The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14
NAVAL STATIONS TO
Be ESTABLISHED.
One Result of World Power Ideas
for United States.

Washington, Aug. When Con
gress meets this fall. it IS propapie
that there will be submitted to 1t a
treaty with Colombia whereby the
United States will acquire the right to
establish naval stations at Chlrlqul
lagoon on the Atlantic side Of the
isthmus and at .Golfto on the Pacific
side. This has just been made posi-
BILE by the decision of President Lou
bet. of France, who has now rendered
his decision as arbitrator of the boun,,
darv dispute between Colombia and
Costa Rica involving the title to this
land.
For half century or more the Uni
ted States has been anxious to acquire
coaling rights IN these regions, espe-
cially at Chiriqui. on account of the
nearness of the places to the mouths
of any inter-oceanic canal that might
be constructed, but it is only within
the last few weeks that definite meas
ures could be taken to acquire them.
The administrations of President Bu-
chanan, President Lincoln and Presl-
dent Hayes each performed important
official acts, with congressional sane
ton and support looking TO this ac-
ouisition, and President Lincoln en-
larged the scope of the enterprise by
providing for the colonization IN Chi
rioui of the freed men Of the United
States, for which purpose Congress
made preliminary appropriation OF
$500, 600.
When the Oregon made her historic
run from the Pacific to the Atlantic
the need for such station became so
apparent that the efforts were renewed
with vigor. st that time. howev-
er, Colombia was not in position to
make definite answer, as the terri
tory including Chiriqui was IN dis
pute between Colombia and Costa
Rica. The answer therefore was to
the effect that the grant could not be
made while the question of sovereign
ty remained open between these two
countries.
Chiriqui harbor is very large, capa-
BILE of floating the entire feet OF a ma
ton, and the water is deep enough for
the heaviest battleship. The territory
runs through to the Pacific side,
where the right of Colombia is not in
dispute with Costa Rica, but where
the need for station is less pressing.
It is to be hoped that the recent
combination of foreign war and do
mestic revolution that has broken out
in that part of the world will not in
terfere with the consummation of these
desires, now approaching fruition.
The United States already has certain
responsibilities and advantages in Pana-
ma waters, being under treaty obllga-
tions to maintain open and free transit
across the yisthmus. Should the rail
road between Colon and Panama be
threatened, the United States would
have to step in and protect it from the
operations of either the government
or ins1rgent forces. With this import
ant advantge, it is most probable
that the United States will be able to
take such steps as will prevent its
coaling plans from going away.
Cuba will in all probability be turn
ed over to the natives of the island On
the third anniversary Of the destruc-
tion of tae battleship Maine, Febru-
ary Is next, at which time the Gu
bans will probably celebrate the
Inauguration OF an Independent gov
ernment. Governor Wood has announc-,
ed that. it will require eight months
to get matters into shape to turn the
government over to the Cubans. This
would tx the time March 1, but mas
much as the time he names is only ap-
proximate, it is believed the work
that remains to be done can be COM
pleted by the anniversary Of the blow
ing up of the Maine, which was the
event that made a peaceable solution
of the Cuban situation impossible.