The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-21
KEY WEST USELESS.
AT Present It is of Little Value for
War PURPOSES.


Correspondence the Associated Press.I
Key West, Fla, March 21-Without
much apparent reason, the war excite
ment here seems gradually dying out
growing accustomed to the sight of
moving armed and armOred ships, and
the cry of riot in Havana has been rele-
gated to the wolf category. Crowds
that a week ago were to be found at the
ramshackle wharf, where boats from
Havana are mOored, now may be seen
at the Brisa looking lazily at the sea-"
or sitting idly where welcome breeZeS
stir the palm trees. Even the Cubans,
as they sip their aguardiente in the
evenings, exhibit an air of 1assitude,
contrasting strangely with their heat
ed debating and excited exaltatiOn of a
few weeks ago. In short, the abnormal
has become normal. The outward and
visible signs of preparation for conflict
are still presented, but the furOre which
their novelty created, has died away,
although the natives are stirred every
now and again by some wild rumOr.
Situated as Key West is, on the very
edge of the United States, and cheek
by jowl with Havana, it is small Won
der that there is much speculation as
to what would happen to the island
should war with Spain enSue. An officer
who is permanently located here, in
summing up the uses of this island in
case of war, said:
LAS far as I can see, Key West would
be almost useless to the United States
outlet. The recently received cOnsign-
ments of tOrpedOes and the two new
sand batteries will make it a pretty
good place from a defensive point of
view. but unless it is protected by the
fleet, there is little to prevent such a
ship as the Vizcaya shelling it and re-
manning out of harms way. AS a coal
ing station Key West is practically
useless because the harbor is not big
enough to permit of the entrance of any
of our big ships. Old Fort Taylor, a big
red brick relic of the civil war, occupies
a projection of the island, but it IS, OF
course, practically dismantled.
''At Dry Tortugas the same condition
prevails There Fort Jefferson, which
is over a mile in circumference, is with
out a garrison, and out of date 1t
would be impossible to maintain a gar
rison at that fort. AS a harbor, Tor
tugas is all right, but for strategetic
purposes I fail to see its availa bility.'
Rear Admiral Sicard has constantly
said to this correspondent that he re-
GREETED his inability to get the big ships
into Key West harbor, and besides
coaling them at TOrtugaS with far less
trouble he could then have them at
his call within moments notice The
only two big ships here, the flagship
New York and the battleShip Iowa, are
obliged to lie six or seven miles out
from land Dry Tortugas, where the
Indiana Texas and Massachusetts lie,
is over sixty miles from Key West
These statements naturally suggest
the idea that the concentration of such
a large fleet around Dry TOrtugas and
Key West is doubtful policy. With
natural caution, Admiral Sicard failed to
state, which is the fact, that the gov
ernment is making strenuous efforts to
prepare Key West for emergencies and
is employing every resource to fit this
island for the only stTategetic position
it could rightly fill, that of a coaling
station.
Extensive dredging operations are to
be undertaken without delay.
K. Simmons and NJ. Cahill, president