The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-16

ss Jamaic.. and at Sc. Lucia. while on the
Pacific coast she has Victoria. For ships
doubling Cape Horn there is q coaling sta
ton ct the Falkland Islands. But with all her
means Of maintaining her ships In all parts
OF the globe and insuring them supply of
fuel, she is still alert to add TO such sta
tions. Only the other day Nicaraguan su-
thority was given for her desire to acquire
Corn Island. of the Mosquito Coast, and
now we have the report that che is nego-
tiating for San Lorenzo Island. in the har-
Dor Of Callao. convenient point OF call be-
tween Valparaiso and Taboga on the 18TH
mus Of Panama, where her ships coal.
Whatever the truth regarding San Lo-
renzo, there is lesson for our own country
in this persistent policy Of Great Britain.
Many OF the coaling stations spoken OF have
been strongly fortified and garrisoned. and
become therefore not only ports Of supply
for war ships. but harbors OF refuge for her
commercial marine on the sudden breaking
out OF war or when pursued by hostile
cruiser. Our own foreign stations thus far
are limited to Pago Pago In the island OF
Tutuila Of the Samoan group, which IL
still not fully fitted up. and Pearl River In
the island Of Oahu. upon which the needed
dredging has not been done. II Is true that
delay In the latter case Is now justified not
only by the fact that the treaty conveying
the right 10 the station will expire before
long, but especially because. with the pros
poet Of the annexation Of Hawaii under
the next Administration, whether 1t be
Democratic or Republican, we shall not
need to At up Pearl River harbor. since we
shall have the fine port OF Honolulu.
Our efforts to acquire q station In the
West Indies. or near the line Of the inter-
oceanic canal. have thus far been baffied.
The prolonged negotiations for the acqulsl-
tion OF the island Of st. Thomas, Of SANTANA
Bay In San Domingo. and Of Mole st. Nicolas
In Hayti. are we'll remembered, not to dwell
upon the proposal TO acquire Chiriqui La
COON. together with Colo Dolce on the Pa
ciflo side OF the Isthmus. Once we used to
have a familiar resort for our European
squadron at Port Mahon in the Balearic
Islands. and machine shop was there put
up for facilitating repairs. But. OF course.
that was In no sense station belonging to
us, but merely a habitual point of rendez-
vous. nttsrward superseded by villefranche.
In the same way the habitual resort Of our
South American station Is Montevideo.
while our war vessels in Japanese waters
are apt to be found at Nagasaki. At La Paz
In Mexico our Government. we believe.
keeps a supply Of coal.
But the policy of acquiring coaling sta
tions proper il illustrated by such instances
as those Of Pago Page and Pearl River
already quoted Fully dozen years ago
our Navy Department was alive to its i'm
portanee, and advised the acquisition Of ad-
ditional naval and coaling stations on both
shores Of the Isthmus Of Panama, "at
SANTANA Bay. or some port In Hayti; Cura-
Goa. In the Caribbean Sea: Santa Catharina,
In Brazil; the Straits OF Magellan: La
Union. in Salvador. or Amapala. In Hon
duras; Tullear Bay. In Madagascar; Mon
rovia. In Liberia; the island OF Fernando
Pc. and Port Hamilton, in the Nan-how
Islands Of Corea-" Lately there has also been
some talk OF trying to secure one Of the
Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.
It Ia sometimes urged that establishing
such stations causes q frittering away OF
resources. because they must be defended.
But only very few Of the most important
would need to be fortified. For the argu-
ment works both ways. and an enemy send
ing squadron for purpose so secondary
as to attack such station would also d.
vide his resources. Besides. even at the
important points. a small garrison would be
sufficient. with guns in commanding po-
sitions and methods Of obstruction ready.
Ordinarily It's work would be that Of care
takers of property. which lie of service in
peace as In war. 1t Is true that efforts are
made in our new and large cruisers. like the
Columbia. to give great coal endurance;
but with nearly all our vessels the steam
Ing radius Is small. and az their steel bulls
are unsheathed. their speed Ia much dimin-
ishod by fouling after a short time az sea.
The example of Great Britain. which, al
though having colonies In all parts OF the
world. yet adds to the number OF her naval
stations. has lesson for our navy.