Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-12-29
CHINA'S INTEGRITY.
The United States Interested with
England In Maintaining It.
WAKE ISLAND IS TO Be ANNEXED.
The United States GOvarDmen Ordera the
starr and Stripes 70 IN HOistea liver
y Pacific Oc,an Island for
Cable Pur OseA.

Washington, Dec. 24-So far as can
be learned here. the conflicting claims
between the French government and
the United States government at
Shanghai, China, do not involve any
broad question relating to the acquis-
ton Of large tracts Of China by France.
Complaint was made to this govern.
ment that the French representatives
in China, under guise Of extending the
limits of their extra territorial conces-
sion in Shanghai, has included in the
claim certain property, valued mainly
& for riparian uses, which had long been
occupied or enjoyed by American citi-
xens and American corporations. Upon
this statement United States Minister
Conger was instructed TO protest to the
Chinese government against any action
on its part which would result in in.
jury to the American citizens above de-
scribed. isgathered from the Shang.
hal dispatches that the British govern
ment has taken similar course, but
beyond that there has been no joint &C!
tion between the two governments. 1t
may be stated as to the broader ques-
ton OF territorial extension in China
that without entering into any formal
compact with Great Britain on this
subject, our government is deeply in
terested In maintaining the integrity
Of China, and as England's policy
seems to lie In the same direction, she
will thus receive the moral influence
Of our attitude, which may be as eff
fective as formal joint action. The
particular interest of our government
In this matter is to maintain the open
market for American goods in China.
WAKE ISLAND is TO BE ANNEXED.
Washington, Dec. a. The govern.
ment has determined TO hoist the flag
over an island far out in the Pacific
ocean, and orders were sent out yes
terday afternoon to the commander Of
the Bennington, Capt Taussig, to pro-
eeed at once to take possession, in the
name Of the United States govern.
ment Of Wake island, lying in latitude
10 north; longitude 1863 east. 1t is dis.
tant about 1000 miles from Nihau. the
westernmost Of the Hawaiian islands,
and 1900 miles east from Guam. 1t is
almost In direct line between these
possessions Of the United States and is
admirably adapted for use as a sta
ton for Pacific cable to connect the
Philippines with Hawaii and the
United States. Wake island Is about
three miles in length and encloses Il
lagoon OF salt water. The aver.
age height Of the island Is
eight feet above high tide. 1t
il scarcely capable in itself of
sustaining life, but it Is expected
that a cable station can be IN aintained
without difficulty by the erection Of
condenser to supply fresh water.
Some station in this locality is deemed
to be absolutely necessary to the main
tenance Of o cable and for that reason
the American peace commissioners at
Paris endeavorcd to secure one Of the
Caroline islands, but without success
Wake island Is said TO be by right al.
ready American territory, for in 1851
Admiral Wilkes surveyed the place
and asserted title. 1t is not inhabited,
20 far Us known, at the present time
though in the past some guano gath.
erers have temporarily liued on the
island.