Japan’s Mandated

Islands.

Some Recent Statistics.

From Our Own Correspondent.

HONOLULU, March 1.

FOR the statistically minded who are interested in the Japanese man dated islands north of Australia just over the equator, here are the latest statistics as published in a special supplement of a Tokio newspaper: There are 1,400 of them. When Japan took them over under mandate from the League of Nations 20 years ago, there were only six Japanese in them. To day there are 60,000 Japanese.

Every island has been visited and developed by the new rulers, particu larly in regard to education, including hygiene, among the natives. There are 30 public schools, free and not com pulsory.

Sugar cultivation is making rapid strides. Annual production is now worth 10,000,000 yen. Next to sugar comes commercial fishing. Copra ex ported annually, 10,000 tons. Agricul ture, which means (in order of import ance) rice, pineapples, sugar cane and cotton, employs 9,000 Japanese and 20,000 natives. Land under cultivation totals 32,000 acres. Also corn, coffee, tobacco, oranges, etc. Rock phosphate deposits on Angaur and Perilu islands produce 65,000 tons annually.

Over a period of 20 years, the native death rate has been 43 per cent., and the biggest cause, tuberculosis.

The Japanese national anthem, “Kimi gawo”, is sung on every isle and islet.