The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-06-13
MACDALENA BAY IS
AREMARKABLE PORT
Is Large Enough To Shelter All
The Fleets Of the World
4OO-Foot Entrance.

Washington-The Senate's action IN
calling for all information on file In
regard to the alleged efforts of Japan
to acquire Magdalena bay Ia drawn
public interest again to this WONDERFUL
land locked harbor on northern Mix
ico's Pacific coast, which offers the
best anchorage between San Francisco
and Panama. 1t is big enough to shell
ter all the fleets of the world ana en-
trance is through a channel not more
tina 400 feet wide with rockbound sides
rising 500 feet above the water.
Not a drop of drinking water Is to
be had near the bay and not a blade OF
grass grows on it's shores. Water IS
taken 100 miles in boats for the rev
persons h nave lived on the bay since
a concession for fishing was granted by
the Mexican government. rms COLI
cession now is owned by a company IN
hich Americans and Japanese are the
chief investor. 1t is said the
is trying to sell to Japan and it also
has offered its concession to the Uni
ted States.
The United States has declined to
buy the rights of the concessionarles
because they have no sovereignty TO
transfer. Mexico retains control OF the
bay and under the constitution OF that
country this control cannot be trans
ferred to another nation.
Japanese Would Take Chance.
The Japanese are said to be willing
to take a chanc on buying the con-
c~ession. This information comes from
Toxic, but is invariably denied Of
ficially.
The advantage Of having this site for
a harbor n coaling station is APP
parent to the most casual student or
naval affairs and the Importance grows
as the Panama anal nears completion.
A voyage of $500 miles is the limit
80 n ho+tIachnr without ran0a1inp and
to accomplish this the ship must travel
slowly.
Officers Of the army and navy who
have served in the Philippines tell
many stories of Japanese activities
there and many of these officers feel
policy until there is trouble with he
United States.
h polite and thoroughly diplomatic
Japanese deny any intention of Great
ing trouble or the possibility of sever
ing pleasant relations with this coun-
peace reasons that Japan has only two
great industries, raising tea n max
ing silk.
The United States is the market for
80 per cent of the tea n rs per cent
Of the silk produced by Nippon and
mercial conditions laugh at the idea Of
the yankees Of the East" allowing
war to interfere with business.
Has No Money For a War.
There is another very good reason
why Japan probably will not go to war
with this or any other country. Ac-
cording to those familiar with national
finances, Japan has no money for a
war. The last o obtained by Japan
came from New York.
The Lodge resolution is thought by
some to be merely politics, planned to
promote favorable consideration of an
appropriation for two new battleships.
In the Madero revolution there was a
rumor that Japanese We're trying to
get Magdalena bay. This was denied
emphatically at that time by the Japan
csc government, but former President
Diaz, while On his way from Vera
Cru to Havana, admitted the story to
be literally true and aid Japan had
opened negotiations with the Mexican
foreign office.