Like others Yanks took, Palaus are Coral Islands
Principal products are shells and Japanese is taught in all the schools
Washington (UP) –
U.S. troops now fighting in the Palau Islands will encounter thick tropical forests of ironwood and ebony trees and a few crocodiles as they battle inland from coralline coasts.
The islands, which extend some 77 miles in a north-northeasterly direction, lie some 560 miles east of Mindanao in the southern Philippines and 1,980 miles south of Tokyo.
Most of the islands, with the exception of Angaur at the southern tip, lie on and are surrounded by coral reefs.
Some, including Babelthuap, Arakabesan and Malakal, appear to be of volcanic origin with hills rising to a height of 641 feet.
Some are of coral
Others, consisting mostly of coral, are either flat or composed of long narrow hills with steep slopes on the seaward sides.
The natives speak a Malayan dialect and are the majority of the inhabitants. Out of a population of 10,632 in 1934, however, 4,842 were Japanese. Japanese is taught in the schools.
The principal products are shells, copra and pearls.
Has four peninsulas
Halmahera is an extremely irregular island consisting of four peninsulas enclosing four great bays opening toward the east.
The four peninsulas are traversed lengthwise by mountain chains 3,000 to 4,000 feet high, covered with forests rich in a great variety of trees.
The mountain chains from which spurs extend to the coast are frequently interrupted by plains.
The northern part of the mountain chain of the northern peninsula is volcanic. Along the western coast are volcanic mountains, at least one of which is active.