Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-10-10

made an imperial military station. Modern Notifications mounting mod ern, high-power guns will defend a coal ing station and drydock for the re- pairing of vessels.
 The islands lie directly west of the Straits of Magellan, and in case of war England, from her strong station at Port Stanley, would be able to bounce upon the straits in short order. Last spring the British South Atlantic fleet sailed into the harbor of Port Stanley, and remained there for some time.
 As soon as the forts are built the place will always have one or more men-of-war stationed there, and it will be the southern naval station of the South Atlantic fleet. The establish ment of this strong naval station off the Straits of Magellan is of the greatest interest to the United States. All our men-of-war now have to pass through the straits in going to and from the west coast, and to have. that waterway commanded by England is unpleasant.
 There are five lines of steamers which ply through the Straits of Magellan, and the finest fleet of sailing ships in the world are the California clippers, which ply between New York and the west coast. The course of the sailing ships takes them very near the Falk- land islands. Sometimes they are wrecked on the rocky coasts of these outlying possessions of the vast British empire, and when they are the natives loot them. Except for the military ad- vantages in time of war, it would prob ably be better for the British if they did not have visible emblem of their power in the Fall1lands.
 Passing the Falkland islands on it's way to the west coast by sailing ships or bound through the straits on steam CTS there is carried about $1, 100000 day in shipping and cargoes. It is this commerce that the English are about to look out for. It is their plan to in- crease their South Atlantic fleet from , four vessels to eight and to send out a first-class battleship as the flagship as soon as the Notifications of Port Stan- ley are sufficiently complete
 The first intimation that the United States had of the establishment of this strong naval station upon the key of the Straits of Magellan and the Cape Horn trade was report from Consul Miller, of Port Stanley, who wrote with diplomatic mildness to the state depart ment as follows:
 Within the past few months inves- tigations of the harbor here have been made by the colonial government with the view of erecting a pier extending to depth that will enable any vessel to discharge her cargo without the aid of lighters. It appears to be a certainty that this work will begin in the near future, and when completed will great ly assist in more rapid and cheaper discharge of freights.
 "Col. Lewis, of the royal engineers, under the direction of the imperial gov ernment, has been making soundings and surveys here with view to the establishment of naval station on the opposite shore from Port Stanley, with a pier leading thereto. This station would render communication with the outer world much more frequent and would be of great assistance in towing distressed vessels into safety. The pres ence of ships of war here for thespast six months clearly demonstrates this, they having brought in two merchant