Editorial Note

With a map of the Pacific before one, it is difficult to understand what is sought by the United States —that is, if the fore going is a serious article, and not just a Sunday newspaper story.

In Pago Pago, American Samoa, U.S.A. has a splendid harbor, capable of accom modating her largest warships. As Pago Pago has been in the occupation of the United States Naval forces for more than 30 years, it may be safely assumed that it has been well adapted to naval pur poses.

The United States, with its command over Hawaii, Philippines, and Guam, is strongly placed in the North Pacific.

Guam, a strong American station, is con veniently placed between Philippines and Hawaii. As America’s only potential enemy in the Pacific is Japan, it appears that Hawaii, Guam, and Philippines give her all the ocean outposts she requires for purposes of aggression.

If U.S.A. were to obtain naval stations in the South Pacific, which would demand protection in the event of war with Japan, their possession might be a source of weakness rather than strength. Naval outposts in the South Pacific would be of use only if America feared attack from the direction of Australia or New Zealand.

Perhaps America, however, is seeking fortified places of ready refuge for her mercantile shipping in the event of a sud den outbreak of war. Then, deep-water harbors like Pago Pago would be very valuable.

Of such harbors there are many avail able in the South Seas. There are two

or three in the depopulated Marquesas.

That is a large, beautiful and fertile Group close to America, and France might be glad to hand it over to some nation which could develop it. One hundred years ago it carried a numerous, happy population; to-day, owing to pests, etc., introduced by Europeans, there are not 1500 people there.

The Marquesas might provide a suitable port for America in the eastern portion of the South Pacific. Pago Pago meets requirements in the central portion. For a useful port in the western portion of the South Pacific we must look somewhere in the vicinity of the New Hebrides or Southern Solomons. There are several harbors in this region worthy of consideration. For instance, Port Patteson, in in the Island of Vanua Lava, in the Banks

Group (part of the Condominium of the New Hebrides), would float a fleet ct battleships; and it is a fertile and attrac tive place. Also, in the Banks Group, is the Island of Ureparapara. It appears to be the top of an old volcano, one side of which has disappeared. Thus has been created a magnificent harbor, which can accommodate large ships.

One of the finest harbors in the Pacific, capable of being easily defended, is that of Vavau, in the northern part of Tonga, The Germans had their eye on this place before the war, and, in 1914, there were more German flags than British to be seen there, showing that the method of peace ful penetration had almost succeeded, But Vavau may not appeal to the Amen cans, as it is fairly close to Pago Pago.