Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-11-05
JAPAN'S POLICY
NSOUTH SEAS
TO BE WATCHED
Newspaper Comment in Nippon
Shows Satisfaction with
Seizure of Groups

\ = &
Japan's far-reaching naval opera
tions in the South Seas are the sub
ject of considerable satisfied comment
in the newspapers of Japan. Oriental
mail received in Honolulu is filled
with news OF what Japan Is doing in
the Marshalls, the Carolines and 9TH
er German possessions In the Pacific.
In fact, one paper, the Osaka Maini-
chi, speaks frankly of permanent re-
tention of the Carolines.
A high official of the Japanese for
eign Office In an interview with rep
Iresentative Of the Japan Advertiser
described the occupation Of the South
Sea Islands as being under the same
conditions as already announced as
applying to the occupation by the
Japanese of Jaluit Island and that
Japanese forces will remain in pos
session OF the island until after the
termination of the war.
A previous statement made in an
interview by another member of the
foreign office that the so-called Root
Takahira agreement Of 1906 is now
fOtu 10 uOl sSOEESCb. nl5 d6t CCutSnhs
otherwise known as the Japanese
American Convention, Is still In force.
Occupation Of zap.
Shanghai. The Japanese South
Sea feet has occupied the zap Island
in the Caroline group, seized the Ger
man government Offices, and accept
ed the surrender Of the Germans
there. This official news was cahled
from zap Island telegraph station.
It Is reported that when the Japa-
nese marines landed at Yap the Ger
man officials were alarmed and the
telegraph operator was ordered to
cable the news hastily to Shanghai.
As he finished telegraphing the tele-
graphic station was seized by the Jap
anese marines.
The White Flag.
The Nichi Nichi reports the manner
in which the South Sea islands have
been occupied for military purposes
by the Japanese feet, as follows:
After our fleet occupied the Jaluit
island, certain warship has occupied
the Saiban % Island. At the same
time, section Of our fleet occupied
the other islands. The marines land
ing have found about 10 German Of
ficers in each government building.
They all surrendered. So the military
defences have been destroyed. and the
war provisions and materials have
been confiscated, On one island was
found $4,000 marks In German gold.
In another there was store house
covering 100 tsubo. in which were
stored war materials to Ill three
fourths Of It. All the crew Of one Of
the surveying ships, numbering S.,
raised the white nag, and their sur
render was accepted.
Bullion ecnfIscatcd.
A despatch from Sasel0 to Japan
ese paper states that at each Of the
German government Offices IN the
islands recently taken By the Jap4-'
nese feet IN the South Pacific. there
were over 10 German 0ificials and
these olricials have al surrendered 70
the Japanese feet All the military
equipment 1t each island has been.
destroyed, and the gold bnllion and
some other treasures At these German
government offices were confIscaked.
Il IS reported that one German sur
xevine boat which sank Il Marshall
Island can Be easily refIoated. The
despatch adds that IN the islands +
iseasy 70 set food.
Comment " Yoro<o
The Yor0zd has short comment
On the Jarane8c military occupation
of further German possessions n the
South Pacific. The paper says:
These 0efInan islands in both the
Caroline and Mariana groups were
b6nt1t by Germany from Spain -
1893 Iof 8 o.l00.D00 yen. They. lie The
islands n the Marshall group. al con-
sisl Of coral reefs The total DoDu|1-
tion of these islands put together e
s.. 900 natives and about three hun
dred white people The principal
products from these islands are coco.
nuts. suIphates. ETC., but the annual
value of imports into these islands 3
], 100 900 yen and exports from them
How ion1 the japanese feet win
continue occupying these Islands, Ne
cannot tell But Il i6 certain that the
Jan1nese occupation Of these Islands
|1.0f.s the safety 81 the South 9e1t
ana even the United States cannot
deny Ii The only thing 10 Be regret
ted IS that even after the occupation
81 these Islands the whereabouts Of
tie s1cuy's Nors1ips ere stiH M
Known And Es h55e f1at lie ont.