The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-11-15

They are ruled by the iron hand Of
a United States naval officer appointed
by the President; so far this type OF
rule has been just and wise and I'M
deniably beneficial, nevertheless the
governor is as much an absolute mon
arch as were any of the kings OF old.
His word is the only law. Queerly
enough. Uncle Sans gobs under his
control perform every governmental
and administrative duty from judging
criminal cases to blowing traffic whis-
ties, yet none of them have any real
naval duties at all.
Arriving at Guam we have covered
$500 miles since leaving California.
Let us see where we are now. Some
100 miles from Manila. The nau-
teal position is given as 1870 degrees
26 minutes north latitude and IA de-
grees 40 minutes east longitude.
Our island is larger than Samoa or
the Virgin islands. 1t is an oasis Of
$50 square miles in the watery desert
of the Pacific. 1t is 20 miles long and
LIOm IHICC " tCI WluCs II 10
billy in the south portion. with one
peak. Mt. Jumullong Mangloc rising
1924 feet The northern part is a
coral plateau, 300 feet high in the in
terror. but facing the sea with bold.
6OO-foot cliffs. There are several 9th
er fairly good harbors besides Apra. 1t
is heavily forested with valuable hard
woods and the soil is fertile.
Nature Mingles With Civilization.
Despite the presence Of the many
scientific improvements of our own
civilization which have been fostered
under the American rule, the charm
of nature is everywhere to be found.
Water buffaloes pulling native carts
are frequently to be seen. There are
native villages consisting of one long
street of houses with sweeping ver-
andas, perched upon posts. The native
population is chiefly Chamorros; there
are few Tagalos and Malays.
Stretching out into the hills beyond
the capital city, Agana, where two
thirds of the islands people live. are
fields of sugar. rice, tobacco and pine
apple. In the river valleys are cacao,
coffee and indigo. Water buffalo and
imported horses help with the farm
ing. which is the principal industry Of
Guam.
1t is somewhat appropriate that the
navy should govern Guam. which is a
forbidden naval preserve. although 1t
boasts no fortresses, harbors no guns
and withholds no secrets of military
nature. For it was the navy that first
claimed the island for Uncle Sam.
That was on June 20. 1898. The
Spanish governor did not know that
the war was on. When Capt. Henry
Glass sailed the cruiser Charleston in.
to Apra harbor and began throwing
dreadfully earnest shells right through
the tops Of the coconut trees. the gov
ernor, probably already acquainted
with American sailors, thought the
boys were Just out for good time
and apologized for not being able to
return the salute, since he was all
out of powder and had to wait until
some Of his subordinate seniors could
dash down to the corner drug store
and get some. He soon found out
that the American navy was playing
this game ''for keeps" and we bave
kept the Pacific prize ever since. Pres
ident Mckinley directed the navy to
administer the island government two
weeks after it was awarded to the
United States in the treaty OF Paris.
December 10. 1898. and the navy has
always retained the charge.
The island Of Guam is actually a
part Of the United States. not simply
4 protectorate. Yet islanders cannot