The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 286, 10 May 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1898.

According to the latest intelligence to hand with regard to the naval engagement at Manila, the Spanish fleet has been completely annihilated, and the fortifications at the entrance of the harbour destroyed. All this, according to the American Admiral, has been accomplished without any material damage being done to the American fleet; no members of the crews were killed and only a few wounded. The Spaniards admit a loss of 618. "When the first news of the engagement reached us, almost accompanied as it was with the proposals of the American Press as to what should be done with the Philippine Islands, one was inclined to smile at the previousness of the suggestions, but now that the Spanish fleet is out of the way there is

nothing to prevent the American Government from throwing as many men as they may think necessary to subjugate the islands. There is this much more in their favour, no alien people who have had a taste of Spanish rule are likely to object to being turned over to any other Power. The Spanish frying-pan is always approaching red heat, and those who have suffered upon it can hardly believe that the fire itself can prove a less comfortable location, and in consequence are likely to hail as friends those who will lift them out of it, without caring to speculate as to where they will be dropped. The American proposal is that the Philippines shall be handed over to England in exchange for Jamaica, Burmudas, and Bahamas. The Americans want these islands because they are near their coast, and would be useful from both a strategic and commercial point of view. As to the equality of the bargain, we find on reference that the Philippines comprise an aggregate of 2000 islands ranging from mere rocks to Luzon and Mindanao, both containing approximately 40,000 square miles. The total area of the islands is 116,000 square miles, and the population is estimated at between eight and nine millions. The country is exceedingly rich in timber, much of it being dye woods. Tho produce of the islands by cultivation consists mainly of maize, sugar cane, cotton, coffee and tobacco. There are coal, iron, gold, copper, lead, sulphur, cinnabar and many other valuable natural products. Manila is the capital, with a population estimated at 27,000,the chief exports from which are sugar, hemp and tobacco. Britain, it is stated, is to be asked to give in return first Jamaica, which is the most important of the British West India Islands, and is situated about 90 miles south of Cuba, and has an area of 4193 square miles, and the population, according to the last census, was 639,491. The exports are principally sugar, rum, dye-woods, coffee and other tropical products. The Burmudas lie in mid-Atlantic, 2900 miles from Liverpool, and 677 from New York. This group contains some hundred little islands, the total area of which is abont 19 square miles. One of these islands is occupied by a dock-yard, and other naval establishments, and two others are military depots with garrisons. One of the islands has a floating dock which was towed all the way from England in 1869. The population is 15.000, half of whom are coloured. The Bahamas; the other islands the Americans ask in exchange, stretch nearly 600 miles in a north-wosterly direction from near the north coast of Hayti, to the east coast of Florida. The area is 5390 square miles and the exports are valued at £193,000. We can hardly believe that the British Government will entertain the proposal of America, even if it were actually made by the Government. The time has not yet passed when the pastime of screwing the lion's tail may be resumed, and war be threatened if the li on does not tamely submit. Under these conditions it would be in the highest degree impolitic for Britain to yield up strategic positions, which in the event of war would be of great use to America, and the want of them seriously hamper 6he British fleets. Britain does not want territory in the China Seas, and aside fiom the reasons we have given above why the exchange should not be made, there are the susceptibilities of other nations to be considered.