The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
Germany to Get the Carolines and the
Ladrones.

LAuTOuess
1t appears from the speech addressed by
Queen Regent CHRISTINA to the new Coftes
that the Madrid Government has agreed to
cede to Germany all OF the islands in the
Pacific which Spain retained after the sur
render OF the Philippines. These islands
comprehend all Of 1.-THE Ladrones or Mari
anas, except Guam. which we have secured,
and all OF the Carolines, including the Pelew
group.
The price to be paid by Germany for
her insular acquisitions. now said to be
5000, 900, Is not large, but Spain has
never derived any revenue from the islands
in question, and, since her loss Of the Philip
pines, they have ceased to have for her even
a strategic value. 1t was otherwise In the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries,
when the only permitted mode OF commu-
nication between Spain and the Philippines
was by way Of Acapulco in Mexico, whence
once year. galleon was despatched
across tho Pacific to Manila. Under the
circumstances. the possession OF the Caro-
line and Ladrone archipelagos, lying as
these did athwart the track Of her navi-
gators, became matter OF Importance to
Spain, and the Ladrones were occupied in
1868, when the native population was esti-
mated at from 10000 to 10000. The
usual result OF Spanish conquest followed,
and by 1741 the number OF the native in
habitants OF the group had dwindled to
about eighteen hundred. Since the last
named date new colonists have been intro
duced from the Philippines, and the latest
estimate placed tho population at 5000.
The collective area OF the Ladroncs is only
All square miles, and the island which
Spain has coded to the United States, Guam,
is the largest in the archipelago and the
only one that contains town and a forti-
fed harbor
The Carolines were discovered by Span.
ish navigator az early as 1928, but they
were at no time thoroughly subjected, as
were the Ladroncs. Nevertheless, when
Germany regarding them as dcrclict un.
dcrtook some years ago to occupy them,
Spain had no difficulty in establishing her
claim to ownership, and the islands were
awarded to her by Pope LEO XIII. who had
been chosen arbitrator. The total area OF
the Central Carolines, or Carolines proper
does not exceed $50 miles. On two OF
the largest islands. Ponape. also called
Ascension by tho French, and Ualan
or Strong's Island. there are Ameri.
can missions. 1t was mainly for the
purpose OF protecting these that oul
Commissioners at Paris requested their
Spanish colleagues to name the terms or
which they would sell the Caroline archi
pelago, but we were informed that the
Madrid Government had no present lntcn
tion OF disposinR Of the islands. The Pc
lews, or Western Carolines. have an ag
gregate superficies OF $40 square miles
and population which, although rapidly
decreasing numbers some 10 900 souls.
The islands now purchased by Germany
will be useful to her, as affording stations
for coaling and repair midway between
Apia and Kiao-Chou, the centre OF hel
sphere OF influence in China. Their nat
ural capabilities, although the Spanlardl
did not turn them to account, are
greatly superior to those OF the Samoan
archipelago. They have long been GOV
eted by the German firms interested
In the commerce OF the Pacific; indeed one
OF the best accounts OF the remarkabl,
people who inhabit the Pelew group is tc
be found in the GodefHroy Museum at Ham
burg. As late as the close OF the last cen
fury, the Pelew natives still used stone weap
ons and stone implements, but this apparent
sign of backwardness did not prevent then
from producing variety Of artistic arti
Giles. Not only the separate islands in tn,
Pelew archipelago, but even the village,
form Independent though cooperative re
publics Noteworthy, also, is tho pecula
institution known as the Cl0bbergoll, kin,
Of private corporation formed for purpose
OF mutual aid and defence. The womcl
have cl6bbergolls OF their own, and possess
considerable share Of political inilu
cnce. When the Germans take possession
of tho Pelew archipelago their archeolo
gsts may be able to determine whence tn
natives procured the curious pieces of an
cient glass and enamel which they use a
currency, and to which they ascribe a di
vine origin. another archaeological prob