The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-09
DELAGOA DAY.
Description of the Place Where n Na-
val Battle May BE Fought.

Delagoa bay, 10 which British and Ger
man war ships are being dispatched. IS pro-
nounced the finest harbor in South Africa,
and the European powers which have in
terests in Africa have long kept jealous
watch Of each others movements In rela-
ton to 1t. In the latter part of Septem-
Der. 1884, there was report in England
that syndicate had purchased a con-
cession for building a pier in Delagoa. by
which the practical control of the port
would pass to the Transvaal. Soon after
ward there was an uprising OF Kaffirs
against the Portuguese. TO whom Delagoa
bay belongs, and British marines were
promptly landed at Lorenzo Marques from
the gunboat Thrush against the protest of
the Portuguese governor. Delagoa bay is
the natural outlet Of the trade OF the Trans
vaal, and Portugars interest is TO make
all the traffic Of the plateau of the in
terror converge toward this port. To this
end the Pretoria-Lorenzo Marques railway
was commenced in 1886. For half a CEN
tury prior to this attempts were made bat
unsuccessfully, to establish communication
between the Transvaal and Delagoa bay.
With basins, Quays and railways at Loren
20 Marques communicating with the gold
fields and rich country OF the interior,
Lorenzo Marques will have a great future
before it, AT present its chief imports are
arms and alcoholic liquors; its exports, oil,
nuts, caoutchaouc, etc. The town is sur
rounded by 9. wall, and batteries have been
erected to defend IL against hostile at
tack or the land side. The town lies low
On the northern side of the inner harbor, or
English river. as 1t used to be called. Lo-
renzo Marques has a splendid harbor. capa-
hle of holding and sheltering hundreds OF
the. largest ships. The entrance TO the
harbor is so wide and fine that fleet of
ironclads could enter it. The harbor covers
some 1000 square miles Of waters, dotted
here and there with wood-clad islands. In
vack island guards the entrance, and here
the Portuguese have planted batteres to
defend the anchorage. The entrance to the
inner harbor, or English river where Lo-
renzo Marques has been planted, is about
a mile wide.
Fifteen feet of water covers the bar at
low water. Vessels drawing twelve feet
of water can navigate the English river
renzo Marques they can lie in sufficient
depth and free from every wind. About
five miles from Lorenzo Marques three
rivers, the Temby, the Dundas and the Ma
toll, empty themselves into the estuary.
The decision of the ownership of the bay
of great Importance in 1875. Portugal
claimed possession of the whole OF Il by
right Of discovery; England by effective
colonization. The British settled along the
southern part of Delagoa bay and built a
town, and in the course Of time England
while acknowledging Pcrtugal's right tC
the northern part of the bay, claimed the
brought TO a crisis when. in 1863. the Trans
vaal Republic, by proclamation, claimed
the Chamaputa river from its junction with
the Pongola TO its enihouchure into the
southern part Of Delagoa bay. Both Eng
land and Portugal strenously resisted this
claim and set up counter pretensions. Even
tually the matter was referred TO the arbi-
tration Of Marshal Mcmahon. the then Pres
dent of the French Republic. In 1875 he
declared that the southern part of Della
goa bay, including the Maputa river uf
to the Lomboho mountains. belonged tc
Portugal England consequently hauled
down the British ensign. but In 1891 ar
agreement was made between that country
and Portugal that. in the event of the
latter copntry wishing to part with the
bay. England should have the first right
of purchasing it,