The National tribune., 1901-07-11
ENGLAND'S GRIP ON THE ATLANTIC.
A New Fortress to be Built on the Newfound-
land Coast.

Great Britain continues to strengthen
herself on this continent Information has
been received that the Government has
fully decided to establish Il naval station
in Newfoundland for the training of young
fishermen for the British navy in North
American waters. The third-class cruiser
Calypso, 2,770 tons, has been selected by
the admiralty for special service as a sta
tionary drill ship, and will be stationed
in Placentia Bay on the south side of the
| island, at a place called Marquise.
The gradual conversion of Marquise into
a great naval stronghold is only a matter
of time and money. The place is destined
to become the rendezvous of a large Brit
ish squadron, and the new scheme of I'M
perial defence provides a liberal estimate
! for its maintenance. 4 craving dock for
the repair Of warships will be built,
force of artiGcers will be stationed there
and while the machine shops in st. Johns
will probably suffice for present purposes,
| the erection of others at MarquiSe must
| follow before long, and the establishment
of such plant would necessitatc the port
being garrisoned.
| 1t will serve another important purpose
| in that it will be made a coaling sta
ton. At present there is no fortified fort
| save Halifax in the British Atlantic prov
| inces, and there immense stocks are stored
| Placentia Bay contains many splendid
harhors and is never blocked with ice
| foes. MarQuise is situated on a splendid
haven, forming part of Placentia Sound,
! and enclosed between beetling hills, which
| rise steeply on every side. There is ample
area to accommodate a large fleet and a
narrow channel, which could easily be de-
! Tended against hostile cruisers by sub
marine torpedo scheme. 1t is capable of
| being converted into a magnificent naval
stronghold, where squadron could ride,
and merchant steamers seek protection.
| 1t lies almost on the railway line, which
connects with every part of the island.
The strategic Importance of the new
station is Illustrated by the fact that the
| bay opens out upon the Grand Banks of
Newfoundland and thence upon the North
| Atlantic. The squadron stationed there
could dominate a vast sweep of ocean,
and control the water-borne commerce of
| Canada by way of the st. Lawrence to
the westward. In fact, the present scheme
includes a plan for the virtual policing of
the North Atlantic Ocean in the interest
| of British commerce. Shipping near the
British coast would obtain two days pro-
lection from the naval scouts cruising west
of Lands End. The patrol operating off
Cape Race would afford another two days
safety. and would then turn freighters
over to the squadron off Halifax, to
guard them to their destination. The only
undefended portion of the route would
| then be the 1000 miles of mid-ocean, and
big cruisers of the Powerful type would
assist considerably in reducing the dangers
associated with its crossing. At present
there is no protection whatever for ship
| ping on the Cape Race route, and it is
| admitted that a hostile cruiser or two
lying off the south coast of Newfoundland
could tie up indefinitely the whole ship
| ping of Canada.
| But overshadowing all else, the estab-
lishment of the Newfoundland naval sta
| ton clearly points to the possibility of
early trouble between England and
| France, and the well determined intention
of the former to capture st. Pierre and
| Miquelon the moment war is declared.
The little group of islets known as st.
Pierre lies off the mouth of Placentia Bay,
| Marquise. From Marquise to the Mique-
! latter port is undefended it could make no
resistance, even TO ship of the Calypso
| type. The capture of st. Pierre would be
one of the greatest strategic features of
a war between France and England since
it would deprive the former of her only
base of supply for coal in North American
waters, cripple her cruisers, and make
Britain the undisputed master in those
waters.
OF course the French Government is
not blind to the danger, and a short time
ago the French flagship on the North
American station visited Plaeentia, Bay,
where Commodore Henrique and his staff
landed at Marquise and inspected the sit
uation Of the proposed British station.