Evening star., 1941-06-22
island World Forgot
Tragic Dot on Pacific,
Recalled in War Crisis
CIipperton Rock Holds
Highly Strategic Position
For American Defense

American concern recently over
French island possessions in the
Western Hemisphere recalls the
strange history of tiny land dot in
the Pacific which has been called
the Island the World Forgot"
Clipperton Rock, with one CT the
most fantastic anG tragic stories to
be found in the annals Of adventure
is at present an rninhaoited coral
isle TOO miles from the coast OF
western Mexico, says a bulletin from
the National Geographic Society. 1t
continues:
About 1850 miles from the Ameri-
can naval base at San Diego on the
northwest, and 1000 from the Pa
cific entrance to the Panama Canal
On the southeast, it occupies highly
strategic position for American de-
fense.
Isle Is Dangerous Place.
On the other hand, although its
central lagoon might be useful as a
seaplane anchorage, Clipperton
Island itself is a dangerous place,
even under the best IF navigation
conditions. Pilot guides warn mari
ners TO approach with caution" ="
Huge sharks swim about it, and the
surf mas been known to break over
the entire atol.
Despite its inhospitable character,
Clipperton Island (Which took its
name from an English freebooter
who sailed this way during the 18th
century, has been the subject OF
a number of disputes. When ma
tions remembered the existence of
this two-mileS-acr islet, they
sometimes quarreled bitterly about
its possession. When they forgot
1t, as happened often enough to give
1t its title, odd things occurred there.
For centuries. although no effort
was made to occupy it, Mexico con-
sidered the little circle of land
hers-a heritage of the early Span
iards who discovered it and called
1t Island Of Passion
Under Many Flags.
When a French commander raised
over it the flag of Napoleon III in
1858, Mexico vigorously protested
the action; then apparently again
forgot it. Nearly 40 years later,
when another French vessel stopped
at Clipperton, an American flag was
flying. An armed force sent ashore
found there an international settle
ment of three-A German, an Eng
lishman and an American, the latter
being responsible for the hoisting of
the Stars and Stripes. The Ameri-
can colors were soon lowered and
the French tricolor restored. But
the change was not to last. The
following year a Mexican warship
visited the island, deported the
three men and raised The Mexican
flag.
Though no action was taken by
the French at that time. the dispute
was reopened in 1906, when phos-
phate was discovered on the island.
Over French protests, Mexico placed
a small garrison on the island, while
the entire question of its ownership
was referred for arbitration of the
Italian King, Vittorio Emanuele,
In the meantime Clipperton went
through the most tragic phase of its
history. Between 1914 and 1917,
under the stress of world conditions
and troubles a. home, the Mexican
government overlooked the sending
of supplies to its garrison in the
Pacific. An American vessel visit
ing the island at the end Of that
time found only three women and
eight children of the once thriving
settlement.
Soldiers Starved to Death.
According to the stories pieced
together from accounts Of the sur
vivors, starvation and scurvy caused
the death of most CT the soldiers.
The commander finally set out, with
a few followers, in small ship, with
the hope of getting help. They were
never heard from again.
Soon afterward a hurricane added
TO the unhappy islanders rlials. The
only man left was huge Negro,
who, becoming insane from the pri-
vations, declared himself king of
the island. Later, one of the few
remaining women killed him as he
slept.
Today, empty Clipperton is a
French possession, having been
awarded to France by the Italian
King in 1931-after rearly quar-
ter of a century of inaction when
most of the world again forgot"