Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-06
POSSESSIONS OF
WORLD POWERS
Colonial Dependencies of Ma
lions at War Are Scattered
All over the Globe.
SOME ARE EASY TO SEIZE
!, Many Cases the Protecting Nation
Has Only Very Small Gar
rison on Shore.

have colonial possessions. protector
-. and dependencies scattered all
over the world
Austria Hungary and Russia have
- colonial possessions. though the
p,ssJan empire stretches through the
..-,inents OF Europe and Asia and
o-sssuts a long coast line on the
ro--be-n Pacific. OF the others, Great
britain has colonies and protectorates
.La uo-id over: France has colonies
,nd protectorates in Africa, India,
china. in South America. in the West
indies. in the north Atlantic. and in
-be Pacific and Indian oceans Ger
many has colonial possessions in At
rics in China and in the Pacific ocean,
and Italy has dependencies in Africa
and a concession in China
Eneland's vast empires. India.
China and Australia; her holdings on
the Malay peninsula: her colonies in
Africa. and her fortified positions in
the Mediterranean. Gibraltar and
Malta. put her at the head of the col
onv.holding nations OF the world: they
also increase the field of her protec-
tive operations in case she becomes
involved in war with Austria-Hungary
and Germany. and possibly with Italy.
Many Of the minor holdings OF the
four powers with colonial possessions
10 defend are themselves without mill
tary strength. In many cases the pro
tectiug powers has only very small
rarrisons on shore. amounting TO moth
ing more than local police forces
This is particularly true in Africa,
outside OF the French and British
colonies. in the Pacific ocean and in
American waters
The continent Of Africa presents a
notable picture OF the juxta position
Of protectorates and colonies belong
ing to Great Britain, France and Ger
many
France has 4 protectorate over No
rocco and her Algerian possessions,
facing the Mediterranean, are bound
ed on the east by Tripoli. a depend
ency OF Italy. Then comes Egypt
where British interests are paramount.
On the Red sea and contiguous to
Egypt, is the Italian dependency Of
Eritrea. Coming down the east coast
are British Somaliland. Italian Soma
Hand. British East Africa, embracing
Rhodesia. the Transvaal. the Orange
River colony, Natal and the Cape Of
Good Hope On the west, contiguous
in the order named. are German
Southwest Africa: Portuguese West
Africa, the Congo states, belonging 10
Belgium; the French Congo; Kume-
Tun. belonging 20 Germany, the Niger
territories, a protectorate OF Great
Britain; French West Africa; Togo
land, belonging 70 Germany; the Gold
coast, British colony. and the Ivory
coast, annexed by France 20 years
ago.
The following IS q list OF the colon
les. protectorates and dependencies Of
the four countries involved:
Great Britain.
Gibrsltsr-At the entrance TO the
Mediterranean sea; area, two square
miles; military force 1857.
Aalta-In the Mediterranean sea;
area III square miles; military
strength 7.647.
Cyprus-Island in the Nediterran-
can, so miles from the coast of Asia
Minor; area 1854 square miles; mill
tary strength III men.
Empire OF India-Area 100000
square miles; population $4,000. 900;
military strength. British troops 49,
ss7; native troops. 163. 1916, with 3d.
200 reservists.
CeylOn-On the southeast coast Of
India; area 1880 square miles; mill
tary strength 1,2s2 men.
Maldlve Isiands-In the Indian
ocean, 900 miles southwest Of India;
area lis square miles; population So
900; group OF Y coral islets.
Federated Malay States-Of the
Malay peninsula; area $4,000 square
niles; population G7S.OOO; military
strength, S51 natives. under Il Euro /
pean officers; also a native cOnstaDu- 7
larry.
Borneo-In the East Indies; area
.e.99O' square miles; population $780, (
Hongkong-East coast Of China;
area area 800 square miles; population 4
ayyvv9; military strength 4,27O.
"ei-Hai-Wei-in the province of /
Saantung, China; area 2s5 square I
miles; population $4,000. Not far
rom rom the German possession OF Kaiu
bahrein-or Avail islands, in the
PERSIAN gulf, near the coast Of Arabia;
CO0
Straits Settlements CSingapore)-
IN the strait Of Malacca: area. 1900
square miles; population 572. 900; mill
larry strength 1904.
Union Of South Africa-Comprisi
APE Of Good Hope; Natal. the Trans
.ea4 and Orange River colony. area
10000 square miles. population
100000; military strength. British
imperial troops. $500. and local or
ssnisations.
Other British Possessions in Africa
British East Africa. with an area
u $4,000 square miles. and pODula-
ION Of 100000 IS left almost wholly
o the natives for defense. The same
true Of British Central Africa,
'omaliland. ZANZIBAR. Bosutoland. the
srritOTy OF Bechuanas Rhodes !