Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1914-09-02
International News Special War
Service.

the only two strong powers with
home territory bordering on the Pa 1
cific ocean, the American government {
naturally regards with interest, If not
with concern, the probability Of hay
ing japanese substituted for German
neighbors to several OF its island pos
sessions.
Stretching across the Pacific, from
San Francisco to the mainland OF
Asia, the United States now has in
order Hawaii, the Midway island,
Guam Zone of the Ladrones) and the
Philippines.
Hawaii entered the United States I
as fully organized territory, by vir-
tue of treaty of annexation con
cluded with the republic of Hawaii. /
Midway, a tiny stretch of sand, was
! brought TO the United States by this
same treaty The Spanish war
brought US Guam and the Philip
pines.
4 Then. far to the south. lies Ameri-
can Samoa II 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
1 this country. Germany and Great
I 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.
Samoa has absolutely no economic
value. The largest American island,
I Tutuila, is only sixteen miles be-
tween east and west. and scarcely
: attains the breadth of five miles. Its
= population is scanty and lacks indus
! try; it is only as a result OF con
slant prodding on the part of the
I commandment of the station, who is
! also governor OF American Samoa
that the islanders produce enough tt
I pay their not onerous taxes. Its value
! is wholly military, most importan
! post in naval strategy.
I The possession of Pagopago harbo
carries with it the control of all tn
! Samoan islands In the German is
I ands of the former kingdom of Same
l there are but three harbors Apia
I wholly indefensible, and its record
! destruction in the gale of Marcel
I 1889 shows its danger for ships; tn
! harbors OF Saluafata and Fangalo
afford poor shelter in this season
I the trade winds, but in the summt
of the southern hemisphere, from N
yember to March, they are a dang
rather than protection 20 ship
I Samoa lies three days by steam ca
of the British colony of Fiji, in who's
harbor Of Suva is the central static
( Land operating headquarters of Il
I cruiser division of the Australia
I squadron in time of peace; in W
II doubtless holds the same RELATE
4 toward vessels of greater offence
- The economic and political sitr
ton of Hawaii needs no stateme
1 in connection with the present NOV
of Pacific powers. Its strategic pc
ton is of the utmost Importance, Il
only TO America in the Pacific,
| equally to America in America. 7
l census of Hawaii shows that the p
III dominate element in the populate
is Japanese, for few families of Il
III race are recorded between Hilo a
II Nihau. Ii is matter of common nj
that the japanese in Hawaii [
largely veterans of the Russian W
and the remainder, who have not !
experience in the field, have alref
liz been drilled with the colors. II
Hi understood that these Japanese
iii now without arms therefore u
iii must remain idle soldiers, and '
iii easily be controlled by the garri
iii of regulars now at Honolulu
iii Hawaii is so situated that it bot
It'll M the whole of the Pacific coast Il
Ik the isthmus to Puget sound. II
IIH possession of a hostile power
|IIk canal commerce is threatened,
|lIE California, Oregon and Washing
llls lie open 10 a series of wearing
Hill lacks delivered from that conven
Hill base. From Oahu 10 San Franc
Hill Il is four days journey at
Hin speed for battle cruisers. ALLOW
IlII eight days for the advance to
lllH point Of attack and return to bal
III hostile tleet could carry enough