The herald., 1898-12-27
PRUDENT UNCLE SAM
PREPARING FOR PROBLEMS TO
BE SOLVED
WARSHIPS WILL WANT COAL
And Big Piles Will Be Placed at Points
Convenient for the Use Of
the Navy
Associated Press Special Wire.

associated Press special Wire.
NEW YORK, Dec ga dispatch to the
Tribune from Washington says:
The Navy Department is going to be pre-
pared for any emergency that may hereafter
arise in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by
carrying on hand the enormous stock Of
nearly half million tons of the best steam
ing coal for warships that can be produced.
This supply Of the most important Of all
sinews of modern war is to be systemat-
cally distributed in American ports most
conveniently located for the coaling of
ships for any operations the navy may con-
ceivably be called upon to undertake, ex-
tending along the Atlantic and gulf coast
line from Frenchman's Bay, Maine, to San
Juan de Porto Rico, as well as to the COM
manding positions along the line of COM
merce which has already been secured by the
United States in the Pacific Ocean, stretch
ing from San Francisco and Puget Sound to
Manila, and southwark to Samoa. In the
naval sphere Of activity in the Atlantic
about 0,O00 tons are to be promptly and
systematically stored in accordance with
the recommendation of the chief strategists
Of the service and at least 10000 tons will
be sent around Cape Horn to the great west
ern ocean, where American interests have
suddenly become second to those of no
other nation, and where the influence of the
DhieCu 'thoCS Will lct HCicdllcI DC euDoI-
dinated to that of any European power.
The distribution of immense piles of AM
erican coal for naval purposes in the Pa
citic indicates the unalterable attitude
which has been adopted by the administra-
tion regarding the future policy of the
United States in that direction as the initial
expense involved in transporting the proper
quality of fuel for use in the marine engines
as well as the elaborate character of the ap-
paratus which might be installed for the
expeditions Of war vessels, for which time
is most essential element, demonstrate
how gravely and thoroughly the authorities
have matured their plans. The number Of
tons which will be held in reserve at the
various coaling stations west of the Am
ercan continent have been fixed for the
present as follows:
Manila, 25,O0O; Guam, 10000; Honolulu,
$4,000; Pago Pago, 10000; San Francisco,
25,0O0, and Bremerton, Puget Sound, 25,O0O.
On the Atlantic Coast, in addition to the
fuel supplies already established at the
various navy yards and naval stations, the
recommendations of Admiral Belknap's
board, which made its Investigations early
in the Spanish war, will probably be adopt
ed without modification, with the addition
Of several requisite ports in the West In
dies.
The location of these naval bases, with
their tonnage of coal supply, will be as fol-
lows: Havana, 25,000; Santiago de Cuba,
10000; San Juan de Porto Rico, %, 900; Tor
tugas and Key West, $1,000; Port Royal,
s. G., 25,000; Norfolk, Va, 5000; Washing.
ton, 1000; League Island, 5000; New York,
5000; New London, Conn, 25,O00; Boston,
$4,000; Portsmouth, N. H., 10000; French
mans Bay, Maine, 1900.
In addition to these, the naval authorities
are satisfied that they can always depend
upon securing at moments notice at
least $4,000 tons, such amounts being always
available at those ports for commercial
marine uses.
With strong coal bases provided in this
arrangement within easy steaming distance
Of every vessel in the naval fleet, the effec-
tive protection of the Atlantic Coast will
be more than doubled, as compared with
its condition six months ago. With the ex-
ception OF the long stretches around the
South American continent, where, in case
Of enforced neutrality of the Latin-Ameri-
can republics. United States ships cannot
purchase coal in their ports, continued re-
course to armed colliers will be unavoidable.
The government is now fortunately pos
sessed of seventeen of these invaluable YES
sells, with an aggregate carrying capacity ap-
proximating $4,000 tons, and it is the inten-
tiop to keep these vessels filled to their
capacity and constantly ready for immed-
late service.
These coaling arrangements, however,
comprehensive they may seem, and how
ever great the Improvement of the condi-
hostilities with Spain, are still far from
satisfactory to the naval experts who have
devoted themselves to the consideration of
these important subjects. Stretches of 1000
miles or more will still separate several Of
the stations in the Pacific, and longing eyes
are cast upon islands with excellent har-
bors that could be utilized to break in two
these tedious apd trying voyages which must
gravely test the coaling radius of some of
the most effective of the United States
warships.
There is no concealment among naval
officers of the almost priceless value that
the Carolines would be to the maintenance
OF American interests in the widest of
oceans. To Spain this archipelago can never
be more than a burden and expense, which
must now appear prohibitive to the govern
ment at Madrid in its Strengthened condi-
tions, and an auction sale to the highest
bidder is believed to be among the certain
ties of the early future. 1t is no secret that
the present administration at Washington
is not inclined to permit any foreign power
to buy this group and emphatic evidence is
given of this determination in the orders
issued to naval vessels in the last week,
providing for the disposition of all the
available naval forces at Manila, Guam and
Honolulu. There is another line of COM
municaton with the Philippine during a
period of hostilities. This is to be under
taken by the naval auxiliaries and army
transports from New York by way of the
Suez Canal early next month, but it is a
route which gives to the strategists no
concern whatever for the present, as It
would not be needed in time of war; or after
the completion of the Nicaragua Canal.
A Transport Damaged