The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-31


a formidable military garrison, but is also
a superbly equipped naval station with
all the appurtenances necessary for the
care and repair of warships. Three great
forts guard on each side the narrow en-
trance to its harbor, about two miles from
the ocean. Submarine mines, torpedo
outfits and all the paraphernalia of defense
are in place and ready for immediate ac-
ton. OF late the island has been used as
q station where insubordinate troops and
those whose services at home have not been
satisfactory have been exiled for three or
four years. The famous troops which
gave the military authorities attached to
the queens household three years ago SO
much annoyance were sent there, but aft
erward were transferred TO st. Thomas,
so miles distant, on account of the uE-
healthy conditions.
St. Thomas, until St. Lucia became
Great Britain's station of great impo--
lance in the West Indies, was her main
military point and carries garrison still
of several thousand we'll organized and
equipped men. Hundreds of others arc
understood to be stationed there, ready to
be dispatched to St. Lucia in evont 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 officers
and experts on warfare at the war depart
ment say, has realized that if she ever got
in trouble with the United States the war
would be carried on on this side of the
ocean, and that without coaling stations,
repair shops and supply depots no success
fnl hostilities could be pursued. They
point to Halifax, Bermuda and St. Lucia
as we'll as to ST. Thomas and Kingston as
the network of stations on the east coast
of the United States and. to Vancouver
on the west, where there is one of the fin
est naval stations in the world.
These stations are not only powerfully
garrisoned, but have every facility for
docking and repairing warships. The total
number of British soldiers they carry is
not known, but an officer of the army be-
lieves that they would not fall far short OF
the entire standing strength of the United
States army. In observing the power OF
Great Britain near our own coast, and the
! facility with which she could land thou
sands of men from ST. Lucia, officers of
the military service do not take into con-
sideration the resources she would bring in
to play at home. They predict that should
the United States determine to oppose ac-
QUESTION of the land in dispute her chan
mel feet alone would be required to land
| as many soldiers in Venezuela as she might
deem proper and at the same time pro-
vent the United States from getting reg
iment ashore. Her policy, naval strato-
gists declare, would be to intercept at once
! any feet of warships VIC might gather for
the purpose of giving safe convoy to regu-
lars and national guard, and this, they
say, she would have no difficulty in doing.
The Condition of Our Navy.
The present available fighting strength
! OF our navy could not be materially in
creased under three months, with ship
yards working night and day. The best
part Of the navy is now at sea and most
of the ships on foreign stations, and of the
real fighting class there are but three bat