The herald., 1896-02-16

Cruz for the express purpose of taking
aboard big supply Of the rum. Ii
they drank much Of it, any one who is
familiar with it's powerful qualities
can easily understand why the pirates
should have been 30 ferocious.
But it is not to get first mortgage
on Santa Cruz rum that this country
thinks of buying the island. In fact, II
st. Thomas can be purchased without
the other two only that one Will be
bought. The magnet which attracts
attention to st. Thomas is it's harbor.
And this harbor has played an impor-
tant part in the history Of the worlds
maritime commerce. At one time more
shipping passed in and out of it than
the great harbor Of New York could
boast Of.
No pilots are needed to bring heav-
lily laden steamer from the ocean up to
the very wharves OF Charlotte Amalia,
the little city at the head of the har-
Dor, SO straight and deep is the shell
tered waterway. And the land is 60
situated that the harbor at the en-
trance could be admirably protected at
small expense. A few modern guns OF
heavy calibre placed on either side
COulu SWoep LILO oScoh All A'-A UoHoA
miles.
This is why it is attractive just now
when the possibility Of war has shown
itself. Ia the olden time there was no
need Of islands anywhere, no matter
what the emergency might be. lf the
country we're engaged in war then it's
vessels could fight just as we'll without
the aid of islands out in the ocean.
Dat hn Ia
propelled by sails Now it is differ
ships ia Uncle Sans navy, but if they
did not have coal enough to work their
engines they would be about as etfec
tive as nothing at all.
War conditions ON the water have
changed since this country has had
any actual experience in Il struggle
with a foreign naval power. Steaming
radius is of the greatest advantage &C.
cording to naval experts. If our ships
had to sail thousand miles every six
or seven days for fresh coal supply
their offensive fight capacity would
be reduced to a minimum.
England has foreseen this contin-
gency for many years. She owns and
controls islands sprinkled about all
the great oceans and seas Of the world,
and she maintains them solely for coal
ing purposes. In times of peace she
sells the coal to the merchantmen of
other nations and makes pretty
penny out of it. Every one of these
islands is fortified, and the armamente
are not allowed to fall behind the
times. The fortihcstions are we'll gar
risoned and big war ship would have
a hard time of it trying to approach,
if the soldiers at the guns;were opposed
to it.
In the West Indies England is par
tioularly we'll off in coaling islands.
Her warahips conId use them as base
in event of trouble and would be IN
position to do I'll t ,lu damage to the
defenceless cities the Atlantic sea-
board. With a we protected and al
most eXhaustless C 1al supply her war
ships could uiae in American waters
from one years end to the other. 1t
would keep the wArships here entirely
on the defensive.
This condition would be ob,iterate3
by the purchase of st. Thomas. This
island is at the northern end OF the
Caribbean chain, and while not very
fertile. is beautiful place To live in.
Unlike other of the Weot India islands,
it is seldom visited by yellow fever or
other infectious diseases. 1t has long
chains of high hills which alm ost de-
serve the title of mountains. Its one
town, Charlotte Amalia, is pictur-
esaue, sleepy place. Inland there are
some large sugar plantations which