New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-18
JEW UNITED STATES NAVAL STATION ISABELLA I.

cause it place OF .Tester commercial i'm
portance, and officers found it more TO their pc
cunary profit TO stay there. But Rear Admiral
Bradford, who has come to be regarded as the
chief strategist of the service and who ls re-
sponsble for the locat ton OF naval coal bases SO
indispensable TO the modern feet. discovered
through his studies that Isabella, which had been
used only to a limited extent by the Spaniards
superior fl every way to Zamboanga, partiCu-
larly in depth of water and accessibility. At his
suggestion it made the principal sarr:soned
station in the south. and placed under exclusively
naval control. as Cavitt Guam and Tutuila had
already been
bella is only forty miles the Straits OF
Basllian from Zamboanga. the extreme southern
port OF Mindanao. where the army is in control
1t effectualIy commands the strait, which Is the
marine highway between Hong Kong and Australia
and it is close to the Suu group. The little sta
ton has facilities for the repair of the smaller
gunboats which have been found useful in that
region The island upon which it is situated is
small and its population. If troublesome, easily
be checked by the marine guard in the fort.
COAL SHED ALREADY THERE.
From Admiral Watsons report the following eX
tracts regarding the station taken:
The coal shed across from the town was built
in 1895, and is I'm good condition. 1t consists or
STOUT pes capacy about four thousand tons
small quantity OF coal. said TO be Cardiff and Aus
pile was outside at the time of the Yorktown's
visit, This was left there when the Spanish aban-
doned the place. and was estimated at sixty tons
1T Is from dirt and sp9 y sGoq oSg and I
feet wide. but is old and not very substantial A.
nearly low and one-haf fHthoms was
doek and Sou 9 ed e from he Th
deepens rapidly. and twsnty-ive feet added TO The
least depth alongside at low water. This informa
coal are said to exist on Maamau Island.
II the harbor were buoyed and well charted ships
entering and coaing alongside the dock For
larger vessels coal dock just north OF Moro Island
is suggested as a suitable place. There is an ex.
celient anchorage in both monsoons. just west OF
There is an abundance Of fruits and chickens
Cattle raised by the Moro inhabitants OF Basil
Isabella Would be quickly met. w ''''''' ~
the sia1 ,na I tank fI OF sixty tons
inland From there 1t is piped TO the seawall, and
navy yard. It is built of WOOD and is in fair con-
diton; water said to be very good.
SaXs IN far state Of repair on which the small
The Malamauai side is low and apparently un-
ground. favorable to good drainage The town IS
| dirty; Target range could easily be laid out in
! LEFT BY THE sPANARDs.
rIb The former Spanish naval station occupies the
in fair repair but after the Spanish a5e
! all movable machinery and tools were stolen by
good condition. The seawa is formed by a'G line
two aonesGe at io% wS Tis
! The yard is incosed by a masonry wall and be-
sides shops storehouses, etc, contains barracks
for hundred men A small mooring buoy is in
place ar the mouth OF the river and SO00-pound
testimated) anchor lies the seawalI No stores
or ordnance ma terial of any kind were in sight
Just back of the navy yard. on the river bank
stands the former Spanish fort and barracks They
! are on high bluT; steep the river side.
Commanding me naval station. town. harbor and
approaches. These could be inspected closely
but were apparently masonry and in fair condition
The hillside is free from underbrush and trees and
! the position Is an excellent for defence from
attack in any direction The barracks will accom-
modate GRE hundred men. The Spanish Ina bituaIIy
! kept about sixty here and forty at the naval
STATION ana usually small eunboat in the harbor.