Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1914-08-26
Pacific Territory of the U. S. ENDANGERED
By the japanese Conflict With Germany

has been in progress ever since the
annexation. Just what is the present
condition at the reef-whether it has
been blasted out to admit the entry OF
vessels of the first type-is known only
to the general board of the navy.
The building of the repair shops has
not been prosecuted with vigor, but
after dozen years of work it may
reasonably be expected that the reef
has been disposed of.
Hawaii has value for something
more than it's service as an outpost o
cover the Pacific coast of the mainland
Supported from the navy yards at
Mare Island and Bremerton, it is the
secondary base from which the Amer.-
can feet will address itself to what
ever task may await it in the Pacific.
Guam and Midway Important.
Guam and Midway, though coming
into American ownership through diff
ferent means have the same sort o.
Importance. The former certainly, the
latter probably, must be held in order
to insure the safety and even the action
of the Pacific cable. Midway, low
group of sandy islets. is indefensiole.
It's harbor is no more than a cove ac-
cessible only to schooners of the light
est navigable draught.
Its value lies in the fact that it af-
fords a speck of land on which to
equip in utter loneliness a relay sta
ton, where messages may be reinforc-
ed over the long stretch Of ocean be-
tween Honolulu and Guam. There is
reason to believe that Midway might
be sacrificed without stopping the use
of the cable.
1t is far otherwise with Guam. That
place is essential to submarine com
munication. Honolulu could not reach
Luzon without at least one relay, and
it is nQt known that Midway has the
power to communicate with Manila if
Guam were cut out No improvements
have yet been made to the Guam har-
Dor of San Juan d'Apra. 1t will &C d.
commodate at most two vessels Of the
army transport type; the anchorage IS
poor, and at this season Of the year.
gales may reneder it unsafe.
The relation to these American out
posts of the German possessions ir
the Pacific is somewhat intricate. They
are the Marshall Islands, the Caro-
lines, the Ladrones, the New Guinea
colony, including the Bismarck Archi-
pelago, and Buka, and Bougainville,
the most northerly of the Solomon Is
lands, and in the south German Samoa.
New Guinea and Samoa alone possess
economic value; but not enough to a.
tract avarice.
Germany's Island Possessions.
The Marshall Islands, in two chains
known az the Radak and Ralik, lie
midway between Hawaii and Guam,
but somewhat south of the most direct
line of travel. They are lagoon islands,
the navigation is dangerous, and the
only point which might serve as a
bare rendezvous of feet is the lagoon
of Jaluit.
The Ladrone Islands extend north
ward from Guam in the direction of
the BONN Islands, which have long
been in japanese ownership. From
Salpau, the most southerly of the Ger
man Ladrones, Guam is visible.
The Caroline Islands etxend from the
vicinity of the Marshalls in a long
chain of unimportant islands destitute
Of hartors, and in their prolongation,
through the equally unimportant Pa
lau group, come close to the coast Of
Mindanao, of the Philippines.
The important point in the Caro-
lines is the Island of Vap. The harbor
there is tortuous and beset with coral
reefs. It is in no sense available Tor
naval purposes. But from Guam
secondary line of cable extends south