Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-08

may look for a great many small actions.
During our civil war the Mole st. Mich
olas, on Haiti, was made an improved
coaling station. 1t is a good harbOr, and
would be very useful for us at this time.
Ii is at the extremity OF the northwest
peninsula of Haiti, guarding the Wind
ward passage and menacing the ports OF
Cuba ST. Nicholas Mole was an inner and
outer Lart0r. and the latter is land
locked, and affords good, deep anchorage.
The sympathy of both the black repub-
lies in Haiti is with the United States as
against any European Power. a mo-
ments consideration Of their history will
eXplain this.
Touissaint pOuverture's successful
struggle against France, and his capture
by treachery, followed by the complete
expulsion of the French. is one Of lber-
tvs fayorite tales. The Spanish invaded
San Domingo in 1861 and their defeat left
the islanders free.
Hati's only use TO us would be in lend
ing us harbor. There are no harbors
on the north coast, but Port au Prince,
in the republic of Haiti, is well-protect-
ed port, lying behind the island of Gou
naire. In the Dominican Republic there
are the harbors of Santo Domingo and
Porto Plata, which would make conve-
nient bases for operations in the Carib-
bean.
The Mona passage, only sixty miles
wide, separates Haiti from the beautiful
island of Porto Rico. Porto Rico is a
valuable possession, and Spain is putting
up q rich stake on turn of the war
cards when she risks her control OF that
fertile island. Well watered, but not
water-soaked like some of the neighbor-
ing islands; industriously cultivated COW
cred with forests, and rich in minerals,
Porto Rico, taken altogether. is the most
important of all the West Indies, after
Cuba.
In her population Of about million.
the whites. a mixture Of almost every
nation in Europe slightly predominant
and their industry furnishes exports Sc
cond in value only to those of Cuba, be
ing estimated at more than a quarter
a million dollars few years ago. III
staples are sugar and coffee. All Il
vegetable products of the region are Gu.
tivated, and herds of cattle thrive Oh.
the temperate table lands.
The capital, St. Johns. already referred
to, is situated upon the north coast on
a small island, with which it is connected
by bridges. 1t is a place of some natural
strength, but TO protect Ii there is only
the old fort of Santa Catalina, which IS
about as 1t was when in 1881 IL success
fully resisted General Abercrombie during
a three days siege The fortifcations are
obsolete unless, indeed, they have been
strengthened within a week or two by
guns from some warships The harbor is
one OF the best in the West Indies. and
ships of nearly 10 feet draught can un-
load at its wharves.
he
old buildings are curious and interesting,
especially 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
inhabitants. situated three miles inland.
Mayaguez, on the west coast, contains
10000 people. 1t is separated from Its
port by river spanned by an iron bridge
There is a barracks here, but no fort.
The four other seaports Of Porto Rico do
not deserve notice. Their harbors-as, in
fact. is the case with all the harbors OF
the island--are rapidly filling up with
silt, and are dangerous TO heavy vessels
In the group OF the Virgin Islands. to
the east. only the two Danish Islands. ST.
Thomas and ST. Croix are probable fac
tors in the present situation. Their i'm
portance would be considerably greater
II they had been secured by the United
States, as was at one time suggested by
our State Department. The harhor of St.
Croix is unfortihed and not more than
IS feet deep. so that IL cannot be OF much
service as base. The island is a hill
that rises i.i00 feet out Of the water. Den-
mark bought II from France for sl45 500
In 1888.
ST. Thomas is but one hundred miles
away from ST. Johns The harbor Is
nearly land-locked. and has a depth of
90 feet. a dry-dock Is here. and a steam
slip for small vessels. There is no more
pleasing sight In the Indies than tina har-