The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-01
DEWEY'S ROUTE HOME.

Although at the time of writing it is
not known precisely what stops Ad-
miral Dewey will make on his home
ward voyage, it is reasonable to sup
pose that he will touch at about the
same places as the Raleigh did on her
recent trip by the same route There
are certain ports along the line which
are stopping places for all vessels trav-
cling between the Pacific and Atlantic
by way of the Suez canal, and one of
the most interesting facts about these
ports is that they are, without excep-
ton, British. Everywhere that the
Olympia drops anchor she viii be under
be greeted-heartily enough, too. if the
reception which was given to the Ra-
leigh is any criterion-by the soldiers
and sailors of her majesty the queen
If Admiral Dewey had come home by
the opposite route, across the Pacific
to San Francisco. he would have stop
ped at only American ports-Guam and
Honolulu Since these have come un-
der the stars and stripes, there is a
continuous chain of British and Ameri-
can ports extending completely around
the world, and a vessel may circumnav-
igate the globe without being compelled
to stop, unless she wishes to, in the
domain of any other nation.
When the admiral leaves Hong Kong,
where the English are now giving him
an enthusiastic welcome, he Will have
run of lao knots, or nautical miles. to
Singapo the next stopping place. The
capital of the island of the same name,
at the extreme southeastern end of the
Malay peninsula, Singapore, the City
of the Llon,'' is q town with a vast Sys-
tenn of Notifications. It is a well built
city. with different native quarters, and
with a European residence district upon
q hill about a mile inland Its quays
are convenient and ample, but vessels
of large burden have to lie out in the
roads. a mile or SO from shore From
Singa pore to Colombo, the capital and
seaport of CeylOn, the distance is 800
miles. This is a picturesque stopping
place, for the fortified town stands on
a rocky peninsula surrounded on three
sides by the sea and having a lake.
a moat and drawbridges on its land
ward side The city is famed for its
beautiful cinnamon gardens, and is now
one OF the largest tea exporting ports
in the world Colombo harbor is small,
and is defended by several forts.
The next run of the Olympia. from Co
lonlbo to Alden, at the entrance to the
Red sea- is one of 2,13o miles. the long
est without stops of any except the trip
across the Atlantic Alden is the chief
trading port of Ara bia. but before it's
occupation by the British in 1899 il had
sunk to comparative unimportance. At
first the English used it simply for a
coaling station. but they soon began to
strengthen it, and the extent and ex-
ceIlence of its present fortified lions have
earned for it the title of THE Gibraltar
of the East Since the opening of the
commercial Importance. The run
through the Red sea. from Alden to
Suez, is 1910 miles, and the 100 miles
of the canal will then bring the OIym-
pia to Port Said, on the Mediterranean
side of the isthmus- Both Suez and
Port Said are Egyptian towns. but ow-
ing to the increase of English power
in Egypt and the preponderance of
English trade passing through the ca
nal. they have come TO be regarded al
most as British ports
From Port Said to the famous naval
station of Malta is $40 miles The capital
and seaport of the island, VaIetta. at
which the ships touch, is picturesquely
situated on a long neck of land. and, to-
gether with the rest of the island. is
strongly fortified. The run from Malta
to Gibraltar is $50 miles. slightly longer
than the previous one. Malta being lit
tie east of the central point of the Med
iterranean- OF Gibraltar it is unneces-
sary to speak as a stronghold. since its
very name has become a synonym for
a fortified place. Enormous sums of
money have been spent by England in
rendering the precipitous mass of rock
impregnable. It is likely that this may
be the last stop which the Olympia will
make. and that she will run from there
directly TO this city-about 3,215 miles.
Possibly. however, she may pull in a
the Azores, in which case she would be
calling at a Portuguese port