The following notes constitute a sketch description and basic orientation for garrison and defense forces in the MARIANAS Islands. No attempt has been made to include any information of a military nature. It is the purpose nf these notes to assist in the understanding of the islands and their people.
The materials and Chamorro vocabulary have been assembled by the District Intelligence Office 14th Naval District.
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CHAMORRO VOCABULARY Click here for complete vocabulary section
The MARIANAS are largely volcanic islands, although this form of activity has died out except in the northern portion of the chain. Three of the northern islands (GUGUAN, ASUNCION, and FARALLON DE PAJAROS) have active volcanoes which still erupt from time to time. The islands arc very small in comparison with the archipelagoes of the southwest, but are much larger in ground area than the atolls of the Gilberts. Marshalls and Carolines. The largest of the islands is Guam, which is 26 miles long and from four to eight miles wide. The four largest islands at the southern end of the Chain are GUAM, ROTA, TINIAN and SAIPAN and their pronunciation according to a local authority is Gwahm, LOOtah, TeeNEEan, and SaEEpan. Because of the restricted size and volcanic activity of the other islands, practically all of the peoples in the Marianas live on these four.
Back before any recorded history an unknown race peopled several of islands of the Pacific including these southern Marianas and left behind them stone cause ways and piers and castles. Traces of their civilization are to be found from one end of the Pacific to the other, but even today we know nothing of these builders in stone. The first recorded knowledge we have is that in 1521 Magellan, while on his first trip around the world, stopped at the Marianas and named them the Ladrones, or "Thieves," presumably because of the character of the natives. Shortly after Magellan left this area, he discovered the Philippines and was killed there in a small intertribal battle, but the word of the Ladrones was passed back to Spain and in 1668 the first mission in these islands was founded. Spanish con trol continued until 1898 and native labor was supplemented to a large extent by Filipinos brought up from the south. As a result of the intermixture of these races the islands are today populated to a large extent by a group known as Chamorros, whose language is a strange combination of island languages and Spanish.
In 1898 Guam was ceded to the United States for use as a coaling station. A year later the other islands were sold to Germany, and were taken over by the Japanese at the conclusion of the World War. Guam itself was overrun by the Japanese shortly after, the opening of the present war, completing the Japanese control of this island. chain.
Typhoons may be expected in the vicinity from July through November; however they are usually near misses, and it is only about once in two years that one strikes the islands with the full force of cyclonic winds and torrential driving rains. At the first indication of a real typhoon it is advisable to lash securely tents, light structures and all miscellaneous gear. If circumstances do not permit this, it is well to remember that real danger exists in wind-borne wreckage. The lee side of a cliff offers a good protective shelter; however it should be kept in mind that the wind completely reverses its direction if the vortex of the storm passes nearby. Greater danger than from flying debris exists if caught offshore in a small boat. The swells are terrific. Keep a "weather eye" open during the typhoon season.
The history, economy and experiences of the peoples of Saipan, Tinian and Rota have differed greatly from those of Guam, and therein lies a partial explanation of the vast differences in the people themselves, their character, their attitudes, and their languages.
The island of Guam for but three of the last 45 years has been under the American flag. The civilian population of this island in 1941 was slightly less than 23,000, of which a large percentage was a native group called Chamorros. These people are descended from the Spanish, Filipino and other soldiery who garrisoned Guam and other of the Marianas islands for generations during the Spanish rule, and took native wives. A very much smaller group of the native population is known as Kanakas and they are beneath the social scale of the Chamorros because of their more primitive ways and lack of development. They are related tribally to the Central Caroline natives of the Truk region.
Since the Japanese occupation it is likely that these native groups have suffered and will welcome our return. But not so on the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota! These islands have experienced during the parallel period 15 years of German rule and 30 years of Japanese domination. Large numbers of Japanese and Koreans have been brought to the islands and the last published census, 1936, indicates that the total civilian population of Saipan was 23,8000, Tinian-- 15,339 and Rota—5,590. At this time the population of these various islands was comprised of over 85 per cent Japanese, and the Chamorros and Kanakas subordinated to them have necessarily existed under conditions greatly differing from those at Guam. At present it may be correctly assumed that military activity has greatly increased the Japanese population of all islands concerned.
In all cases when necessary to deal with natives it will be well to meet them with politeness and to maintain strict dignity. Especially in the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota, will you be considered The Enemy for sometime after arrival.
