The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-08-22
Controls the Entire Eastern
Coast Of Siberia
.HERR|NGS ARE EXHAUSTLESS
Development of Its Resources BY Rus
sla Was Anticipated as Conse-
quence of Completion of the
Trans-Siberlan Railroad.

Portsmouth, n. H., August H.-The fol-
lowing statement from an authoritative
source represents the Russian view of
the military and strategic occupation of
the island of sakhalin:
To appreciate It's military value 1t must
be borne in mind that the island. which
is about GOO miles long, lies almost against
the mainland, being separated from it by
the strait of Tartary, which in some
places is only four miles wide Physi-
cally 1t might almost be considered
part of the Asiatic continent. To allow
Sakhalin to pass into the hands of Japan
would be like America allowing Long Is
land or England allowing the Island of
Wight to pass into the possession of an
ambitious power.
Could Threaten Aslatlc Coast.
The danger from Sakhalin passing to
Japan would indeed be greater for Rus
sia than the loss of Long Island by Amer
lea, as the length of Long Island Is
scarcely one-flfth Of that of Sakhalin.
There Is no doubt that whoever con-
trols Sakhalin besides being In u posi-
tion to threaten and invade the Asiatic
coast would be In a position to abso-
lutely prevent communication between
the mainland and Pacific. and through the
sea of Japan. The island has an area of
between 60,00o and 10000 kilometers. and
although its general shape is Of a fish at
certain portions, its width is only four
teen miles. 1t is, therefore, peculiarly
adapted for offensive and defensive pur-
poses,
Little Use Made of Island.
1t could easily be transformed into a
formidable cilitary 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 be-
long to the Aino and Guilaks races, and
the exiles, most of whom after their
terms OF servitude become settlers,
amounts altogether TO only $1,000 souls,
that Is less than one to the square mile,
Exploitation of the resources Of the island
has been hampered by the rigorous cli-
mate, lack of communication. as 1t Is al
most without roads, and by the immense
and almost inaccessible forests. The de-
velopment of It's resources by Russia was
anticipated as a consequence of the COM
petion of the trans-Sberian railway
Large profits were expected from It's
riches. as 1t contains great quantities of
coal, coal OIL timber, naptha, iron and
other minerals. Its chief resources, how
eyer. thus far, have been its fisheries.
Fish Swarm In Its Waters.
Enormous shoals of fish. especially her
ring and salmon, swarm In its waters.
The herrings at certain times OF the year
are exhaustless. Besides being used for
food the oil is extracted and the fish
pressed into large blocks. which have
been shipped TO Japan for land fertilizer.
The everage number of herring ta1ten
annually amounts to Ave hundred mil
lions.
This Russian authority denied that tho
Japanese were prevented from fishing
in the waters of Sakhalin. He admitted
that they were submitted to certain rules
and restrictions, the object Of which was
to prevent the determination of the
fish. But that was all. He also said that
along the coast of Sakhalin whales In con-
siderable numbers are found. These have
been the object Of exploitation by Amer
lean whale fishers Since the year 1865.
he said that American firms had applied
to the local government for permission
to exploit the riches of the island, es-
pecially the coal mines
Many Wanted Concessions.
Among those whose names | remem-
ber," said he, "are the Pacific Mail
Steamship company; Head g. Co.; OIL
phant g. Co., and Crawley e. Co, but
nothing much was done on account Of
the difficult internal conditions OF Sakha-
lin, resulting, as / said before form cll-
matte conditions and want of roads.
1.-The insignificant military forces which
Russia had in the island are another
proof Of our sincere belief In peace. We
had not made the least preparations for
military operations even offensive or de-
fensive. The few Thousand soldiers who
were there, were chiefly for the purpose
Of guarding the five thousand conyicts
who were kept in the island, and some
OF these soldiers were former convicts
who after having served their term OF
penal servitude were allowed to enter
kind of local militia"