The Arkansas banner., 1844-01-23
From ssMe .4rmy and Nary Chronicle'' THE MARITIME INTERESTS OF THE
 SOUTH AND WEST
(coNTINUED.)

l LIE MIAMI hlIlME lNIERESTS OF THE
 SOUTH AND WEST.
 CONTINUED
 Incident to this subject, and preliminary
 to right view of 1t, in this light, is know ledge of the winds and currents of the Gulf
 of Mexico. It is our Mediterranean. and. like that of the Old World, 1t has but one outlet. This outlet is afforded by the Gulf Stream, at its exit through the straits of Flo rlda, between the Island of Cuba, with the Bahamas on one side, and the American Peninsula on the other
 With this explanation, which we have omitted on account of the necessity we are under of emitting the chart which accompa- nies the original artcle,] it appears there is but one way out of the Gulf of Mexico, and that, practically, 1t is as much of a closed sea as the Mediterranean, and is more easily blockaded, for the Straits of Gibraltar are as door which vessel may pass in few hours, and then be out upon thebroad ocean With chance of escape. Not so with the Straits ot Florida; they are as long lane. through which vessel must drive with head winds, often for as many days, before she can get fairly out upon the open sea; all the way in this channel she is exposed to the mercy of an enemy without the chance of escape; for, if pursued, she can neither put back out of his way, nor turn to the right hand nor to the left, for safety; her own coasts on the left afford her no place of re- fuge, not having single fortified port or harbor III its whole length, while those on the right belong to the enemy This pass is about four hundred and fifty miles long, with an average breadth of perhaps fifty miles. Hence the remark so often made by military men, that the mouth of the Missis- slppl IS at these Straits and not at the Balize. Indeed, the Gulf and Western States would be less exposed to the attacks of an enemy II the Yucatan Pass were sand bar and the Straits of Florida the only entrance, as they are the only outlet, to the Gulf
 The encroachments of England, in this part-of the world, have been little by little, but steady and progressive. We have marked with black flag the possessions here of this island poacher, and if the reader will but turn again to the chart he will see the black flag planted on the Peninsula of Yucatan and on the Mosquito shore; on the Islands of Trinidad, Barbadoes, Antigua, and Jamaica, and on the main below the Oronoco It Is seen away off in the ocean, too, at that @hel- fish place,9 as the early navigators called the Bermudas, where she has planted an impor- tant naval station, from which, in war, her armed cruisers, with her blackamoor regi- ments, may overlook Charleston, or make their descent at will upon the Atlantic ports of the South
 Nor IS this all; if we look to the Baha- mas and the hundreds of green islands that dot the sea at the north and east of Cuba, we shall find that they too are under the black flag, and that Great Britain holds with her strong arm every quay, rock, and shoal among them upon which man may dwell or sea-birds brood The turret-crowned battle ments that guard her Westlndia colonies are only regarded noao by the American mariner as landmarks to guide him in safety to his haven; yet, when he looks forward to the contingencies of war, and considers the fee blc state of the Gulf defences of his own country, and the proximity of those islands to the Florida Pass, his mind is filled with painful apprehensions as to the security of the commerce from the Southwestern States on its way to market.
 Though all the English West India Islands that are worth the expense of capture are sufficiently fortified for sef-defence, several of them, as Jamaica, Barbadoes, and Antigua, are prepared also for aggression. Well-fur- nished magazines and arsenals have been es- abolished among them, and naval stores are lodged there. Theyshave their dock-yards, at which single ships of war may be equiped, and crippled fleets received to repair damages in war, and make ready again for the enemy.
 Along the outward chain of the West ln- dia Islands, from the Oronoco to the north of Cuba, England has established cordon of naval and military posts, that, at the first outbreak of war, will give her complete command not only of the Caribbean sea, but also of the Gulf of Mexico; not rag of American commerce could quit the Gulf ex- cept with the payment of such tribute as her cruisers in mercy should exact If an Ameri- can merchantman should attempt the Yuca- tan passage against the winds and currents of the Caribbean sea, mere inspection of the map will show that England has an island, with its military post, either on one edge or in the middle of every outlet and to that sea; all the passages are so narrow that ships in going through may see the shore on either hand. Escape that way, even if the winds and currents, instead of being adverse, were favorable, would be ut terly impracticable. And as for the Florida pass, the possessions of Great Britain are washed by its eastern edge. By means of her naval stations and military depots among the West India Islands, she is on the very borders of the Gulf; whereas we with ours are two thousand miles off. And, owing to the remoteness from our place of repair and force comparatively insignif- cant might hold the Gulf commerce of the United States entirely at its mercy; for, should the ships which we might send there o protect it be crippled in gale or disabled n battle, they could, on their long and tedious passage to the distant navy yards of the Worth, be pursued by, and ultimately made prizes to, force that, in itself, and under other circumstances, would be utterly insig- lifcant The most disabled ship of squa-