The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-05
sPAIN's LOST COLONIES.
Her Only Colonial Possessions Remaining
Arc In Africa.

Arc In Africa.
In disposing Of her remaining possessions in
the Pacific Ocean to Germany. Spain retains
colonial territories only In Africa and the neigh
boring waters. These possessions are 1--WE
towns along the north coast OF Morocco. namely
Ceuta. Tetuan. Veez de la Gomera. Alhucemas
and Melilla. and the Chatarinas Islands: the
Canary Islands. which are administered as a
province OF Spain; the large district OF Rio de
Orc. fronting on the Atlantic between Capes
Bojador and Blanco for about 500 miles and
extending inland from 400 miles In the north
to 800 miles in the south. the whole embrace
ing $4,000 square miles. mostly sand. and
the possession OF the eastern part bo-
Ing contested by France: the little terri
tory OF Ifni on the coast OF southern
Morocco. embracing only twenty-seven
square miles, in the Gulf OF Guinea. the
islands OF Fernando Pc and Annabon
and near the northwest corner OF tho French
Congo. San Juan. a small section of the main
land drained by the lower NUM- and Campo
rivers. whose possession Is disputed by France.
and Corisco Bay. with It's little islands Corisco
and Elobey. Tho colonial empire OF Spain is
finally reduced to total area OF PAT. 1903 square
miles. including the considerable regions OF
which France claims to be the rightful owner
The areas lost to Spain as the result OF the war
embrace Cuba. 1892 square miles; ceded to
tho tuiIcu Dtdteb, llO,OOO buutTe mlleb lfnlI-
ippines and Sulu islands, 115.300; Porto Rico
3.ees; Guam. 1881; and disposed OF to Ger
many. $40 square miles Caroline and Pelew
islands, $780, and Ladrone islands, except Guam.
60l. Spain's colonial possessions have been
reduced In the past year by 1876. 1888 square
miles OF territory.
Spain has acted wisely in disposing Of the
remnant OF her Pacific possessions. because
they have been nothing to her except q source
OF trouble. The Carolines embrace $50 islets
and Islands, none OF which is OF territorial and
few Of commercial importance except zap and
Ponape. and they are 1.5OO miles apart Span
ish pride was deeply touched when the Ger
mans raised their flag over zap in 1885, and
there was great Joy when the friendly inter-
vention OF the Pope. on Oct % OF that year.
confirmed Spains title to the islands. But ever
since that day Spain has found the islands
more troublesome than ever. Mr.. F. W.
Christian. who spent 1895 in scientific
researches in the Carolnes. has told OF
the expensive military establishments sup
ported by Spain at zap and Ponape and the
squanderng Of many lives in the continual ef-
forts to quell native risings Spain has de-
rived no advantage whatever from these pos
sessions for she has received no revenues from
the natives and the trade has been monopolized
by the Germans. Americans and Japanese. who
have made a fair living by handling the exports
Of copra. beohe -de-mer. vegetable ivory. and
turtle and pearl she'll The copra annually ex-
ported is about 100000 pounds. nearly one
half Of which is supplied by the island OF zap.
The Pelew Islands lie to the west OF the
Caroiines and include some 200 islets. the
principal island. Bah el-Thaob. being equal In
area to all the others. The islands are we'll
worth opening to honest and energetic trade.
for no islands in the Pacific OF the same size
surpass the larger Pelews In natural resources.
Turtle SHE'LL copra and beche-de mer are the
chief products; great quantities OF yams.
breadfruit and cocoanuts are grown. and on
the largest island there is an abundance OF
good pasturage. But Spain has done nothing
whatever with the Pelews. has had no Spanish
garrison there and has not lnterfered in any
way with the civil wars in almost incessant
progress among the various tribes.
The islets in the Ladrones that now become
German have an area Of only about fifty
square miles. and are Of little importance. the
prize of that group. Guam. having fallen to the
United States. Tho change from Spanish to
German sovereignty in the Carolines will be
heartily welcomed both by the natives and the
foreign merchants in business there. for 1t Is
we'll known that the traders. Protestant mis-
sionaries and natives have been restless and
unhappy under the Spanish regime. and that
the friends OF Spain have been limited to the
garrisons and the Spanish priests.