The Winslow mail., 1899-01-07
WOULD BELONG TO US
NORTH Pacific Islands That Would
Welcome Old Cory.
Lesser Groups That Are AiisSovercea
by the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES at
War with Troops from
Manila,

If America decides to retain the
Philippines, even temporarily, there
are three other lesser groups OF
islands in the North Pacific which
are misgoverned from Manila. whose
population will hail with joy the
sight of the stars and stripes
| flying once more in their har-
bors and upon their shores. There are
the Carolines, the Pelews and the
Marianas or Ladrones. The Caroline
archipelago is a vast cluster of fer
tile islands. some high and noun
famous, some low-lyllg sandy atolls,
| densely clothed wi =. cocoa palms, eN-
tending from the -Pelew group in the
west to Strong's island in the east.
Spain has always claimed the sover-
eighty of the group for the past three
centuries. but has never done any
thing in the way Of Colonization. From
the year 1885 the SPaniards have had
bad time in the CaroIines. The natives
late them, and many bloody engage
ments have been fought in which The
Spanish troops (Nanila natives led by
Spanish officers) have come off badly.
One or more gunboats were constantly
cruising around Ponape (the largest
island of the group firing shells at
the native villages, but only ere she'll
in ten would explode. Whenever
troops were sent into the interior the
natives would pick them eff as long as
their ammunition lasted, then they
would rush in on them with 1S-inch
butcher knives and make short work
CT the survivors. Some times when
the gunboats were passing under the
high wooded bluffs Of Jakcits harbor
the natives would assail them by hprl-
ing showers Of stones upon their
decks, and q full head of steam was
necessary to escape the onslaught.
The native troops are continually de-
sorting, taking their arms with them,
and the Caroline Islanders have many
hundreds of Remingtons now in their
possession. Az far as authority over
the natives goes, the Spanish occura-
ton of the Caroline islands is farce.
The Pelews ard the Marianas are in
the same condition, and their occupa-
ton by another power would be a
blessing to the unfortunate, perse-
cdted inhabitants. In all three
groups there are some splendid har-
bors, and if America holds onto moth
| ing else but Port San Luis d'Apra 1T
Guam, and Lele harbor, in the Caro-
lines, she will secure two excellent
naval stations. In the Carolines there
are, besides the fine harbors of Lele
on Strong's island and Jakoits in
| Ponape, many others in various parts
! CT the group, such as Yak and Rub.
which would form excellent coalirg
stations. Lele and CoquilIe harbors
on Strorg's island (Kusale) were il
former years much visited by the ships
OF the American whaling fleet, and the
island itself is one CT the richest ard
most fertile il the North Pacific
The old fort at San Luisd'Apra, whose
p, garrison surrendered to the Charles
town, is a remnant Of the old Spanish
halffort half-castle style of erection
that is still to be met with in the East
Indian archipelago. The walls are CT
great thickness. but one six-inch shell
would lay the whole structure level
with the dust. In 1874 there were
about - guns in position, eo1ne of
them showing dates 1866, 1872, etc.
and the commardant and his garrison
OF 80 soldiers were almost as antique.
! For more than year he had received
no letters or instructions from the
| then captain-gen at Manila, and
| for two years no pay. In 1872 when he
notorious Capt. "Bully" Hayes ard his
! piratical associate, Capt. Ben Peese,
! visited Guam, the governor quarreltd
with them and trained the guns of the
fort upon their brig. This so enragcd
Hayes that he wrote letter to the
governor. and threatened to send q
boats crew ashore and pull the place
down. The principal product of the
place is copra (dried cocoanuD, of
which large quantities are still made,
though since the Spanish occupation
the output has materially decreased.
Exclusive of the Spanish carrisons,
there are rot at the present time more
than so other Europeans in the Caro-
lines; these are Englishmen. Amer
lean and German traders.-Pall Mall
Gazette.