THE ISLAND OF YAP

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 8, 4 October 1919, Page 9

THE ISLAND OF YAP

AMERICA'S M'OYl'J IN TITK PACIFIC.

Naval strategist? regard President Wilson's claim to the island of Yap as importantly alfeiling Ihe future balance of forces in the Pacific (stales the Syd. n'ey "Sun's" representative in London). It appears thr.t the destination of Yap has been refeored to a special confer, enee, which later on will decide the question of German cables taken over during the wi.r. President Wilson nilmil* Hint (he American claim' (d llin island is due to the strong report of naval, experts, who insist on the neees, sity for American bases in the Western T'acific. This mnv be inspired primarily by American interests in the "Philippines, but Americans decision lo straddle Ihe ■Pacific, obviously has an' 'important bearin? ou Australian defence. Yap is a small volcanic island in the Caroline Group, obout SOO miles norlli of New Guinea. The island is about te: miles in length, and is fertile and well watered. It ,vas, like the rest of I lie group, formerly a German colony. Further proof of the determination of the United Stales to establish herself' firmly u: tho Pacific, was supplied in a recent cnblezram. which-stated I hat' Air. Daniels (Secrelnrv of the Navv) when opening- Hie' Pearl 'Harbour dry dock at TTnnoiul.il. said that lie expected lo make Pearl Harbour one of the world's .great: est marine stations. The island of Yap liiw already lieen the subject of an international dispute. It originally belonged to Spain, bnl: the Oonnaii Hag was hoisted there in ISS.I. The resulting dispule between Germanv and Snail) was settled bv Pone Leo XNI, bv the award of the Carolines lo Spain. Tn ISffl the grnii]. was p-irehiiseil by Germany.

Tin* Kloel. which'has rccenllv been in eruption, wit'', disastrous results to life, is unt! (if '.lie H.V volcanic ninunlains Hint rcinniii active in mi area ml' I'alHl s<|iiai'o niil"« nf -li'.vii. Xnwhoro cl-r. lint oven in Iceland, ai'e thereso inniiv volcanoes wilhin so siniill u Miace. One oulbronk nf lb" Klnpl, in Will, •occurred el I o'clock in Ihe moriiin- and l.«v 111 o'clock ashes l"«iiii lo full nl I-=.O miles nil', which was rendered pil-bclm-I;. Tim monsoon bus I-ppii k'luivn I- cirry liipin lipvi)»i| llalavi" w'-Mi i- wn •»■ ■1110 miles further wc I. ''"hi- ash ••!' I'K'oel. a niirc d.v. Ui-.l I '".,■■■ ,l„Hi| P when water is ail'b'il. is ralli-l«d In- I'y native silvpismil)is for makiji;; Ibpir fmest mouldf.