The San Francisco call., 1898-08-01
SPAIN NEGLECTFUL OF
 THE CAR0LlNES
I. M. CHANNON, A MISSIONARY, SPEAKS OF THE ISLANDS.
Commercial and Agricultural Re- sources That Are Not Devel- oped for Want of Enter
 prise.

I. NJ. Channon, Congregational min ister and prominent member of the Amer lean Board of Missionaries, arrived in this city yesterday on his way to Kusai. one of the smaller islands of the Caro- line group. He has been in the East on a well earned vacation, having spent the last seven years of his life converting the natives of the Caroline and the Gilbert groups of islands.
 Mir. Channon told an interesting tale of his missionary work and the condi- tions under which he has labored for the sake of civilization and religion. "Mis- sionary work has showed some good re- suits in the Carolines." he said, though 1t is impeded by the presence of the Spanish. Thiry years ago the first rn her went hd boa6 O no tna n the striving for the spiritual welfare of the natives since that time. They are a docile people and friendly to the Ameri- can flag. The greatest enemy to the ad- vancement of our work has been the Spanish. In 1890 they landed troops on Ponape, one of the larger islands, and almost immediately an insurrectionary war broke out in which the natives proved the better fighters. About seven killed sums up the loss s9s of of the native up their lives. Since that time Spain has seen fit to consider the island under an ; armed peace Though no. no war ya of fsd1y any that day to this the Spanish soldiery has remained, occupying just the territory on which they are encamped.
 "The entire population of the islands is about 100, 900, and I think that out of this number we have over 10000 converts. 5000 of whom are active church members. The commercial and agricultural re- sources of the islands are far greater than the present development would in dicate Sugar cane, coffee and cobra could be raised in large quantities were an energetic people to engage in the de- velopment of these natural products Most of the business Is transacted by Ger mans who are well established on the several islands of the group. Spain has not gained anything by the possession Of country S3. 1000 .000 and they have not re- ceived that much in return since their holding. The islands are visited once every three months by steamer com com Is one Spanish. gunboat stationed ttre, but the last I know of to have natroled the bays and harbors of the Carolines was the Caila0; the Monggu ggunb9at Rtv which TSa Callao left shortly before the outbreak of the war. and I am of the opinion that no other vessel of any kind has arrived at any one of the Carolines since that time. and that the people living there have not yet received information that Spain and the United States are at war.
 ''The Spaniards have tried to freeze the missionaries out at the Carolines: but they never attempted personal violence: I think that our work will be full Of trouble as soon as the war IS at an erid Though I have no fear that the Spanlards will practice any indignities upon us, yet they might make 1t uncomfortable for foreigners by melting the natives against
 The Rev MT; channon oI. wiIl return ttu Rns to fish flag He is in charge Of the training school for missionary teachers estab- llshed at Kusai.