The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-12

In the current number of The Journal
OF the Military Service institution, Cap
tain q. +. Cotton of the First Artillery
makes a study OF the "proxim OF Eng
land to the United States" and OF it's
nearing on possible war between the
two countries.
The longest border line between any
two nations on the globe Ia that between
Canada and theC nited States. 1t stretches
nearly 1000 miles, and both on the New
England frontier and along the 49th par
allel from the Lake of the Woods to the
Pacihc, 1t covers vast regions destitute
Of natural barriers. Along q great part
OF this distance England has, in the
Canadian Pacific, "su bsidizec a military
road for imperial purposes. exactly In
tho same way as the Trsns-S iberian road
is being built from st. Petersburg to
Vladivostock to further the aim OF Rus
sia." The road has had the ensct OF
consolidating the Dominion; and,
whereas before 1856 British Colum bia
was isolated, how 1t is within ~ days OF
Lopdon, and no longer needs TO be
Not only Is another route to India and
Australia to China and japan, furnished
by this railroad, supplemented by steam
ers from Vancouver, but Canada's from
tier Is thereby made stronger against our
attacks. At the termini OF the line Es-
towns OF Puget Sound, and Halifax, with
its splendid harbor, furnishes a great
naval base for an English fleet operating
against our Atlantic seaboard cities. Hal
iiax commands the enormous coal sup
plies OF Nova Scotia and Cape Breton
while Esquimault is favored with an
abundance of coal In Vsncouver's Island !;
In fact, san Francisco itself draws its
coal supplies largely from Vancouver
and New South Wales.
Halifax is only 253o miles from Liver
pool, and an annual subsidy Of s1,25o,00o
has been voted to put line of high-class
steamers between the two points. With
this line, says Captain Cotton, troops
from England coud DO placed either there
or at Quebec, distant 266i miles, in
about five ana q half days; at Winnipeg,
In eight and a half; at Vancouver, in ten
or eleven. Four years ago the Canadian
Pacific railroad agreed to transport men,
in bodies of 5000 each, from Halifax to
Vancouver, in seven days; and its
strategic value was shown in the two
Riel revolts, the second outbreak, after
the road was opened, being subdued the
more quickly and easily.
The Canadian Pacific road could and
would be broken in many places were
we at war with England. Yet 1t gives
the great advantage of rapidly moving
troops before war is declared.
The next point to note is the network
Of fortified harbors, dry docks, and
cosling stations which England hs,
drawn around our coasts:
"We fud coaling stations esta bills ed
at ST. Johns, Newfoundland; Mt Hall
fax, at Bermuda, Nassau, Kingson.
Bar BADGES, Trinidad, and Georgetown
and ST. Lucia strongly fortified as a coal
ing depot and to protect the barber oi
Csstrios as a rendez vous for the fleet. On
the Pacific coast there are coating stations
at Victoria and Esquimault, and a grav-
ing dock at E.quimault. Even the Falk'
iand Islands, down far In the southern
hemisphere, have been fortified a. q
round Cape Horn. There are also decks
| at Halifax, St.Johns, Bermuda, Barbad oes
and Georgetown. All these points on this
Atlantic and Gulf coasts are within few
hours stesming distance Of any of oul
ssa board towns"
The advantage which England thu,
gains is enhanced by her submarine tele
graph system. Captain Cotton notes tha
a dozen cables connecting this country
with Europe first touch eitbe
in Newfoundland or Nova Scotia
that cable connect, Haiifa,
with Bermuda, which 1t is proposed
to continue, under an imperial sub
sidy, 70 Jamaica that the West Indies are
copnsctet by submarine wire with Brit
ish Guisna, and that a line is to be rur
under the Pacific from Vancou
YER to Australia. Such sys
TEN OF cables, circling the globe. would
be useful in directing tho operations D
the British feet, and also In warning
ports, so that It might lessen the !njur,
we could otherwise infiict on Britis!
commerce.
That steam and electricity have mad
the Atlantic "shrink wonderfully" as I,
the time OF transit, is evident hut IL
addition We must consider that tn
shrinkage will still 60 on, through tn
increasing speed OF steam vessels. No
only is the voyage which used to tax
10 days now performed In less than seven
but the enorm Gus increase Of British
shipping during the last &c years is to b
reckoned as factor In England's abilit.
to transport troops rapidly to Halifax
she has, in fact, q vast IN mercbant marine
capable Of use a. transports, ana some o
II Is of very high speed. II is noted tina
the ships viii In 1os2 took the troop
from uthsmpton to Alexandra msd
the voyage in sbout one.tnird Of the tim
on the average, OF those that had tskei
Napoleon's army from Toulon to the sam
place ia 1873, though the distsnce wa
twice az great and this is only an illus