The evening times., 1900-03-14
ROUTES TO THE INDIES.
Three Maritime Highways From
England 10 Her Colonies

England 10 Her Colonies.
PARIS, Feb 2S.LMaior Otto wachs, a
German, examines 10 a work which has just
come out, under the above title, the eonse-
quences that the loss Of her supremacy in
the region OF the Cape could have for Eng
land. and passes IN review the successive
calling stations Of the route to the Indies
India is gem OF the English crown; the
support OF the British position In the
world. This is why the. metropolis has no
greater political uneasiness than that Of
the security Of her maritime communica-
tions with India. The land route belongs
TO Russia.
There are three maritime routes. The
first is by the Suez Canal, which may be
obstructed by the sinking OF a vessel. The
second crosses the Atlantic Ocean. pro-
ceeds across the continent through Canada
and thence takes the Pacific Ocean route
this is too long, and scarcely practical
The third is the maritime route that leads
to the Indies by the Atlantic Ocean and
the Cape Of Good Hope. The waT-pOrt of
Plymouth is the point Of departure OF the
route 10 India by the Cape. Opposite is the
French port OF CheTbOurg. which has lost
its strategetic importance. On the con-
trary. the port Of Brest. the position Of
which is wonderful, and the port Of Roche
fort, in the Charante, which is well -forti-
fed and protected by the fortified islands
OF Re and Oleron, can seriously menace
communications between England and the
Indies by the route 10 the Cape.
Dakar, the great port Of Senegal. divides
the route 10 the Cape in two parts, and it
also occupies in the Atlantic Ocean a more
disturbing position for the English. than
Madagascar in the Indian Ocean
The DrfnCfual calling station of tho mari
time route to the Indies is Cape Town. II
is on account OF the chief Importance OF
this station that il is impossible TO fore
see the consequences that might arise
from the war OF the Transvaal and that
England makes the greatest sacrifices to
preserve the colony.
The political capital Cape Town Is the
principal commercial centre, and t%e seat
OF government, but the really vel. shell
tered position OF Simons Bay, is yei more
important from a strategic point Of view
especially since there have ben new
dOcAs Iilt for the u5e OF the Iarge6t men
ofWar. From the Cape to the Indies
there are two maritime routes, one that
passes 10 the east OF Madagascar BY the
Maurice Isle. where England possesses $40
excellent ports-Ports Louis and Marie
bourg; the other by the Mozambique Ca
nal This last, which is the
shorter. leads first TO the Portuguese
Bay OF DelaEOa The port Of Lourenco
Marques increases in importance every
day. This is the strategic position which
has been the subject Of universal dis
Gus 'on latterly.
Further away. one finds Zanzibar. MorI-
bassa, and Matte Island in the Sc -chiTies.
where the English feet possess Q port
serving as a post Of observation opposite
Madagascar. The strategic point most in
teresting 10 Oriental France is assureGlv
Diego Suarez. 1t is a war port o. the first
rank created by nature Rocky walls pro
tect IL against the FIRE Of an inimiCll feet
and its wide and deep bay permits shelter
for an enormous feet Of merchant 0f war
ships. The ComOres. provided with ten
excellent ports; N0ise-Be and BayOtte. on
the west coast; and the Isle Saint-Marle
on the east coast form important advance
ports foE Madagascar.
A glance thrown on the map will suffice
to see. that. on account OF its marvellous
situation Madagascar merits its surname
OF Pearl OF the Indian Ocean" she com
mands the routes that connect the Cape
with the Indies, and 10 the Gulf OF kden
as well as that leading from the Cape Of
Australia, and all these maritime routes
have an importance OF the first order
Without doubt we must say that this won
derful position OF Madagascar and Of its
outposts are not sufficiently provided with
jetties. docks. coaling stations. materials
OF war and OF victualing. but that these
may be provided at the cost Of some pc
cUniary sacrifices OF the French Govern
meut