The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-09-16
u. 5. POSSESSIONS
JAPAN THREATENS
IN FAR EAST SEA

As Japan and the United States are
the only two strong powers with home
territory bordering ON the. Pacific
Ocean. the American governor natur-
ally regards with interest, if not with
concern, the probability of having
II Japanese substituted for German
Il neighbors to several Of its island pos
sessions.
Stretching across the Pacific, from
7 San Francisco to the mainland of Asia
the United States now has in order
E. Hawaii, the Midway Island, Guam Zone
Of the Lardones) and the Philippines.
Steamships seldom take a straight
course from San Francisco to the Phil
. ippines. They swing of to the north
to touch at Honolulu, and usually,
some Japanese port. Because of the
. varying ocean depth, too,. the cable
lines touch at Honolulu.
Hawaii entered the United States
as a fully organized territory, by vir-
ed with the republic of Hawaii, Mid
day, tiny stretch of sand, was
brought to the United States by this
same treaty. The Spanish war brought
US Gaum and the Philippines.
Then, far to the south, lies Ameri-
can Samoa. 1t is a naval station with
the best harbor in this archipelago,
Pagopago, Tutuila and the three islets
known collectively as Manua, fell to
the United States in 1900 after this
country, Germany and Great Britain,
had been brought near to war over the
subject.
Germany took Upolu by treaty
terms, and Great Britain took Savaii
and promptly relinquished it to Ger
many for the consideration of COM
plete rights in the kingdom of Tonga,
and the withdrawal of German claims
to the Solomon Islands lying south of
Bougainville.
Isl Samoa has absolutely no economic
value. The largest American island,
Tutuila. is only sixteen miles between
east and west, and scarcely attains the
breadth of five miles. It's population
is canty and lacks industry; it Is only
as result Of constant prodding on the
part Of the commandant of the sta
ton, who is also governor of Ameri-
can Samoa, that the islanders produce
enough to pay their not onerous taxes.
Its value is wholly military, most
important post in naval strategy.
Controls Islands.
The possession of Pagopago harbor
carries with it the control of all the ,
Samoan Islands. In the German is
lands OF the former kingdom of Sa-
moa there are but three harbors. Ap1a
is wholly indefensiblc, and its record
of destruction in the gale of March,
1889, shows it's danger for ships; the
harbors of Saluafata and Fangaloa at |
ford poor shelter in this season of the |
trade winds, but in the summer of the !
southern hemisphere, from November |!
to March, they are a danger rather |!
than a protection to ships. Samoa lies !
three days by steam east of the Brit |
ish colony of Fiji, in whose harbor of |
Suva is the central station and oper-
ating headquarters of the cruiser di. |
vision of the Australian squadron in |
time OF peace; in war it doubtless !
holds the same relation toward YES
wells Of greater offense. ,
The economic and political situa- !
ton Of Hawaii needs no statement in !
connection with the present moves of |
Pacific Powers. It's stragetlc position |
is of the utmost importance, not only |
to America in the Pacific, but equally |
to America in. America. The census
Of Hawaii shows that the predomi-
mating element in the population is |
Japanese. for few families of this race |
are reported between Hilo and Nihau.
1t is matter of common note that the
Japanese in Hawaii are largely veter-
ans OF the Russian war, and the re-
mainder who have not had expert |
ence in the field, have already been
drilled with the colors. 1t is understood +
that these Japanese are now without
armsf1 therefore they must remain idle
soldiers. and will easily be controlled
by the garrison of regulars now 1t
Honolulu.
Hawaii is 80 situated that it bottles
up the whole of the Pacific coast from