The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-27
NAVAL STATIONS IN CUBA.
Surveys of Harbo-s, Completed and
Locations Agreed TDou

The surveys OF hsrbOrs in Cuba by the
Navy Department 70 ascertain the best
locations Tor United States naval stations
II the island have been practically com
pleted, and the gunbosts Vixen and Tank-
ton, which have been doing most of the
surveying, have left Gi5ara on the north
coast, the former for Hampton Roads and
the latter fer San Juan. They viii pro-
coed later TO Boston for repairs.
The data at hand Is sufficient to Justify
the selection Of the strateGicaI points in
Cuba to be used as naval stations. and
the Government wiz negotiate with the
Cuban Government when it has been es-
tablished. for the transfer TO the United
States of four sites. These are located
on Nipe Bay Guantanamo Bay, Cienfue-
Cos HarbOr and Havana Harbor- Careful
attention TO the geographical and strate-
CiCaI Importance as well as the depth of
the water at these places was given. The
idea Fas to select points at the extreme
eastern and western ends Of the island
and on the north and south coasts, but
there was no suitable harbor near Cape
San Antonio on the extreme west, COM
handing the Yucatan Channel. or near
Cape Maysi. on the extreme east, com
handing the Xyindward Passage. and this
brought about the determination to have
stations on the northern and southern
coasts as near to the eastern and western
ENDS Of the island as possible.
Havana was naturally selected for the
eastern station on the northern coast, but
it was not easy to find a good barbOr near
the eastern end Of the southern coast.
Cienfuegos, although a considerable dis
lance from the eastern extremity Of Cuba
and near the centre of the southern coast,
presented the best location
All the Intervening water close to the
coast between that point and Cape San
Antonio is shallow. ara Cienfuegos was
regarded as the best base Of operations
against an enemy attempting to reach
the United States by means OF the Yu-
catan channel Its harbor is Iand-Iocked
and has plenty of water, and this de-
termined its selection.
Some consideration was given to the Sc
lection Of Santiago. near the eastern end
of the southern coast, but the entrance to
the harbor was not suitable for big ships.
Guantanamo, forty miles east of Santa
go, which the United States ships used
as a coaling base in the operations
against Toraf's army and Cervera's
squadron, his a better harbor and was
an ideal location for a naval
base. For the station on the eastern
end Of the northern coast Nipe Bay was
chosen without question It is land
locked. and can be connected by canal
which the Government intends to build,
with Levisa Bay. also Iand-locked-
The Havana station is admirably stu
ated for the base of a feet engaged in
guarding the Nicholas channel and the
Santaren channel. which unite with the
old Bahama channel close to the coast
Of Cuba
Nfpe is well situated for guarding the |
eastern end Of the old Bahama channel,
md as a base OF operations to guard the |
fuegOS are admirably located for fleet
operations TO protect the Yucatan chan
nei and Havana and Key West for pro- |
teCting the Straits Of Florida Cfuanta- /
narno and CienfueSos would be bases Of /
a naval campaign IN the Caribbean Sea |