The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-06-24
Coal is England's Crown.

w uil6 Jub uuuOuOlbi lIl6uullubon
Of England for America in declar-
ing coal contrabaud is not to be de-
cried, it must not be considered as
entirely selfish. The creation Of the
steam vessel properly makes coal as
great a necessity in warfare as
powder, guns, and shots, a fact
which England was first to recog-
nize, and by the creation OF coaling
stations and utilization Of her
strategical points, by declaring coal
contraband she emphasizes her
maritime Importance. England's
naval theory is not, like ours, based
on the protection of coast or forti-
fications, or the defense of harbors,
but is based on blockading, destroy
ing trade OF au enemy, attacking her
possessions, and dealing with her
ships at sea. BY the control OF
Gibraltar aud Malta no coal can be
sent without British consent through
the straits of Gibraltar and the
Mediterranean via the Suez canal to
the far east, These points are i'm
pregnable, and the hour England
closes them to commerce che con-
trolls all east OF them. They are her
coaling stations, too, the base of
supply for such squadrons as she
may maintain in the Mediterranean
to hold it, easy of access and suit
able for the purposes intended.
Passing through the Suez canal, we
come to Alden, 1900 miles from
Suez, 1870 from Mauritius, 1857
from Bombay, and 2l30 from Cey-
Ion. 1t is her great eastern coaling
station and naval base. Operating
from it, squadron can prevent for
eign ships Of war that have passed
through the canal into the Red Sea
from gaining access to the Indian
Ocean. Bombay and Kurachee are
the Indian bases, from which her
squadrons can operate without ven
turing beyond their radius Of action.
Colombo is further east, thoroughly
fortified, supplied with coal, and is
the admitted base 10 the Indian
Ocean. Singapore is the next east
ern coaling station, thoroughly sup
piled and fortified. Hongkong is
the Asiatic base and coaling station.
Thus thoroughly controlling the
Suez canal route from Gibraltar to
Hongkong, let us look at the coal
ing preparations of England around
the Cape of Good Hope. There are
English coaling stations at Lisbon,
Madeira, St. Vincent and Sierra
Leone, but the latter is alone con
sidered Of extreme Importance as a
naval base. Further south comes
St. Helena, while the Cape, Table |
Bay and Simon's Bay have been
fortified and supplied for bases
Turning up the east coast, Eng
lands great naval base is Mauritius,
midway between the Cape and In
dia. On the American side OF the
Atlantic, while English statesmen
have. contemplated war with Am
erica as impracticable, her navy has
not neglected her coaling bases.
Canada can supply her in the ex-
IRENE north, but in the West Indies
she has fortified Jamaica and st.
Lucia in the Windward Islands. On
the Pacific Coast she has fortified
and coaled at Vancouver, creating
a second Gibraltar. While isolation
is depended on to prevent Australia
and New Zealand from attack, she
is prepared there. Thus it can be
seen that, with coaling stations and
naval bases, England encircles the
world. At no point do her squad
rons have to advance beyond their
base OF supply, Theoretically they
are always safe, With coal firmly
established as a contraband, Eng
lands naval position is impregnable
to other nations. There is not a
single other nation that is so stu
ated that her naval forces do not