ROMANCE OF FRENCH ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 56, 8 March 1922, Page 7

ROMANCE OF FRENCH ISLAND

NAMED AFTER ENGLISH PIRATE,

In a lecture in January in Paris, before the French Geographical Society, which sounded like a page from one of Robert Lcuis Stevenson's stories of adventure, M. Grosididier, Secretary General of the Society, pointed out the growing importance both scientific/and political of Clipperron Island, a French possession in the Pacific Ocean. The .Tiearest land is the Mejdcan 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 tovo equate miles, and its highest point is about 150ft above tho sea level. There is no drinking water and no vegetation. It was discovered in 1527 by the Spanish navigator Saavedra; about 1711 two French sailors, Dubocage and Chassiron, commanding lie frigates La Princesse and La Deoouverte, landed and planted the French flag on tho island, and in the middle of the 16th century the English pirate Clipperton landed on the rock in the course of a thrilling run across tho Pacific. Finally, towards the middle of tho 19th century a well-known French naval officer, Captain Coat de Kerguelen, definitely claimed tho island fqr Franco.

As the result of its situation, in the path of vessels leaving the Panama Canal, Clipperton Island is growing in import-\ ance. Sou,e years ago a group of Mexicans landed on the island to work tho gua.no deposits; the captain of a -French vessel which happened to pass pointed out to thorn that the rocjj was French territory, _ and asked them to re-embark. This incident gave rise to much embark. This incident gave rise to much discussion between Franco and Mexico, and finally the King of Italy was a-skod to sottlo tho matter by arbitration. M. Grosididier regards Clipperton Island as of real importance from a scientific point of view, since it is situated at the meeting point of two great Pacific currents and would provide a unique position for meteorological observations. Not only would it bo of interest to establish a, scientific station there, but the island 'might bo mado a supply station on the route from Central America to China and Japan. But. as the French press points out, only Robinson Crusoe would j>e contest to.liygjn such a deserted spot. :