The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-01
THE RIcHMoNp vIRaINIAY-s ATURpAY rEBRuARy 1919 J
BE SEVERE BLOW TO
/ U. 5. NAVAL PRESTIGE
Acquisition OF Narianna Islands bs
Japan Might Result In scri-
Gus Situation.

Washington, Jan. 2o.--Acqu.sition
: by Japan OF the Mariana group OF
islands, IN the North Pacific. IL is
maintained by army authorities here,
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! East.
The result of this acquisition, they
roir, out, would be dangerous in TWO
ways:
First. that as Japan has now no
, naval station in the Pacific. Hawaii Is
and has long been considered the key
of that ocean and was fortified for
! that purpose
Second, the acquisition would mean
that Japan would have on one side
the Philippines II, as Is likely, Japan
fortified island of Form osa, and on
the other side the Mariana group.
Such situation would simply mask
the Philippines if. as Ia likely, aJpan
; would proceed to the fertilization of
. the Marianne group.
Nothing, 1t is suggested. would pre-
vent that but some agreement by the
league OF nations. Authorities here
notice that the latest news from Eu-
rope is that the question of the Pacif1c
/ islands is yet unsettled, Army and
navy experts here are not discussing
the probabilities as to the Mariana
Isla nds as a fortified base from the
standpoint of Japan alone, but from
the purely strategic standpoint, no
matter who should have and control
/ strong naval bases on both sides of the
J Philippine group. Military and naval
{ men also think that unless there are
soma salutary restrictions placed on
Japan as "A possible and probable fu-
ture mandatory OF the most important
islands in the Pacific In which there
were German interests. thai she will
get control OF German Samoa. That.
il fortified. would bring her jam up
with Tutuila, ono OF the Samoan
group now used as an important
I American naval base. One of the au-
thoritieS said today.
1T Is perhaps not too soon to look
around and see what may happen.
I II Japan. as mandatory of German
Island colonies in the North Pacific,
should hold them simply for CONNER
cial purposes. could stand the new
conditions II is evident however.
that in time OF tcnsion--that is to say.
of military necessity tho United
States would be badly handicapp
by finding The Philippines with pow
erful naval base on either side and
also one at Sa moa. The one in the
Mariana group and the ore at Sa-
moa would. of course. ~ new bases Of
action for Japan. no matter with
what naval station she should be-
come embroiled.
4 The Mariana group lies north or
Guam. The islands belonged to Spain
up TO 1899. The United States secured
from Spain rs war settlements the
Philippines ard Guam. but did not
take over the Mariana group. Ger
many. however, saw the prospective
value TO her of the group. and very
early after the spanish American war
managed to buy them from Spain for
something like $4,000 zoe. 1t is be
ieved here now that Germany's idea
vas to get n station 20 have when she
needed II near the new American CO.
lonial possession OF the Philippines.
Last reports give the population OF
the Mariana group as about 81. o09
natives and about 200 TO 300 whites.
II is admitted that the course being
pursued In Europe by President VIII
son will develop al some time near at
hand what this country proposes To
do 10 meet the contingency of new
Japanese possessions in the trade
routes OF the Northern Pacific. TO say
nothing OF the military value of such
possessions. The policy of the United
States ever since the acquisition OF
Hawaii and its fertilization. and the
Establishment of Tutu!la as n naval
base. has been that the United Sta ties
should have naval control OF the Pa
Citip