Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-29
IN CASE OF WAR OUR 1RoN-cLADs
WOULD BE BOTHERED.
FOR NO NEUTRAL NATION COULD
PERMIT us TO LOAD STEAM
MATERIAL.
HERBERT WILL ASK
CONGRESS- TO BUY THE STA
TIoNs WE NnED-Two UNITED
STATES SHIPS REACH NEW
YORK; TO BE DRESSED UP.
wAsnINaToN. Ana IS.

WASHINGTON, April ~,
The recent experience Of Admiral
Meade in his cruise with squadron
through the waters OF the Gulf of
Mexico and the Caribbean sea has
served to again attract the attention
of the officials of the navy department
to the necessity Of acquiring one or
two coal stations in those waters for
the use of the navy. Although the
cruise lasted only a few weeks, tho
difficulty of procuring sufficient sup
ply OF coal at different points at
reasonable price has strllSingly indi-
Gated the trouble that may be expected
when 1t shall be necessary to main
tain for long periods of time or per-
haps permanently establish crew
OF cruising boats In those waters. Such
a contingency is being prepared for by
the construction OF a number of boats
calculated for just such service. The
sources OF coal supply In that section
are at present latseiy in British pos
session. The price Is always high In
some ports, but 1t Is very much higher
IN others, being known TO reach SIC per
ton. Now, that the navy has rid IT.
self almost entirely OF sail power and
tho ships rely altogether on steam,
the amount of money expended In
coal Is assuming formidable proper
tons, and the naval officials are us
ing all of their ingenuity TO keep
down this expense without injury to
the service. Perhaps for this reason
a number OF officers who had not re-
garded favorably the proposition TO en-
tabllsh- coaling stations outside of the
United States are now becoming con-
In IN
est of economy.
The navy has adopted the plan OF
contracting with an American firm to
deliver coal alongside the vessels of
the squadron at some " the ports.
This plan worked well In certain
limits and considerable economy is
erected. But there were grave objec-
lions to the adoption Of such a plan
as a permanently. IT requires the ar
rangement Of the cruises OF the Nes-
sells OF the squadron with great TX
actness a long time I'm advance and
this would be quite impossible In times
OF trouble. just when the ships are
required to be well supplied with coal,
SO as to be able TO make sudden move
ments. There Is also reason to be-
lleve that while no objection has yet
beer made to this experiments. the
nations owning the ports where the
coal is transferred TO our cruisers will
not permit the practice to continue
without the collection of heavy duties
on the coal, and ~ to this time no
thoroughly satisfactory method has
been found by which the coal can
be transhipped on the open sea,
But aside from these purely econo-
mical reasons for the establishment OF
coaling stations, much stronger one
is found in the fact that IN time of
war. under the neutrality laws, our
HNaf a a. Il.
privilege OF coaling in foreign ports
and would thus oe absolutely pre-
vented from hostile operations. IL they
did not fall easy Victims to any better
equipped vessel with u basis OF coal
supply. 1t Is said by naval officers
that the common belief that the coal
ing stations would be very expensive
TO acquire, and would require TO be
strongly fortified TO defend them, alsp
at great expense, is without real foun-
dalton.
Some OF these officers who have been
giving much attention to the subject
are confident that the United States
could readily arrange for the acqusl-
4 tion OF coaling stations from almost
any Of the countries facing the Gulf
OF Mexico or the caribbean sea at
nominal cost. Nothing IN the way
or equipment is required save q land
Ing wharf and the services of one man
to watch the place would suffice. In
case OF war If the station was near
enough to the scene Of action to be
necessary, It could be protected by
the very ships that would be required
to use the coal. II 1t was distant from
the scene and not necessary to the
service at the time, II could be left
10 take the chances of war, for the
enemy would scarcely find 1t profitable
to sesd ships TO capture coal pit
which could be readily replenished at
any convenient time. 1t Is believed
that Secretary Herbert is giving this
gress meets again he may recommend
to that body that this government be
clothed with the necessary power TO
acquire suitable sites for coallng sta
lions.