Germany's Colonial Ambition In the Philippines 1898
The Pacific Ocean was once considered a Spanish lake, serving as the "camino real" or royal road for Spanish commercial activities between the Americas and Asia from the 16th to the 19th century. The Caroline Islands, Palau, the Mariana Islands, including Guam, were part of the Spanish East Indies, which were administered by Manila. These islands were also considered a remote outpost for Spaniards working for the Ministry of Overseas Territories (Ministerio de Ultramar). Filipino recruits in the Spanish colonial armies were noted to have served on some of these islands, with one particular account mentioning service on the island of Ponape. Additionally, Guam served as a place of exile for Filipino dissidents. Spanish Decline in the Pacific In the latter half of the 19th century, European powers began to take an interest in the Pacific, recognizing the weakening Spanish control. Germany started to assert its presence in the Western Carolines, which provoked a protest from Spa