The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-06-25
CAPE VERDE ISLANDS.
the Spanish Fleet of
Warshfps.

There has been much argument in
many places of the question: Is it pos
sible for Spain to conceal from this
country the movements of her feet at
the Cape Verde islands? And has she
such control of the cable lines as to ex.
ercise censorship over everything sent
from Cape Verde?
The Cape Verde islands lie off the
west coast of Africa, about 800 miles
from the mainland. They take their
name from Cape Verde. which is the
extreme western point of the African
coast. These islands, as well as the set
Element at Cape Verde, belong to the
French, with but few English-speaking
residents. The islands are rocky and
mountainous and with tropical vegeta-
ton. A great fishing industry is car
ried on there by the French. and COM
munication with the mainland is made
by small fishing boats and occasional
steamers. Some of the islands are also
used as-eoaling stations by the French
and for steamers in the West African
trade. They are dangerous for naviga-
pecially so to war vessels that were at
tempting to blockade or dislodge YES
sells lying inside the bays and reefs.
1t is not possible to obtain correct
cable advices from the Cape Verde is.
lands direct, because all such commune
cations have to be first conveyed by
boat, either small sailing boat or
steamer, to Cape Verde, at which point
on the African coast the cable station
is located. The Western Cable & Tel
egraph- company operates its line from
Cape Town. South Africa, to London,
via Lisbon and Paris. The submarine
cable is laid from Table Bay (Cape
TOWN. to Mossamedes. point on the
west coast of Africa, thence direct
across the Gulf of Guinea to Cape Verde
lighthouse, thence on TO Las Palmas
| (Teneriffe), Madeira and Lisbon.
Steamers of the Union and Castle
lines do not touch at these islands, but
going south they invariably makeCape
Verde light and signal their number
and destination, which is Immediately
cabled to London and Cape Town. Nc
doubt the Spanish authorities were in
constant communication with the flee,
| at Cape Verde islands and would have
established means for quick service
| between the islands and the mainland
but it is highly probable that, in the
| absence of official information through
London, the advice of the sailing of the
Spanish fleet from Cape Verde was the
result of story circulated by some OF
! the French fishermen plying between
the islands and the mainland, who
might have seen some of the boats al
practice and thought they were under
way for the westward.
Under the conditions that prevail it is
hardly likely that Spain would have
made the Cape Verde islands q rendez
vous for a base of supplies. being in
The first place SO far south OF where
they would strike if coming westward
thus increasing the distance from Cub;
by being in the widest parallels Of
| longitude.
In the event Of the Spanish end of the
cable being closed against information
| " Inns SoNSiHutSuts ~ NOutu .Dc
simple matter to obtain correct infor
nation regarding the Spanish feet a
the Cape Verde islands through Cape
Town via the Eastern Cable company.
system, which goes by way of Alden
Suez canal and the Mediterranean sea
The agents of the steamship lines from
Ecg!and to Cape Town, located at Ma
deira and Teneriffe, would be able IL
| give accurate information about tn,
Spanish feet, as they arc necessaril,
close in touch with the French an6
Portuguese boatmen who ply between
those islands, and who are dependen
almost entirely on the steamship agents
for their living.
In view of the dangers to navigation
among those islands, it is to be hoped
our squadron will not be enticed acros
the Atlantic in order TO drive the Span
ish feet out. The Cape Verde islands
are dangerous and treacherous.-Cin
cinnati Commercial Tribune.