The sun., 1891-06-28
British Stations in American Waters.

E8s
Not very long ago q Royal Commission,
intrustsd with tho duty Of deciding on a
military policy for the West Indies, recon-
mended the forifcation and maintenance Of
imperial coaling stations at Jamaica and
st Lucia, "these points being selected on
account OF their strategic Importance in re-
lation TO the operations of her Majesty's
navy in these waters" and it was further
recommended that all the imperial troops In
the West Indies should be concentrated
there. A subsequent report OF the Colonial
Defence Committee to the imperial authori-
ties shows that this policy Of concentration
has been carried out. and that it is based
upon the principle that "the protection of
the West Indies as q whole must depend
upon the navy operating in sufficient force"
The periodical relief Of the British fleet in
American waters by a new assignment OF
vessels Is now at hand, and it Is believed
that occasion will be taken gradually to
strengthen the squadron in accordance with
the importance thus assigned to naval de-
fence. The present flagship is the Belle
rophon, OF 1850 tons displacement 6,520
horse power, l4t knots speed, six inches thick
ness OF armor, and carrying battery OF l2-
ton guns. The new flagship is to be the Her
cules, OF $3.50 tons, $3.50 horse power, l4i
knots speed. inches OF armor and ls-ton
guns. Wealso find the Comus and Emerald
relieved by the Sirius and Spartan. The
ComIs Is 4 cruiser Of 1850 tons displace.
ment and 2,450 horse power, while the two
now cruisers arc Of 5000 tons each, among
the racers OF the British navy. In short.
without exciting any special notice, the
present British fleet In North American
waters will probably be replaced by vessels
rather more efficient ship for ship. There
Is nothing necessarily aggressive In this
policy, since 1t Is natural result Of the
building OF new American navy, vastly
superior both In battery power and speed to
the wooden craft. with their old-fashioned
smooth bores, that formerly constituted our
North Atlantic squadron.
Four fortified stations now constitute the
British limo facing our coast These are st.
Lucia, Port Royal. Bermuda, and Halifax.
Ultimately they will be connected with each
other by telegraphlc cables and strength
ened beyond probability of capture. The
concentration OF troops at these points i'm.
plies tho stripping OF other stations, and
ono notable sufferer by the change is tho
Bahamas. Troops formerly at Nassau have
been transferred to Jamaica, and New
Providence will depend on the navy
for its defence. Tho importance OF
these posts Is enhanced by the fact that
they furnish the secondary bases from
which aggressive operations could be car
ried ON against the United States. The
great British armorclads would use up
nearly all their fuel In hurrying across
the Atlantic at high speed. SO that unless
they could obtain another supply on this
side their operations might be much less
effective. especially should they be unex-
pectedly delayed or checked. But with the
four great stations just mentioned. England
could recoal all her vessels there, or, in fact
make them or any one Of them the rendez-
yous and base for an expeditionary fleet.
The great advantage enjoyed by England
in this respect was illustrated IN the
cruise from which the Philadelphia recently
returned. She had to put up with very
poor quality OF coal. obtained at St Thomas |
and Kingston. Near by. at the latter port,
was q supply OF excellent coal belonging to |
tho Government. and reserved for the Brit |
ish cruisers. II our own Government had a |
coaling station at Mole St. Nicolas or Sama-
ma BAY or st. Thomas. 1t would keen good