The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-01

Venezuelan minister to the United States]
formidable military garrison, but is also
superbly equipped naval station, with
all tho appurtCnanccS necessary for the
care and repair of warships. Three great
forts guard on each side the narrow en-
trance to it's harbor about two miles from
the ocean. Submarine mines, torpedo
outfits and all the paraphcrnalia of defense
are in place and ready for immediate &C
ton. OF late the island has been used rs
q station where insubordinate troops and
those whose services ut home have not been
satisfactory have beon cxiled 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,
80 miles distant, on account of the un-
healthy conditions.
St. Thomas, until ST. Lucia became
Great Britains station of great impOr-
tanco in the West Indies, was her main
military point and carries q garrison still
Of several thousand well organized and
equipped men, Hundreds Of others are
understood to be stationed there, ready to
be dispatched to st. Lucia in event of
trouble.
This country, on tho other hand, has
not O 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
mont say, has realized that if she ever got
in trouble with the United States the war
would be carried on on this siGe Of the
ocean, and that without coaling stations,
repair shops and supply depots no success
full hostilities could be pursued. They
point to Halifax, Bermuda and St. Lucia
as we'll as to st. Thomas and Kingston as
tho network of stations on the east coast
of tho United States and to Vancouver
on the west, where there is one of the fin
est naval stations in the world.
These stations arc not only powerfully
garrisoncd,' but have every facility for
docking and repairing warships. Tho total
number of British soldiers they carry Is
not known, but an officer Of the army be-
loves 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
sands Of men from St. Lucia, officers of
the military service do not take into con-
sidoration the resources she would bring in
to play at home. They predict that, should
tho United States determine to oppose ac-
uuisition of the land in dispute, her chan
mel fleet alone would be required to land
as many soldiers in Venezuela rs she might
deem proper and Mt tho same time pre-
vent the United States from getting reg
iment ashore. Her policy, naval stratc-
gists declare, would be to intercept ut once
any fleet Of warships we 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 tho navy is now at sea and most
of the ships on foreign stations, and Of tho
real fighting class there are but three bat