Show N Menace to U U. S. S Supremacy in Pacific Seen if Japan Secures German e Island Island m 1 ad f e 0 c CE E A. A NJ r JAPAN S t r C 1 f flit t. t lit 1 1 r A E I y L Lq Lr C III j jf r q f I 0 ON r SA ML C Lf I I MARSHALL ISLANDS r XA r g Area r tea f PAIn 1999 r 1 1 r t 1 1 E It RT r 8 Br rJ J r t I ru t O I 0 a t Its 10 loon i sr J Area S So Mis rca ED 18 1899 9 C A O L L Y E SPAIN 1899 ROid E IS u o M. M a r s o 1 LV y I S tv F I J F D O L O M O 5 SANTA CRUZ 10 3 Is riA fit T Jl a marck r s Is Ail J Jr s. Is r SrI I A o l 00 S Urlo Lw C 1 w 2 Are a 7 A ANNEXED N X la 1881 a. a a t A. A r ls I fir 11 ZI r. I r S E I Z t Germanys Germany's holdings in tho the Pacific ocean Of Washington supreme Importance to tho the United States Is the contagion Ion of or Japan that U she should control the Caroline Islands and others In the same group that formerly belonged to German tier Cler- man many t and are now the subject ct of or much discussion In the tho Paris peace pence conference It Is probable that a 3 league of or nations nations nations na na- na- na will be formed and that an International naval na force will bo ho one ono of ot the provisions but Interested countries on un th the tho Pacific seem to feel that tho the world worM should bo be mado made safe are afe for themselves first therefore Japan Is hurriedly advancing advancing- new reasons wh why she should have hU all the tho South Southsea Southsea sea Islands lying north o of the tho equator equa equa- equator tor Australia Is ju just t as determined to control those to the south all and tho the United States is literally standing by 11 The South sea Islands are roro made up ip of oC s- s several veral groups known as the Carolines the tho Marshall I islands CI and nd the Marianne group a 3 total of or somo omo COO OO small mall islets with a population of or about people and an nn area c of l less s than a 3 thousand miles mlles Of Ot this group the tho Island Islan of or Guam belon s to the United States it being ceded by Spain In 1899 when she Jhc sold Bold the tho re remainder e e- to Germany German The Value of ot Pacific TIn p With tho the l. l United States controlling controlling- the Hawaiian Islands Guam and tho the Philippines her naval na supremacy on on I the he Pacific would seem secure Japan however howe wants a 0 foothold In the Carolines Carolines Caro- Caro lines Ines for a naval base then If It the th international International In- In naval police force falls faUs in becoming becoming- a reality she has accomplished pUshed enough h to seriously contest our Pacific security b by an extensive fortification fortification forti forti- of oC her new possessions Rear near Admiral A A. P. P Niblack of or the United States nav navy In a a. piper paper read before be- be fore tero the naval architects and on engineers earl early In 1917 emphasized tho the value alue of ot naval bases by saying It is an historical fact tact that no great reat naval battle has over been fought ou ht In but always near the bases of ot one or the other powers an and the ports of or supply or 01 naval bases indicate indicate indicate indi indi- cate tho direction of or the tho line which t operations must take talce In lu time of or war and ind which become lines of or communications communications communications once tho the fleet neet has a advanced beyond be- be yond vond an any one ono naval base on the tho route We Ve 11 already read have in tho the Pacific tho the hearts heart's desire in positions a and d we wo seem Beem to lack only the knowledge knowledge knowledge knowl knowl- edge an and nerve nervo to strengthen such nuch of ot them as will permit us to take the tha initiative an and thereby forestall forest and even e prevent war b by making making- It too hopeless hOP fless for tor anyone anone else to take the tho chances chance I Would Isolate Philippine It Jt IB is certain that were Japan to gain control of tho the Carolines she could so fortify there thero as to nullify all our ad advantages advantages ad- ad vantages In holding Guam Then she is 19 but three days' days steaming time from our Philippines while w we e are twenty or 01 or more BO so tho the possibilities of or a great navy first on the ground and well supported supported supported sup sup- ported by several bases In a a. fifteen een hundred mile radius would place the tho United States decidedly at a disadvantage vantage An Any consideration of ot the tho strategy Y of or the tho Pacific Is utterly futile leaves out the tho erection of ot Guam Into a great naval base has OB as 3 our ko key to It for all time says Admiral Niblack Other possessions which we now no own are questions of or definite offensive e or defensive areas S. or of shortening lines of or communication and as such are arc worth worthy of or consideration as strate strategic lo points but our first t necessity la lIS consideration con con- of ot Guam Naval experts have hac agreed n reed that nothing not nor even cven numerical l battleship superiority is equal to ono first class naval natal base basc If Ie Japan should gain aln her present i ideals eals In tho the Pacific It would be bp the lon longest est stride she has haa over eYer made In th tho direction of or naval su supremacy su- su on the greatest ocean and means menns that one little mistake in time of ot war one single slip Blip or apparently minor setback would wrest the advantage tage e from our hands hand so nearly nearh equal would th the power he divided |