The evening times., 1898-09-20
1t Would Be Unwise to Divide
the Philippines.
THEIR AMAZING RESOURCES
Data Showing the Necessity Tor
aR,.Srica Retaining the Entire Pos
sessions Especially Prepared for
the Commission-Specia Mema-
randa for the President.

ia Concerning the Philippine Islands;
Their History. People, Geography. Geol-
ogy, Resources and Strategic Import
ance" This paper was prepared at the
request of the commission, and received
the approval of Capt J. r. Bartlett, chief
of the Office of Naval Intelligence, who
d, is Mr. Hayden's immediate superior.
Ten copies of the work printed at the
Government Printing Office were sup
piled to the commission just before IL
sailed for Paris, and there is no doubt
that il is receiving The weighty consider
alton which il deserves 1t contains data
consisting of the most part of quotations
from authoritative sources. There Is in
cluded a copy Of special memorandum
of information prepared for the President
on the Islands of Cebu and Negros, their
mineral resources and availability as
naval stations. and a compilation of data
regarding coal and petroleum in the Phil
ippines and vicinity-a subject Of The
greatest Importance in connection with
the present value and disposition. as well
the future development Of the islands.
There is no doubt THAI the memoran-
DUN furnished the President was well
considered in connection with the policy
finally determined upon to take Luzon
and retain reyersiOnary rights over the
other islands OF the group.
Grand Area of Territory.
'Strategically," Mr.. Hayden observes,
the Philippines are admirably located
for commercial and naval operations. in
peace or in war, but every considera-
tiop OF offensive or defensive war. as well
as the preservation of peace, seems to
me 10 require that the entire group shall
be the property of a single power. Indeed,
ii were far better for that power 10 own
also what is British North Borneo, bound
ing the Sulu Sea to the southwark.
The Philippines are very nearly as
large in area as the British Isles. They
are larger than New Zealand, and as large
as Italy, with her own Sicily and Sar-
dinia and French Corsica and British
Malta added Indeed, the Eastern archi-
pelago may be roughly compared TO beau
tiful, fertile volcanic Italy, only more
so, and the strategic importance OF the
archipelago in peace or war is clearly
manifest
''One might think from casual glance
AT the map that the defense of this great
inland sea. with its intricate channels and
numerous islands, exits and entrances.
would be difficult. if not Impossible. A
closer examination of a chart, however,
shows but seven clear channels, four on
the east (San Bernardino. Surigao. Basil
ian and Sibuta) and three on the west
Verde, Mindora and Balabac). Good har-
bors, timber, iron and coal are prolific
even now, when the ultimate resources of
the islands are not even estimated.
Hemp. the best in the world is the
product par excellence of this region. In
fact. the entire material of modern naval
warfare is at hand, awaiting only the per
sonnei 10 utilize II. Coal. the very life
Of modern commerce and naval war, is
abundant in many islands Of the group.
and may occur in ALL
OF VAST Strategic Value
THE ownership OF such resources. so
near at hand by a commercial rival and
possible enemy. and the establishment
close by of naval coaling stations and
dock yards, would not tend toward the
preservation Of peace or the successful
finish of a prospective war.
''It is not, probably, either desirable OF
necessary to go into details here regard
ing the strategic value of the various isl
ands harbors and channels, better shown
on charts than in type, nor TO discuss the
relative value of each. In fact. all are ST
intimately related that ii is practically
impossible to disassociate them in an!
scheme of offense or defense.
1T will be better for the welfare of tn,
native inhabitants. for the commercial
interests of all nations, and for the peac.
of the world, if the control of the entir,
group of the Philippine Islands remains
permanently in the hands of the United
States. The more one studies the sub
ject in the light of past history, and th'
certainty of vast future expansion o.
our trade with China and Australia, th'
more convinced does he become that SOW
ereignty over the entire group. from th'
little islands north of Luzon to the fur
ther coral reefs that stretch toward TIL
equator from Palawan and the Sulu Isl
ands, is essential TO our future potentia
energy in the far East
Even the wild and unexplored Pata
wan which forms natural breakwate
for 300 miles against the sweep Of tn
southwest monsoon, Is capable, If occu
pied. developed and fortified during loni
years Of peace, of becoming a formidabl
base of operations in time of war.
The Importance OF Manila is du
largely to its being for centuries the capi
tai of the Archipelago and the reservoi
of its productions and supplies. Diyid
the group, and you cut off streams o
wealth that help fill the reservoir Wit
a rival established at Tacloban. HoilC
Cebu, or even Ulugan, the enormous re
sources of the Nisayas and Mindana
20 build up a metropolis that would sur
pass Manila in wealth ana importance
Strategically the Philippines seem, lik
our union, to be one inseparable
'"rhe great inland sea, Sulu or Mindor
Sea. If once wen charted its channel
lighted and buoyed its Malay pirate
suppressed. its fertile islands cultivated
and their mineral wealth explored. mus
become the scene of an enormous CON
merce composed not merely or the Yes
sells of a local coas,ing trade, but OF tn
seagoing ships and steamers OF ever
nation engaged In the Asiatic, East In
dian and Australian trade.
Worth of the Several Islands.
1.-The completion of the Nicaraguan Ca
nal may result in the establishment {
an equatorial steamship line whose We;
sells will circumnavigate the globe q
schedule trips i'm eighty days, and III
great circle route from Brito, Nicaragu
10 Singapore via Honolulu and Gual
Island. passes diagonally through )
miles of the Sulu Sea, from Surigi
Strait to Balabac.
Similarly, the shortest route fro
Hongkong TO all Australian and Ne
Zealand ports. from Tonquin TO Ne
Caledonia, from the Yellow Sea TO Eas
ern Japan. Celebes and West Australi
and from the entire North Pacif
Ocean to the Straits of Sunda and SIM
apore. is by way Of the channels of II
Philippine Archipelago and its great il
land sea.
1T seems safe to predict that, with II
opening of the Nicaraguan Canal, Il
dawn of a. new and glorious era of pro
nerity will succeed the long night