Sugar is the main peacetime industry of Saipan, Tinian and Rota. As in Hawaii there are plantations or agricultural corporations and the planting of cane, harvesting, hauling and grinding it in the mills is their business. This necessitated the importation of considerable labor and these corporations found the answer to their manpower problem in the Okinawas—the lowest and poorest of the Japanese people who inhabit the southernmost islands of the Empire chain. To a lesser extent Koreans were also brought in, and the Chamorros were employed.
Before the war sugar was sent to Japan and rice and a few manufactured things were sent back in return, hut at the present time it is doubtful if Japan exports extensively to these islands.
Guam, prior to the war, was a coaling and cable station and a minor naval and seaplane base. The United States did not introduce other laborers into Guam or try to build up an export agriculture. Many of the Chamorros found employment with the American Naval Government as semi-skilled or unskilled laborers more profitable and less strenuous than farming pursuits, consequently there was a tendency to forsake the latter. Nevertheless, the majority of these natives were in some measure engaged in agriculture -- but only to the extent required by individual needs.
On all of these islands coconuts, bread fruit, papayas, limes, bananas and pineapple are grown, but not in quantity. Yams and taro are always available and fresh vegetables can be had in season. There are some wild deer, hogs and goats, and ordinarily fish are plentiful.
Formidable foes to your health will be the unsanitary conditions which prevail. Before the Japanese occupation of Guam the sewage facilities at Agana were considered adequate; however at the villages and rural areas the facilities at best were primitive. This condition applies also to the other islands. Regardless of the adequacy of sewage facilities, a bombardment of the place will effect such wreckage of precautionary health measures as to delight swarms of flies and insects which are ever ready to feast upon pollution. Experiences of other campaigns have proved that it is absolutely necessary to observe every sanitation measure possible in order to avoid the terrible rigors of dysentery: Keep flies off your food. Don't drink untreated ground water. Don't eat raw or unwashed vegetables or fruits unless you can peel them. Wash your hands before eating, whenever possible.
In addition to the annoyance of flies, there will be fleas, mosquitoes, centipedes and scorpions. Dengue (DEN-gee) fever is carried by mosquitoes; and also dysen tery, typhoid fever, paratyphoid and some eye, skin and venereal diseases are prevalent. Keep them at a minimum!
The natives know the natural hazards and it will be well for you to note the following: Coral is a special feature of Guam and is found chiefly in the northern half of the island and at Orote Peninsula, just south of Apra Harbor. The northern part of the island is really a large upraised, tropically forested coral reef and with the passage of centuries the reef has been leeched out into a brittle spongy limestone full of treacherous holes with razored edges. Coral cuts can be brutally painful, so be sure that you are well shod while in the region.
The southern half of Guam offers an equally disagreeable item in the nature of sword (or saw) grass. This usually grows about chest-high and can give a very nasty cut.
Note, too, that deep water fish are edible, but that the fish living in the shallow flats along shore are not, as they feed on polluted matter from the land. Also, on these islands is a small grey species of land crab which is considered poisonous. The coconut crab, which can be identified by his dark brown coloring and small soft body with large powerful claws, is an ex ception—and is edible. Sea crabs are also edible, but only shortly after caught as seafood in this area spoils quickly. The Samoan crab which inhabits muddy or silty places in the shallow water is very powerful and can cause great damage to bare feet. Also, there is a cream-colored anemone eight or ten inches across which opens up from a hole in the sand and spreads itself out in the clear sea water in flower-like fashion. Keep away from it for the terrific sting will cause very painful welts.
For communicating with the people of Saipan, Tinian and Rota, stick to Japanese. Eighty-five percent or more of the civilian population and practically all of the young people will understand it. The Army Training Manual, TM 30-341, plus some study on your part will give you a working knowledge of the basic language. Later, if you want to learn more, get a copy of TM 30-275.
The language to use on Guam is English. Nearly three quarters of the people, including a majority of the few hundred civilian orientals on the island, understand it. With a little patience you will get along all right. Older people, and especially those living in isolated places will be the least likely to know it. Try to talk to younger people whenever possible.
The second most important language in the Marianas is that of the Chamorros. Unfortunately it is one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn The following list of words and phrases has been compiled for strictly emergency use with Chamorro speaking natives. But do not try to use Chamorro unless you have first followed the suggestions given in the two paragraphs above.
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