The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-10
Coaling Stations.

Although our acquisition OF Porto Rico,
Hawaii, the Philippines and Guam within
the limits OF a single year has greatly null
tiplied our footholds in distant waters,
it may fairly be said that the subject OF OBJ
tanning additional naval and coaling stations
was never OF greater interest than now.
Our experience, indeed, is likely to resemble
hat OF Great Britain, for she, in extending
her domains in many parts OF the globe,
has found it all the more necessary to pro-
vide way stations and ports OF call and sup
ply forthe vessels that visit and guard these
possessions.
The recent rumor that we were nego-
tiating with Great Britain for the lease
OF Sokotra, an island near the Straits OF
Babel andeb, turned out TO be false, yet a
naval station at the Red Sea entrance OF
the Indian Ocean might be more valuable
to us now thar ever before. The Suez Canal
route from New York or Norfolk TO the
Philippines is far shorter than the one
through the Straits OF Magellan, and ofthat
fact we have already taken practical adj
vantage by arranging to send the
Helena and the Buffalo to ADMIRAL
DEWEY by the former route. Indeed, until
the Nicaragua Canal is completed. which
cannot be for years, tho voyage through
the Mediterranean from Atlantic dock
yards to our Asiatic possessions will appeal
to us, and hence q station OF our own on the
wav would clearly have its advantages. IT
is said that Sokotra Is undesirable in any
case, being girt with rocky bluffs and dan
gerous beaches, broken by not a single good
--l -. ,-o a-Hnl DIT hhurnTnr that
may be, a suitable coaling station in that
region would not come amiss to US, and it
is a curious fact that many years e a
naval board which was examining this
whole subject advised the acquisition OF a
coaling station in Madagascar. OF course a
station in the Indian Ocean would be vastly
| more important to us to-day.
Again, with Honolulu, Manila and Guam
| already ours, the Government would
have been glad to purchase from Spain
the island at the eastern end OF the Caro-
lines, variously known rs Kusaic, ITALIAN.
and Strong's Island. In other words, the
more footholds in the Pacific We have, the
more auxiliaries for them wo need. We
acquired rights TO Pearl River Harbor,
in the island OF Oahu, and to Pago-Pago,
in Tutuila, many years ago, and have never
vet used the former at all as n coaling sta
tion, while We are just fitting up the latter
with the necessary pier and sheds. But
with the acquisition Of domains OF our own
in tho Pacific, we need stepping stones to
them. 1t is said that the primary purpose
sought in Ualan was that OF a telegraph
station, since the unbroken distance from
Honolulu TO Guam would be rather toe
long to risk for a single stretch OF cable
but. in addition, naval officers were looking
to tho uses Of the island as a station for
ships, and there is very little doubt Of its
value for that purpose.
We lately heard, too, a m Of the revi
val OF negotiations forthe purchase of Chiri
qui Lagoon as a naval station. This rumol
carries us back a score Of years to the
time when a strong effort was made FOL
acquiring both Chiriqui Lagoon, on the
Caribbean side OF the isthmus, and Golf
Dolce, on the Pacific side, because o
their proximity TO the Nicaragua Cana
and consequent value as naval sta
tions. In those days the way il
which tine project came up caused a sue
cessful attack to be made against it, bu
the point Just now Is that our own re
cent acquisitions in the Antilles c~ertainl.
do not seem 10 abate efforts to obtain sta
tions elsewhere in the Gulf. It may be
question whether we shall ever again he a
eager rs we We're some years ago to acquir
Mole st. Nicolas, on the Windward Passage
or SANTANA Bay on the Mona, or 81. Thomas
with its fine harbor OF Charlotte Amalie