The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-15


struggles between Spain and England in
the seventeenth, and England and France
in the eighteenth centuries.
Besides Havana and Matanzas in Cuba
Spain has but one fortified harbor among
the Antilles. San Juan Borrista, or st.
Johns, in Porto Rico. 1t is an excellent
harbor and could be strongly defended
by the Vizcaya and Oquendo with the tor
pedo boats against our squadron. But tie
latter alone could do nothing in St johns
against oar battieships. The fortifcations
are old-fashioned and the guns are useless
against iron ships.
In southern Cuba, the harbor of Santi-
ago de Cuba could be defended with
weak force, as the entrance is narrow and
deep, with forts naturally strong. The
forts are not modern, however, and the
Spanish government holds but a limited
area around the city, so that the Spanish
viii probably make the main defense at
Havana and everything be made subservi-
ent to holding the capital. In this case,
with the Oquendo and Yizcaya reaching
Havana, the great battle Of the war viii
be fought at the entrance to the har5or
or the American fleet will blockade and
starve the city into surrender, aided by the
Cuban army
The sympathy Of both Of the black re-
publcs in Hayti is with the United States
as against any European power. A mo-
ments consideration of their history will
explain this. The two republics, Hayt in
the West and San Domingo in the East.
are the only countries in the West Indies
whose form of government is like our own
except, Of course the republic of Cuba.
Toussaint IOuverture s successful strug-
gle against France and his capture BY
treaehery, followed by the complete expui-
sion of the French, is one of liberty's IA
vorlte tales, The Spanish invaded San
Domingo in 1851 and their defeat left the
islanders free.
There are quite a million people on the
island but they daily on the way to civili-
cation, There is no army, so Hayti's only
use to US would be in lending us har-
Dor. There are no harbors on the north
coast, but Port an Prince, in the republic
of Hayti. is a well protected port lying be-
hind the Island of Golnaive. In the Do
mnican republic there are the harbors of
Santo Domingo and Porto Plata, which
would make convenient bases for operas
tons in the Caribbean.
The Mona passage, only sixty miles wide.
separates Hayti from the beautiful island
Of Porto Rico. Porto Rico is a valuable
possession and Spain is putting up a rich
stake on a turn of the war cards when she
risks her control of that fertile island
buildings are curious and interesting, es-
pecially the palace which was erected by
Ponce de Leon, who conquered the island
for Spain. The principal city on the
southern coast is Ponce, with 10000 inhab-
itants, situated three miles inland. Maya
guez, on the west coast, contains 10000 peo-
pie. 1t is separated from its port by a
river spanned by an iron bridge. There
is barracks here, but no fort. The four
other seaports Of Porto Rico do not de-
serve notice. Their harbors-as in fact
is the case with all the harbors of the isl
and-are rapidly filing up with silt and
are dangerous to heavy vessels.
In the group of the Virgin Islands. to the
east, only the two Danish Isl
ands, ST. Thomas and st. Crox,
are probable factors in the present
situation. Their Importance would be
considerably greater if they had been Sc
cured by the United States, as was at
one time suggested by our state DEPART
ment The harbor of st. Croix is unforti-
fled and not more than sixteen feet deep,
so that it cannot be of much service as d
base. The island is a hill that rises LOO
feet ont. of the water. Denmark bought ID
from France for $145,5OO in 1873.
st. Thomas is but 100 miles away from
ST. Johns. The harborS is nearly land
locked and has depth of thirty-six feet.
A dry dock is here and a steamship for
small vessels. There is no more pleasing
sight in the Indies than the harbor OF
Charlotte Amalie, the capital, and the tow
ering peak 1900 feet high, which forms the
bulk of the island.
Point Pitre, in Gaudoloupe, is an inn
portant French station. Thai it has Al
fine military harbor may be concluded
from it's soubriquet, THE Gibraltar of the
Antilles" Nevertheless, this Gibraltar
is not as strongly fortified as 1t might be.
II resisted the English successfully in 1866.
: 81 and 1903, but was taken by Gen. Bar
rington and Admiral Moore in 1853. The
celebrated victory of Rodney over Admiral
de Grasse occurred here. A curious feat
ure of the island is La RfVere Sale tsals
stream), 10 to 400 feet wide, which di-
vides 1t.
Martinique is not great stategic point
like Guadalupe, but there are some inter-
esting things about ii. Mt. Pelee talest
of it's volcanic mountain peaks, rises 4,43)
feet in the air. The population rs nearly
as dense as that of Belgium, there being
l65oO0 people 10 an island, with greatest
width and length forty-thre and nineteen
miles, respectively. The place enjoys
greater immunity from hurricanes than the
other West Indian islands. and the houses
may be built there to hight Of several
stories
The British possession, Dominica, Is q
large island, without harbor.
The beautiful Island OF Trinidad, the
land of humming birds, whence the as
phalt of commerce comes. is not one Of
the Antilles but 1t should be mentioned
for IT'S harbor. Port-of-Spain Is one of the
hnest cities In the West Indies and fa-
vorlte anchorage for United States ships.
In 1885 the crews Of the New York, cin-
cinnatl and Raleigh saved thes city from
total destruction BY Gre.