Evening star., 1924-09-07

and roughly speaking as long north and
south as from Dallas to New Orleans.
1t is Inhabited by scattering peoples
who altogether do not number as many
as there are souls in the city Of Wash
ington. OF these four-fifths are Moro
Mohammedans. Among the others are
some few Christian Filipinos. and
need a great power like ours to protect
and civilize them
+ x X X
THE areas and population of the
islands mentioned are, roughly
speaking, as follows: Mindanao has
$4,000 square miles. with third Of a
million inhabitants; Palawan has 1000
square miles, with $1,000 Moros and
pagans and about 5000 Christians
The territory seems small, and the
population most scanty. but that is
what Uncle Sam would have at the start
if he took over the country as the pro-
posed unorganized territory.
But looking at the islands in the light
of their resources, he would have a
land of enormous possibilities, and one
that would solve many Of the military
problems now confronting him in the
possible great wars Of the future.
The island of Mindanao is one Of the
richest on earth. 1t is more than seven
tenths as large as Java, which has a
population of 37.000,0O0. Java had only
100000 when the Dutch began to rule
there, and the population has increased
more than 500 per cent. With good rule
and American capital to develop the is
land, there is no reason why Mindanao
should not support something like 25,-
100000. The Sulu Archipelago and
Palawan would support many thou
sands.
The wars Of the future will be fought
largely on rubber. The automobiles and
motor trucks travel upon it, and it en-
ters into the construction of all kinds
of army equipment. Today we are alb
solutely dependent upon the rubber
plantations of Malaysia and Ceylon, and
it is not long since that the British who
own the plantations there proposed a
restriction Of output which would have
added more than 100000, 900 a year to
the cost Of the rubber goods we con-
sumo. In case of war we should have
a fighting chance only at the rubber
forests of the Amazon Valley, and the
production there Is SO diSorgan nized and
uncertain that 1t would be of little value
in war. This proposed Moro territory is
potentially the greatest rubber land of
the world. 1t has just the right soil
and climate, and 1t Is outside the zone
Of typhoons. which might destroy the
trees. There are hundreds Of thousands
of acres on Mindanao that might be
planted to this crop. and it is said that
the little Island Of Basilan, not half as
large as Rhode Island, could grow
enough rubber to supply all our needs
for all time to come.
But outside rubber, Uncle Sam lacks
other resources which, as far as John
Bull is concerned, puts him in the posi-
ton Of the hatterer. Damocles, at the
banquet Of Dionysius, the King of Syra-
cuse. You remember the story. With all
the dainties Of the world under his eyes,
tho hungry Damocles chanced to glance
upward. He saw a naked sword sus-
pended by a single horsehair over his
head. and with one look his appetite
disappeared.
For our binder twine we are relying
upon a product Of the Philippine Is
lands, the jute Of India, the sisaI Of
Mexico. and certain other fibers largely
controlled by John Bull or his ships
Shut of these resources, and we shall
be practically helpless to harvest our
crops. The Philippines raise enough
hemp to furnish rope and twine for the
world; and Mindanao has undeyeloped