Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-05
Germany's Remnant Purchase.

| After the first blush of pride in the acaui-
| sition of a lot of Pacific islands, the Ger
| mans are beginning to take a more philo-
| Soph1cal view of the cession of the Caro-
| ilreS, Pefews and Ladrones, and are cor
| respondingly less enthusiastic. Indeed, the
truth OF the situation seems to have
da"ned upon the phlegmatic Teutons and
the newspapers are now printing references
to the purchase of the remnants from
Spain's colonial bargain counter in terms of
questionable compliment to the German
statesmen. In fact Germany has taken
what the United States rejected, a very
large archipelago of very small islands
capable of but little commercial develop
ment and of doubtful political or military
importance. The German emperor has been
accused of late of suffering from severe
attack of land lust His exploits in China
however. have had commercial reasons in
their behalf, while the African enterprises
In which he is interested are probably
destined to become profitable in the course
of a few years. But there is no substantial
basis for such hope in Micronesia. William
may take an inordinate pride in the spec
tacle of the German flag floating in all
corners of the world as the symbol of the
territorial sovereignty of the empire. Per-
for member of his family. But assuredly
there is little reason for congratulation
upon the purchase of vast area of atol!s.
peopled by an unprogressive race assured
of no possibility for industrial advance
ment, capable of maintaining no large
cities and hence extremely limited in the
prospect of a growth of trade.
Just wherein comes the strategic advan-
tage derived from the ownership of the in
significant islands is a question. In time
of war one well-equipped and defended
naval station in the line of commerce, such
as at Manila or Honolulu. is worth a dozen
archipelagoes.' Germany can utilize at best
only half score of these islands for mill
tary purposes Even then they would prove
a costly burden. The trade lines do not
run through them. They command nothing
The Island of Guam will afford as much
strategic benefit to this government as will
all of the remainder of the Ladrone group
What is needed in these broad expanses of
ocean in time of war is an occasional coal
pile and a less frequent repair station. Sow
eregnty is requisite to afford immunity
from The laws governing neutral ports.
Facilities beyond these requirements be-
come costly sur!,lusage.
The case of the Philippines Is far differ
ent from tndt OF the tdrOllneS ana adjacent
islands. The former group is composed of
large consecutive areas, capable of broad
culture and bearing rich minerals The
trade requirements of the people are certain
to expand in an increasing ratio as capital
develops these resources and creates indus
tries. and as education elevates the people
into new planes of appreciation and require
ment. This process depends for success
upon the assemblage of large numbers of
people within the same area a condition
impossible of fulfillment n any of the small
islands of the groups now bought by Ger
many. The case of Hawaii is likewise
different for much the same reason, with
the added fact that the group lies midway
in the lanes of trade and travel, without
near neighbors. forming a natural stopping
point for a very large percentage of the
vessels crossing the Pacific ocean. Both as
regards commercial future and strategic
worth Hawaii is one of the most valuabl
island territories on the globe.