The morning call., 1892-03-06
WANTED - CoALING STATIONS.

The resurrection of the United States
navy, which is now in progress under the
efforts of Secretary Tracy, is awakening
attention to a deficiency under which we
labor, and which must be remedied IL our
navy is to be of practical use in warfare
That deficiency is the want of coaling sta
tons. Few if any ships-of-war can carry
coal enough to steam, at the ordinary rate
Of cruising, more than 5000 miles. Fer every
ton consumed when a ship-of-war steams
from her base ton must be held in reserve
fer the return voyage. Thus the radius OF
operations for our new cruisers cannot ex-
coed $500 miles from the point of departure,
and ought not to exceed 1000 miles. When
that distance has been covered the vessel
must coal up, or her utility is gone; for a
steamer without coal is like soldier without
firearms. War-steamers are not equipped
for sailing.
Applying this proposition to the existing
state of affairs, it appears that if the navy
which is being built were completed to-
morrow. it would be- useless. in time of war,
except for coast defense. In time of peace
our vessels can get coal everywhere. The
Boston and the orktown had to coal at
Brazilian or Argentine ports in order to
reach their destination, which was Valpa-
raise. 1t this country had been at war with
Chile they could not have got coal at these
ports, for coal is contraband of war and
consequently they could not have got round
to the Chilean coast. In fact, without coal
Ing stations, which the United States do not
now possess, the new cruisers would be
practically useless for the purpose for which
they are built.
Other maritime nations long ago foresaw
the necessity of providing stations where
their ships can coal in case OF war. Eng
land has studded the high seas with such
bases of operations so that no British ship
can ever find itself at an inconvenient dis
lance from its coal supply. At Gibraltar,
Sierra Leone. Cape Town and Alden ON the
coast Of Africa: at Bombay. Cape de Gale,
Calcutta. Singapore, Hong Kong and Yoke
hama, in Asia; at Melbourne and Sydney,
in Australia; a: Halifax, Bermuda jamaica
and Santa Lucia, on the east coast of North
America, and at Esqumalt. or the west
coast, coaling stations have been estaD-
lshed. stocked with large quantities of coal
and protected by powerful Notifications.
France has estab ished similar stations at
Martinique, Cayenne, New Caledonia and
Yokohama. So far as memory serves the
United States lave only one coaling station
that is in their actual wnership-Pago
Pago. in the Samoan Islands. If the new
cruisers are to develop utility as commerce
destroyersNe should have many more.
One is needed off this coast Some years
ago the Hawaiian Government eeded to the
United States harbor on Pearl River for
coaling station, but no steps lave ever
been taken to occupy it. On one of the ISL
ands Of the Aleutian chain there is wharf
on which coal belonging to the Govern
hoe LTD
fortified, and in the event of war would be
occupied by the first man. of-war that got
there. 1t was felt during the late unpleas-
antness with Chile that we needed coal
ing station in the eastern half of the South
Pacific. 1t ought TO be possible to purchase
one OF the Galapagos Islands or some other
island off the coast; but no steps are known
to have been taken to that end. We need n
coal station near the south end of South
America, so that men-of-war rounding
Cape Horn will not be dependent On Brazil
or Argentine for fuel. Lieutenant Austin
Nj. Knight Of the navy, who has devoted
much attention to the subject has pointed
out that at the mouth Of the Santa Cruz
River, in Patagonia, a thousand miles south
Of the La Plata, there is an excellent harbor,
well suited for coaling station. The spot
is claimed both by Argentine and Chile, but
is occupied by neither, and probably for
consideration the United States might ac-
quire it.
Some day the Government will renew It's
efforts to induce Congress to purchase either
SANTANA Bay in San Domingo or St Thomas,
or the ST. Nicholas Mole in Hayti for coaling
station in the West Indies. Mature consid-
Grafton has proved the unsoundness of the
views which induced Senator Sumner and
others to refuse the offers which were made
to sell these properties to the United States
In General Grants time. Ii a war should
break out our navy would be handicapped
by being compelled to run into a continental
port whenever the coal su pply ran short
The problem may be summed up in a few
propositions The bulk Of the new navy is
going to consist Of cruisers or commercials