ROMANCE OF FRENCH ISLAND IN PACIFIC.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17419, 1 April 1922, Page 15

ROMANCE OF FRENCH ISLAND IN PACIFIC.

In a lecture before the French Geographical Society, which sounded like a page from one of Robert Louis Stevenson's stories of adventure, M. Grosididier, Secretary-General of the Society, pointed out the growing importance both scientific and political of Clipperton Island, a French possession in the Pacific Ocean. The nearest land is tho Mexican port of Acapulco. Clipperton Island is uninhabited except by sea birds, and human beings only set foot on the soil when from time to time a vessel calls for possible castaways. The island has an area of less than two square miles, and its highest point is about 150 feet above the sea level. There is no drinking water and 110 vegetation. It was discovered in 1527 by the Spanish navigator Saavedra; about 1711 two French sailors, Dubocago and Chassiron, commanding tho frigates iLa Princess,and La Decouverto, landed and planted the French flag on tho island, and in the middle of the 18th century the English pirate Clipperton landed on the rock in the course of a thrilling run across tho Pacific. Finally, towards the middle of the ,19th century, a well-known French naval officer, Captain Coat de Kerguelcn, definitely claimed the island for Franco. As the result of its situation, in the path of vessels leaving the Panama Canal, Clipperton Island is growing in importance. Some years ago a group of Mexicans landed on the island to work the guano deposits; tho captain of a French vessel which happened to pass pointed out to them that the rock was French territory, and asked them to re-euibark. This incident gave rise to much discussion between Franco and Mexico, and finally tho King of Italy was asked to settle the matter by arbitration. M. Grosididier regards Clipperton Island as of real importance from a scientific point of view, sine© it is situated at the meeting point of two great Pacific currents and would provide an unique position for meteorological observations. Not only would it be of interest to establish a scientific station there, but the island might be made a supply station on the route from Central America to China and Japan. But, as the French Press points out, only Robinson Crusoe would be content to live in such a deserted s^ot.