The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-08-25
SAKHALIH ISLAND IS A PRIZE
IT'S MATERIAL AND MILITARY
IMPORTANCE.
It Is to Russia What Long Island Is
20 tie United States-Great
Resources.

Portsmouth, n. H. Aug. 21.-The
following statement from an authorf-
tative source represents the Russian
view OF the military and strategic
value Of the island Of Sakhalin:
TO appreciate its military value It
must be borne in mind that an island
which IS about six hundred miles
long, lies almost against the main
land, being separated from il by the
straight Of Tartary, which IN some
places is only four miles wide
Physically it might almost be con-
sidered a part OF the Asiatic contin-
ent- To allow Sakhalin to pass into
the hands OF Japan would be like
America allowing Long island OF
England allowing the isle OF Wight
to pass into the possession Of an am
bilious foreign power. The danger
from Sakhalin passing to Japan would
indeed be greater for Russia than the
loss OF Long island by America. as
the lenth OF Long island is scarcely
One-ninth that Of Sakhalin. There is
no doubt that whoever controls SAX
hahn, besides being in a position to
threaten and invade the Asiatfc coast
would be in a position to absolutely
prevent communication between the
mainland and the Pacific through the
Sea Of Japan
THE island has an area Of between
sixty and siXty-flve thousand kilo-
meters and although its general shape
is that Of a fish at certain points its
width is only fifteen miles It is there
fore peculiarly adapted for offensive
and defense purposes 1t could easily
be transformed into a formidable mi
litary and naval stronghold from
which expeditions might be launched
and efficiently supported. Little use
has thus far been made Of the island.
The population, including the natives,
who belong to the AinO and Guiliaks
races, and the eXiles, most OF whom
after terms of servitude, become set
tiers, amount altogether to only So
600 souls. that is, less than one to the
square mile. Exploitation Of the re-
sources Of the island has been ham
pered by the rigorous climate, lack Of
communication, as il IS almost with
out roads, and by the immense and
almost inaccessible forests. The &c
velOpment OF the resources by Russia
was anticipated as a consequence Of
the completion Of the trans Siberian
railroad. Large profits were expected
from its riches as it contains great
quantities Of coal, coal oil. timber,
naphtha, iron and other minerals The
chief resources, however, thus far has
been its fisheries Enormous shoals
Of fish, especially herrings ard sal
mon, swarm in its water The her
rings at certain times Of the year are
exhaustless. Besides being used for
food, the oil is extracted and The fish
pressed into large blocks, hare becn
shipPed to japan for land fertilizer.
The average number Of herring taken
annually amounts to 500 millions"
This Russian authority denied that
the japanese were prevented from
fishing in the waters Of Sakhaiin- He
admitted that they were submitted to
certain rules and restrictions, the OBJ
jet OF which was to prevent she OK
termination Of the fish. But that was
all. He also said that along the coast
OF Sakhalin whales in considerable
numbers are found. These have been
the object Of exploitation by Ameri-
can whale fishers Since the year
1855 he said that American firms had
applied to the local government to
exploit the riches Of the island, es-
pecially the coal mines.