Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-08
The ladrOncS.

IL Is we'll at THIS tliiie " 'Spuie
little information, geographical ana
historical, about Uncle Sans latest
acquisition in the far Pacific, the La
drones. There was no waiting for a
long debate in the Senate before the
viii of the people could be carried out,
but as a matter of military necessity
our first Manila expedition simply took
possession, raised Old Glory in place of
the Spanish ensign, carried off the
governor and his staff and commits
stoned the only American resident of
the islands to act in his stead. the
capture was an easy matter, just a
little diversion for the Charleston, for
the only town on the islands had prac-
tically no Notifications and but a
handful Of troops. They did not even
know that war existed, and thought
the roar OF our guns was a salute, the
governor apologiZ.ng because he had
no powder with which to reply.
These islands bear the evil name
'Ladrones," or robber islands, be-
cause Magellan, who discovered them
more than three and a half centuries
ago, was unpleasantly affected by the
thievish propensities of the islanders.
The islands are more property known
as the Marianne islands, bearing that
name in honor of Queen Maria Anna.
wife of Philip H. of Spain, who was on
the throne when the Spaniards began
to COLOMBO the islands, a little more
than two centuries ago.
There are 10 islands in the group. and
they lie in the Pacific ocean east of the
Philippines and north of the Carolines.
between IS and p degrees north lati
tude and LA and 1i6 degrees east
longitude. Altogether they contain
about 420 square miles, and are credited
with a populati of little more than
10000. Eleven of the Is islands are
uninhabted. The most important
island and the seat of the only town IS
Guahan, of which the Charleston took
possession without resistance, leaving
and carrying to Manila the surprised
Spanish commander and his little gar
rison This island is of great inn
portance as a coaling station. 1t has
a good harbor. which can be easily
fortified. 1t lies directly in the line of
traffic between the Pacific coast AMI
the Philippine islands, being, in round
numbers. $500 miles from Honolulu.
1900 from Manila. 1900 from Yokohama
and 1900 from Hong Kong.
The population Of the four inhab ited
islands is miXed-Spaniards, Chamor-
ros CTagals) and halfbreeds. They are
very ignorant, very poor, very IMAM
bilious. The climate is better one
Of the Philippines, though pretty
moist. The Islands are we'll Watercd,
the soil fertile but uncultivated; wild
cattle and swine are the largest game
If there is any money in the ownership
of the Ladr0nes. Spain has not known
how to extract it. Probably no Euro
pean power would bother to interpose
a word of objection if we decide to
keep these islands These islands
would probably have been entirely
neglected but for the missionaries, who
We're as eager to bear the cross Of
Christ into foreign lands as the Span
ish adventures were to conquer them
The brightest and darkest pages in the
history of the Ladrones or Marlannes
are connected with the Spanish mis-
sionaries. Indeed, it is in great meas
ure due to the zeal of American mis-
Sionaries in these islands that our gov
crnmcnt has gone a step or two out of
its way to improve the opportunity
offered just now to pick them up.