Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-19
VALUE or GUAM TO j. S.
ENHANCED BY PEACE PACT
Concern Felt There Over Award to
Japan OF Islands North
OF Equator.
WILL ASK IMPROVEMENTS
American Commissioners Turned
Deaf. Ear to Protests Against
Giving Former German Possess
sions to Japanese.
nv CHARLES A. DALEY.


(Speciaf to Universal News Scrvice.)
AGANA. ISLAND OF GUAM. Sept.
1S.-Soslittle concern Is fel; in naval
circles as 10 the Importance OF Guam
as affected by the award TO Japan Of
the islands lying north OF the equator
that belonged 20 Germany. The belief
United states has increased very
much. but al the same time furthcr
S Ss,yeloDmsnt VIII be reapifTed To
the recommendations OF the Navy De-
partment. or what recommcndaiions
VIII be'mRde. are matters that no one
here can venture an opinion upon,
Australia. which has wholesome
fear OF Japan. was louo. N her pro:
seized Islands should become par, Of
the Japanese possessions. and much
objection was heard IN the United
miSsionsrs turned a deaf ear and con-
sen,ed 20 the arrangement, made by
Prem!es LLOYD George. OF Great Sri.
Japan have renewed their treaty OF
alliance. with all It's possible secret
unGeTstandinE additional apprehen-
telt in the United States.
Close to Philippines.
the sS neaF It Is 20 ssa Pom
here 10 Manila and only 1853 miles
10 Yokohama and $40 miles 10 Maya
saki. II is 1887 miles TO Honolulu.
T.eSs miles from the Panama Canal.
AZ the time OF It's acquisition from
Spain Guam was the only island OF
ing. Germany took the other islands
of the group, but made no attempt 20
eolon!zc them. These islands now
fan to Japan and already steps are
under way for their colonization by
That country. There are three in
habi;ed islands that thus become lap
anese, all nearer to Japan than Guam
These are Rota. forty. nine miles from
Guam; Tinian. Ito miles distant. and
Saran; III miles. Rota is On the
the Philippines by. way OF the san
Bcrnardino straits, but II lacks :; har-
hor and probably cannot be fortified.
The island of Zap in the pclcwS.
is taS miles southwest of Guam and
on the route OF vessels using the san
sssses good harbor and annie
ground for an aviation field The
harbor is capable OF holding com
mercS raiders and and destroyers. Even
Guam these would be at the mercy
Of aviators. from Zap unless an avia-
ton base is established nj Guam 10
be manned by defense SQUADRON. The
creation Of such base Will be recon-
Mcnded TO Congress
Base In Marshall.
But chief concern Is felt over the
Marshall Islands. and about which
also Australia raised her lcudcst pro-
test. These islands lie to the south
east of Guam and 10 the southwest;
OF Hawaii. \ hostile naval force ly-
ing in wait in the very good harbor
which these islands possess would be
on the. flank of commerce crossing
the Pacific to the Philippines. and the
American Pacific Fleet, in the event
Of hostilities. could not proceed from
honolulu until any possible force In
the MARSHALL Islands had been re-
moved.
The United States has had posses
little has been done in the way of
development there beyond the pro-
vision Tor 4 guard at the cable and
radio stations. y garrison OF only a
battalion OF marines Is maintained.
Inc island cannot support even this,
anu all the food must be shipped in
\. hi n"rT,tnns hest could starry ou,
landers do not grow enough for their
own necessities Though their CHER
;.rticies OF diet are fish and rice. there
the island and the rice is houph;
emery IN Japan from the proceeds
prob 5he; SAFE as , OF Gopra. one Of the
Iuam Is 10 encourage the natives 20
grow enough food for their needs.
IND muGh money has been spent in
tne establishment of AN agricultural
Siation and III" announcement Of
larger plantations. The Island can
InoW al the food common to the
temperate zones.
Won't Live ON Farms.
or ne ss i Sda has a native population
Asana. the capitat Tht. r.naind:r
o. the people.-ar,r conccnirateI in
namiets chiefly along the west shore
d.. Inc Island. They viii no, live on
,hyr SINAI! plantations and spenJ
ha!i their time travelling back and
lHiih III their caribou carts to their
Clearing The island has an area of
IcS len square miles. Is thirty. miles in
miles In width from cas-; TO res,
Inc island could support ten times
.ne population. The Japanese could
nr rans ~ ~ wonderful producer, Three
anu excellent rice Is possible
80 lar the work Of the naval gov
.shhent mas been educational ana
through the medium OF III" SrbonIs
Roadway is being made Inn, ~
rre)udices Of the parents mus, hc
overcome. No substantial results can
grown and begin 10 apply Their l..o are
ing: Health is another inparIsit
matter. ''""o' 'aht
Nearly all the children who die ara
h,rn,,, 20 nave been afflicted with IN.
pcrcuiSsls. due TO the NATIVE s,,,,S
stitiontha the night air Gauss -,
ARA; Ihey sleep in a t!rhtIy-cI|,',,
small room. al! doors and windnws
or dozen OF all ages and r,l"t
snip sleep on the floor In the SIM.
garments they wear by dav The
erect not only upon their hcaI,h ~,
epo'! tne!I morals can he Imagined
Establish Community SIri,
one OF the tasks OF the ,nnri,',, +,
10 establish a community sri-j, -
70 encourage the raising of ,rn,n a, nc;
eetter crops The marines are A.
tailed, .Wo 10 d section, in va,it',.
3 parts OF the island Thcy are ra;.y, 10
Y better strain Of poultry ana hayo
q someW1at Increased tn. arr.n.
Through the medium Of fairs ~ 80
munity8spirit is being deveiot.d an,
81 as the Children take kindly 20 ~
WORK. the effect is certain 10 hc "a,
IN the next generation. Nm, -,
then the island will be a liabiii,, :,
stead OF an asset 70 the I-,Iitnd 81, ~
s. ana It's importance is military ,.t.
y than economic. Even i'm IN. ' -
i sense II viii not possess u,uch ,"oi's
d and this will be the sdbjec, ~ u''ea'
5 commepdation y the new N,vi, re-
ernor, Captain Ivan G. Wc,tat,rI
LAY CABLE IN CHANNEL TO
GUIDE SHIPS THROUGH Foe
wireless Operator VIII steer u
sci In Glronde River ,a e"