The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-15

believe that the United States would
| not suffer great losses early in the war
England has within few days sail
of La Guayra several supply depots
that are practically inexhaustible. At
st. Lucia, in the West Indies, England
has one of the most powerful military
stations this side of Euroos. 1t has a
land-locked harbor of sufficient depth
| for the anchorage of fleet of the larg-
| est battleships. 1t has adequate quar-
! ters and protection for large bodies Of
| men, and in case of war would no doubt
develop into a western Gibraltar. In
| two years the British have converted
st. Lucia into great naval station. 1t
is Great Britain's strategic point In the
West Indies. 1t has a station for the
| repair of ships. Three great forts
guard the narrow entrance to its har-
| Dor, about two miles from tn ocean.
| Submarine mines. topedo outfits and all
| the para phernalia OF defense are in
place and ready for immediate action.
| 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.
| st. Thomas. until st. Lucia became
Great Britain's station of great impor-
tance in the West indies, was her main
military point and carries a garrison
still of several thousand well organized
and equipped men.
The United States has no such sta
| tion near Venezuela. 1t has not a
single possession for the refuge of ships
! or supplies or for the mobilization Of
troops. 1t has no place in these waters
| for the docking Of war ships. 1t Is not
| in the West Indies alone, however,
that England is strong and this govern
| ment weak. Look at Halifax, Bermu-
da, st. Thomas, Kingston and Van
| couver. At Vancouver, England has
| one of the finest naval stations in the
world. She has the same at Halifax.
| Besides all these strategic points Eng
land has on the western hemisphere
today an army as large as the stand
| Ing army of the United States.
Progress of Uncom p,eted ships.
| Naval Constructor Hichborn has CIV
en- out the following official statement,
showing the percentage Of progress on
the new ships Of the navy, 100 per cent.
signifying completion:
| Per cent.
Indiana, at League Island. Phiiadel-
Msssaohussttes, at cramps shipyard,
BeoElyn. at Cramps shipyard., Phil
Iowa. at Cramps shipyari. Phiiadei
Nashville at Newport News va. q
Wilmington, at Newport News, Va. 80
Helena, at Newport News. Va....... Is
Oregon, Union Iron works, San Fran
Monadnook, at Mare Island. San -
Puritan, New York navyyard. ....... 81
errEr MY Mars YoTk isana an
| None of these vessels could be made
ready for service until two or three
months, while those under so per cent.
could not be finished within year un-
der the most favorable conditions.
On the other hand, nearly all the
British ships under construction are
so far along that they could be sent to
sea In six weeks or less. There Is an
engineer on every one OF them, and on
the larger ones, at least, a line officer
and a carpenter and enough men to
keep the machinery In order.
Besides. there is the enormous mer-
chant marine Of England. She pos-
sesses something like $4,000 ships, sail
and steam, and many Of these would be
fitted out under her flag. The gross
tonnage Of these vessels il over 13, 600,
600. The United states possesses less
than one-ffth the number that England
has. and their tonnage is proportiOnate-
ly less.
Chsucc for Privatcers.
| 1t is presumed in case of war that
privateering would receive q great i'm
petus. and small craft would be fitted
out at every American port to prey on
England's enormous commerce. The
annual cargoes Of British ships landed
In England alone last year were valued
at nearly f50O,0O0.0OO and the exports
from English provinces at f3OO, 900, 900,
These were mostly carried in British
ships. The food products carried in
British ships last year were valued at
flb0. .0OO, ,0OO Privateering would be q
profitable business In case Of war.
The presence Of Canada In case OF
war with Great Britain Is not feared
1t cuts small figure in the general
situation. England could approach the
great lakes only by the Welland canal,
and the ability to make that impass-
able Is not open to serious question. The
United States could soon overrun Can
ada with volunteers, the army experts
say. and the big fighting would not be
there.