The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-03

BILE fighters, as they ars lacking in train
ing and discipline.
Local wise men forecast the plan OF
Invasion by predicting the use of Viequez
(called in English Crab island as base
This island is located 10 the east OF
Porto Rico. about twenty or twenty-five
miles Of water separating them, and is 10
Porto Rico what the Isle Of Pines is
to Cuba. There is what Is called a bay
on the southeast, but IL could not ac-
commodate a fleet Of warships which
would be compelled 10 lie In the road
stead. IL is at this point that the prln-
cipal settlement Of the island is located.
IL is little more than a village In which
two elements combine to give the place
what little character II has. These are
the fishermen and traders on the one
hand and the agricultural element on
the other They are all simple folk and
very poorly educated. The entire garri-
son OF the island is placed here and
consists OF 100 men. They are-or were
until very recently-supplied with am
munition to the limited extent of 200
rounds man. Ever since the war began
the commanding officer has been beg
ging for more ammunition II he has re-
ceived any It was very lately. The peo-
pie OF the village are quite innocent Of
any warlike tendencies. They would not
offer the least resistance. The auxiliary
cruiser Yale Formerly the American
liner Paris has been In the neighborhood
repeatedly and has even anchored IN the
roadstead. The villagers were kept In an
aggravated state Of fright and at night
the lights were put out in all the houses
so that they should not by any chance
annoy 'los tres chimineas" (the three
chimneys). as the Yale was called, and
draw death-dealing shots from her ter
rible guns. If the villagers had only
known that the Yale was not out 10
lombard inOffenslve villages, but for
scouting purposes exclusively. and that
her guns were not terrible at all COM
pared to those on modern battleships.
they would no doubt have been much less
uncomfortable If It is decided to use
Crab Island as a base against Porto
Rico, the farmers and fishermen will
likely join In serving the American in
vaders Just as readily and willingly as
they now serve the garrison Of 100 Span
ism soldiers
The people OF St. Thomas are natural
ly always ready to discuss the possibl-
lily OF annexation. and the sentiment IS
without doubt in favor OF annexation
The Danes govern the island quite de-
Gently and well, but beyond retaining a
few profitable monopolies for themselves
they have very little foothold here. The
Danish population outside OF those at
tached In some way TO the government
would probably iii one good New York
boarding house and end there The En-
glish seem TO have the control OF tho
principal interests here. although the
community is cosmopolitan, and French
men and Spaniards and Germans are
equally represented.
All classes, allowing. OF course for tina
usual number OF distinguished exceptions
would welcome annexation TO the United
States, but II would seem now as If the
war. which at first promised to bring
about annexation, would be after all the
means OF defeating it,. for II Porto Rico
Is taken, the main advantage OF st.
Thomas, that Of naval base. would be
supplied by San Juan.-New York Sun