Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-12-29

erful fleets and thousands Of men to
Venezuela in TWO weeks, naval officers
assert that this country probably would
not be able 70 get a man there II Eng
land once anchored her fleets at La
Guavra. Her strength in the West In
dies at present is a matter OF some little
Quest. on. but Information that has come
TO the navy department from intelli-
gence officers on ships visiting the ISL
auds last winter show chat at ST. Lucia
she has one of the most powerful MI
itary stations outside of Great Britain.
No. even Gibraltar is said TO be better
fortified or 70 have more ample arrange
mercs for caring for large bodies of men
and for aff0rd.ng absolute protection 10
any fleet she might send into its land
locked harbor. with anchorage sufficient
for th- largest battieships.
ENGLAND'S WEST INDIAN
STRONGHOLD.
S. Lucia IN the last TWO years, ac-
cOrding 70 reports on hand at the de-
parcmeuJ. has become the stragic point
Of Great Britain in the West Indies and
IS not only a formidable military garri-
son, but also q Supsr0ly equipped naval
station. with all the appurtenances
necessary for the care and repair of war
ships Three great forts guard on each
SIDE the narrow entrance 10 its harb0r,
I about Two miles from the ocean. Sub
marine mines. torpedo outfits and all
I the paraphoru0Ea of defense are IN
/ place and ready for immediate action.
/ OF late the island has been used as q
station where .nsU1ord.nate troops and
/ those whose services at home have not
been satisfactory have been eX.led for
three or four years. The famous troops
which gave the military authorities at
tached 10 the queens household three
+ years ago so much annoyance were sent
I there, but afterwari were transferred
I 90 g. Thomas. so miles distant. on ac-
count Of the unhealthy conditions.
81. Thomas. until ST. Lucia became
| Great Bvitain's station of great impOr-
lance in the Wes- Indies. was her main
military point and carries q garrison
still Of several thousand we'll organized
and equipped men. Hundreds Of others
/ are understood t0 be stationed there.
ready 20 be dispatched TO st. Lucia in
event of trouble.
This country. on the other hand. has
not a single possession in the islands
where refuge for ships or supplies could
/ be received. Great Britain. naval OH
GERS and experts on warfare az the Wal
I Department say. has realized that il
I ever she got i'm trouble with the United
States the war would be carried on or
I this side Of the ocean, and that with
out cOaling stations. repair shops anC
supply depO,s no successful hOstilitie.
could be pursued. They point to Hall
I fax Bermuda and ST. Lucia as well q.
} ST. Thomas and kingston as the net
/ work of stations on the eaA coast Of the
\ United States, and TO Vancouver on IN,
west, where there is one OF the fines
/ naval stations in the world
/ These stations are not only powerful
/ " garrisOned, but have every facility
! for docking and repairing warships
| The total number of British soldier.
/ they carry is not known, but an office
of the army believes that they would
not fan far short of the entire stand
/ ing strength of the United States army
In observing the power of Great Brit
ain near our own coast and the faciliU
with which she could land thousand.
of men from St. Lucia. officers Of Tn,
. military service do not take into con
sideration the resources she would
bring into play at home. They predic
that, should the United States determin,
7 to oppose acquisition of the land in dis
pute. her channel fleet alone would bD
+ required to land as many soldiers il
+ Venezuela as she might deem proper
and at the same time prevent the Uni