The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-08
Tho Value of Coalinx Stations.

Tho Value of Coaling Stations.
In the Nineteenth Century magazine. Lord
BRAssEY lays down the proposition that
1.-The country which possesses the most
numerous coaling stations. and the best
situated as regards trade routes. will have
great advantage in future war. In this
respect" he adds. 1.-The British empire is
without q rival"
The Importance Of the part thus assigned
to coaling stations in warfare is due. Of
course, to the fact that steam has become
the great motive power for both war ships
and the mercantile marine. Sailing ships
could keep the seas, as Lord BRAssEY points
out. as long as the supply Of water lasted;
whereas steamships must go to port when
the coal gives out, or when the machinery
needs repairs. For this reason the coal en-
durance or radius Of action of a modern
cruiser has become prime factor in her eff
fciency. and is provided for as carefully as
her speed. her armament. or her protection
against an enemys fire. In our famous
commerce destroyers the Columbia and the
Minneapolis. for example. the fact that
either OF them could go all the way around
the globe without recoaling is as noticeable
and 1t Is all the more 80 from our present
lack OF coaling stations in distant waters.
But the securing Of this exceptional
steaming radius is made possible only by
diminishing other features, usually those
Of armor and heavy batteries. The fast
commerce destroyers are not the only types
Of vessels needed for o navy, and with bat
tie ships and indeed with a great majority
Of vessels the problem Of coaling in distant
waters is still vital. while even the Column
bias may need to go to foreign station for
repairs. Besides. the hulls OF steel vessels
rapidly become foul by cruising. especially
in tropical waters. and this 80 reduces their
speed that they must frequently be locked.
scraped. and painted.
For long time after steam superseded
sails the latter were retained as an auxl-
larry motive power. But they have more
and more been given up. until nowadays it
is the custom. especially with armored
cruisers and battle ships. to carry no
masts save military ones for observation
and for tops to mount machine guns.
Ship after ship OF our own new navy
Is now built with little or with no reliance
whatever upon sails. This makes the ques-
ton Of fuel vastly moro important to US
than 1t was even eight or ten years ago.
when there was still much dependence on
auxiliary sail power. especially for I'M
armored cruisers.
1t is sometimes urged as an objection to
the policy Of establishing coaling stations
that they create more points to defend.
and thus tend to a scattering instead
Of concentration Of resources. How
ever. Lord BRAssEY shows that this
is not valid objection. He says that
Great Britain's policy Is that OF giving to
her coaling stations Sufficient defence
against one or two hostile cruisers. More
than this Is not required. AS long as our
navy is maintained Mt It's proper strength,
and is efficiently officered and manned. it
should not be possible for a serious expe-
dition to leave the enemy's port without a
British feet being Immediately in pursuit"
One reason why the coaling stations can be
sufficiently defended In many cases by
few guns and small garrison is that
an enemy. In sending a large fleet to
reduce such station, would run the risk
OF using the fleet for a minor purpose.
and thus expose himself to attack at a more
important point. Hence. ordinarily the de-
fensive works need not be very elaborate
and costly. Besides. 1t Is just as possible
for the country owning q station to send a
fleet to defend 1t as it Is for an enemy to
send feet to attack 1t. The possession OF
coaling stations implies that Of consid-
cradle navy. since otherwise they would
not be required. In the case OF Hawaii. as
in that of some Of the great British naval
stations. the permanent defeuces should be
more elaborate on account not only OF the
strategic value OF the islands. but Of their
commercial Importance. Ordinarily. how
ever. the defence of coaling harbor. as
such. need not be very costly, since there
Ia little for an enemy to take away and
even little 70 destroy that could not be
renewed or repaired.
1t cannot bs said that our Government
has failed to appreciate the Importance Of
acquiring coaling stations. although from
one reason and another it's policy in this
matter has been greatly batfled. Fully
twenty years ago Commander MEADE be-
gan to acquire the right to the station
at Pago-pago on Tutuila Island in Samoa.
although only OF late years coal has been
deposited there for the use of our ships,
while the building OF the wharf and
other structures ID not yet completed.
The fine landlocked harbor at Pearl
River in Oahu. the right to which We
use. partly because of the bar that
must be removed. but largely also. no
doubt. because OF the greater question pre-
sented to us. that OF annexing all the Sand
WITCH Islands. The value OF foothold In