Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-01-02
THE ALL- INPORTANCE OF
COALLNG-STATlONS.

Nothing has been more clearly
taught by the war than the ali-impor-
lance of coaling facilities and coal
supply to the weaker navy. The
strong navy can seize bases and an
chorages for it's needs. if it does not
appropriate to its own uses the enc
my's coaling- stations. This is what
Admiral Dewey did at Manila. Neu-
trails are tending to increase the
stringency Of the conditions under
which belligerents are allowed to OBJ
tain supplies of fuel in their ports and
very rightly so. Admiral Cevera's
operations in the West Indies were
.. greatly hampered by the fact that he
found it hard TO get coal. The nominal
supply of his cruisers was excellent;
they all C - 1r1 1000 to 1900 tons
and had Ia radius of action of
about 10000 miles. Unfortunately,
however, theory and practice do not
always coincide, and in coal endur-
ance less than anywhere. Instead of
being able to steam to Cuba from st.
Vincent and back again Without re-
plenishing his bunkers, he was COM
PEELED to put into Curacao after COW
ering little over 5000 miles and then
only allowed a very limited supply
for two of his ships. That he did not
attempt to fill his bunkers from col
liers in some unfrequented anchorage
such as abound in West Indian waters
seems extraordinary. This is per-
fectly feasible operation, and as it
wan not essayed, we are bound to
conclude either that the golfers were
Wanting-if so, another example of
Spanish mismanagement-or that,
being a weak power, Spain was afraid
to risk trouble with the South Ameri-
can states. In war between two
strong navies we may expect to see
much more disregard for the rights
of weak neutrals.
Camara's voyage to the Philippines
came to an untimely end at Suez quite
as much because of the coal difficulty
as because his fleet was wanted for
the defence of the Spanish littoral.
Had he steamed east, he would no.
have been allowed by Egypt, France,
Italy or Turkey-the powers which
hold the shores of the Red sea-to
coal on their coasts or in their har-
bors. He must have struggled as far
as Colombo or Singapore before the
rules Of international law would have
allowed him to fill his bunkers with
fuel to take him to Manila. His help
lessness coming so close upon the
voyages of the Deutschland and Gefi-
on, and of the Navarin and Sessoi We
Tiki, to the far East-voyages which
would have been almost impossible
had England closed her coaling sta
tions to these rival powers-has not
escaped notice on the Continent of
Europe. France under the guidance of
M. Lockroy, is preparing to fortify
and provide with docks the chain of
harbors which link Toulon and
Madagascar. Germany is eagerly
looking for points of strategic value
on the trade routes, but l greatly fear
that she will find none. Here Eng
land is without a rival. AS a sea pow
er has not had an ephemeral growth,
she has slowly, link by link, forged a
wonderful chain, binding India, the
Yellow Sea, Australia, and the Cape
to the mother country. In the acquis
ition, development, and fertilization
of her coaling- stations she must have |
spent within the last half century
nearly $500, 900. Thus it will be
seen that the power which is to COM
pete with her in this respect will have
to pour out money like water. 1t can't |
be doubted that the United States will |
equip itself with line of stations
linking Manila and China to the Paci- |
fic coast. Already they possess or can
have for the asking, Hawaii, the Lad
rones and Carolines, and Pango Pan
go in Samoa. In the West Indies
they will have Porto Rico and Cuba. |
With these advanced positions, the
need for sea going battleships and
not monitors grows.-Hdrper's Maya
zine.
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