they seem, like them, to |
be intern,i.cd with the Malay race.
The islands lie within the region Of |
tho northeast trade winds and are sub /
]cct to the influence of tao northeast
monsoon while that wind is blowing in
the China sea, while from June to Oc-
t5Eer the southwest rIonsocn exer~'res
moro or less control over the IRE,
winds The mean monthly temp
Is highest IN August. when it is (. 10
prces, AID lowest in February and
March, when it is 7S. In the first three
mcntss Of the year rain squalls, known
as churadas. occur. From April to juno
The weather is generally fine. The rainy
season is from August to November, and
IN these months the strongest winds are
experienced. mostly froci the westward.
ma thrrdcr storms ere Of frequent oc-
,urrencc. Earthquakes are often felt in
he Islands. and typhoons visit them a.
ines
Guam. or Grasan, is the southern
nest AID largest as we'll as the mos.
iopulors OF the group. 1t is bordered
brouShout a great part Of its circuit by
chain OF reefs The population few
ears ago was estimated ut 5000, of
ehom 5000 belonged TO tho town of
Agana and its suburbs. Alta distance
iuam appears fat and even. It's east
idc is bordered with steep rocks and
xposcd to tho ocean swell. The north
lde is low. but 10 the southward it is
lore mountainous. The west side is
nll OF small bays. The soil is reddish
nd apparently fertile. The products are
ticiiy rice, pineapplcs, watermclons,
ananas, lines, oranges, cocoanuts aud
and thcrc arc numerous cat.
% on the island. Fish, fruit and vcgc.
lbles are plentiful in somc places. suv.
raj kinds nf Domestic fowl arc reared.
AGana is on "a sandy leach OH the
'estcrn coast Of Guam island. 1t is the
!pital city and the seat Of the govern I
lert of the islands. There are abou, Y
10 houses. Luiit Of wood and ON piles q
pillars. Tho official buildings, CON- !
Using the GOVERNOR S residence, the {
scnal, barracks and prison, are Of l
one. There is n convict establishments Il
,ro and about 500 troops A small q
yer. crossed by two stone bridges, K
'ws into tie bay near The town. Tho "A
'rt can only tc used when tho wind, v
e 10 the eastward, ard even then it i, G
ON account Of tho heavy Z
'eli and the great depth Of water closc G.
} 10 the reefs off tho shore. v
Port sun Luis D'Apra lies on tho west
ass CT Guam, about Eve miles south Of I,
@ capital The harbor has ancbornges u
all seasons, is extensive and safe, but h
much incumborcd by reefs and islets. a.
lots con DO obtained, bat whether "
sy would take Ia the Charleston il a.
other story. However the ship can nj
'ily get within three miles of tho &.
.