Seen around Siapan

Saipan, pronounced SaEEpan by the local authorities, and called by the
Americans, Si-pan, is the second largest of the Marianas, being about one-third the size of Guam and slightly larger than Tinian. It is 12 miles long, in a northeast-southwest direction, and has a minimum width of 5 miles. Mt Topatchau, near the south center of the island, is the outstanding physical feature.

	Saipan has approximately 40 miles of shoreline. The north, east and south coasts are dominated by steep, rocky cliffs. The water is deep close inshore.  Reefs exist only in the somewhat protected embayments, the greatest development being in Magicienne Bay where it averages 200 yards in width. Along the west coast there are sand beaches for most of the island's length. Behind these beaches the slopes are gentle for 500 to 5,000 yards.

	Approximately 70 per cent of Saipan's 72 square miles was, until invaded, under sugar cultivation. This included nearly all of the relatively level areas except in the vicinity of Charon-Kanoa, a picturesque sugar mill town on the southwest coast, where some area is devoted to vegetable farming.

Coral limestone is readily available nearly everywhere on Saipan. It was
used by the Japs and, more extensively, by us, for road and airfield surfacing.

The climate is typically tropic. The dry season lasts from December to
June, the wet season from July to November. The rainfall averages 86 inches a year. Average temperature varies from 76 degrees in January and February to 80 degrees in June. The maximum temperature was 95, the minimum 61 degrees.

	In general, there is little man-produced food on Saipan. There are quantities of coconuts, breadfruit, limes, peanuts, maize, bananas, pineapple, oranges, mangoes and melons. The main source of water was, and still is, for the remaining natives who live on the island, rainwater. It is collected from roofs and stored in tanks of various sizes and types.

	Before American occupation, sanitation on the island was generally poor.  Wagons removed garbage and refuse but the service was inadequate. There was no sewage system. Human excreta was used as fertilizer. Flies, bugs, fleas and mosquitos were everywhere. Pigs were kept in all the native houses.

	Magellen was first white man to visit the Marianas. Saipan had been under Spanish rule until 1899, under the Germans from then until World War I, and under Japanese rule after the 1920 League of Nations' mandate.

	Unofficial tabulation on native population at close of war was as follows: 13,512 Japanese; 2,656 Chamorros; 1,486 Koreans; 836 Polynesians and Caroline Kanakas and 6 Chinese.