The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-12
TheVaIue
--Of--
PortoRlco

Puerto Rico's direct value 70 tho
United States whilc the war with Spain
lasts is strategic. Even in tho old dAye
Of sailing ships tbiaislAEd, and espselal-
ly its capital, tho forrificd and steosg
harbor Of San Juan de Puerto Rico.
were the objective points sf almost ~
cry British expedition against the spanr
ish West Indies That was because
feet Of sailing warships had to own :
place where damages could be repaired,
where fresh provisions oculd be obtained
md where the sick and wounded men
could be treated. Now, In tho day Of
the steamship, the possession of foSti-
fed harbor near the scene Of any con-
siderable naval action is a necessity.
The most desperate personal bravery n
useless without it. The need simply has
been changed from that of the old days
to new and paramount one. that of
coal Without coal . modern feet 10
helpless
In the whole western world Spain has
no coaling bases when she is deprived
of Cuban and Puerto Rican ports The
possession of Puerto Rico, then, at this
time, even though its direct value to.
us were not great. is of enormous indi-
rect benefit because it cripples Spain
Without Puerto Rico as port of call
and a supply base the Spanish vessels
must steam more than 1000 miles far.
ther west to reach the next port, that
Of Havana. and every mile that they
steam in this direction means mile
farther into possible trap from which
they never may emerge. They can reach
Puerto Rico from the open sea, where
at least they have an even chance to
maneuver and fair chance to run IL
they must, for their squadron speed II
good. But let them once be forced to
steam farther west, and they are ina
network of islands and channels where
battle means that they mus. take 10
as and when it is offered by the enemy
and where defeat means surrender e
destruction.
Puerto Rico is the most eastern Of the
Greater Antilles Stretching westward
and northward thence like a big chain
are Santo Domingo, an independents and
neutral island; Jamaica, British and
neutral possession, and Cuba, hornets
nest, blockaded from the sea and mimi
cal on shore except in . few harbors
which may be in the possession Of the
United States at any time. II the SPAN
ish feet gives unsuccessful battle inside
of these islands, its only way back to
Spain or to the Canaries, the ncasoEt
port at which it can reft. is through
the narrow Windward passage between
Cuba and Santo Domingo or through the
still more narrow Mona passage between
Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico, The
only other way out Of the trap would
be the southern course. throuaa the
Caribbean sea, and thence throula the
maze of the Leeward islands, which are
owned by Great Britain, q nation cis-
tinctly in favor Of the United States.
There are few coaling stations great
enough to supply any considerable nuns
Der of ships there, and it would talso
much coal to reach them, going at top
speed, as fleeing feet would have to
go.
In peace Puerto Rico is Of great value
to the United States in two ways--one
as rich and productive possession and
the other as key to the Caribbean seas
q sea which will control the great Nioa-
ragua canal 1t Is settled as matter a.
the highest policy that this great oapA1
must not be left uncontrolled and that
no nation except the United States nluso
be permitted to hold that control. We
cannot exercise the authority without
foothold in the West Indies, and the
only really good position in the Wese
Indies is tho group known as the Great
er Antilles. In that group Great Britain
owns fine coaling station and military,
naval and commercial base in the island
Of Jamaica Santo Domingo is controlled
by tho two independent republics ofSanto
Domingo and Haiti Cuba will bs free,
and whatever influence her position will
have on the control of the canal aud tho
commerce through it will be almost d.
rectiy under the hand Of the United
States. The possession Of Puerto Rico
thus will complete chain OF ucfense
which will bring tho control OF tic WI
terway directly under the two great An.
glo-Saxon nations Of the world.
Apart from the importance OF the H.
land in this respect, Puerto Rico should
be q profitable addition to the territory
Of the United States, for ii is not only
wealthy, but its climate is much more
healthy and supportable than thas OF
other West Indian islands Its : res
are mountainous, and thore is cu'lil.sa
| lively little fever in its cities. EAsuors
I, arc not abundant. but they arc sood,
aud its principal city. San Jnan 10
Puerto Rico, could be made a great trade
Ing por. II it were in the hands OK .
thriving commonwealth instead 81 IN
the grasp of bankrupt and selfish na'
tion that caros only for the lasl :.teS
cent which it can grind out Of The ,oa,s-
try.
The island is q beautiful c.n ma
makes q delightful place to visit. = u
as large as two Rhode Islands, ifts'Sy
an area Of 1850 square miles. n IS