New-York tribune., 1902-07-13
NAY NOT REMOVE COAL.
rvrRETARY MOODY CONSIDERING
PRESIDENT PALMAS REQUEST
CAREFULLY.
CONSIDERING
srrTER CLASS OF cUBANs DO NOT OBJECT
TO UNITED STATES WARsHIPs
VISITING HAVANA.
icy TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.l


washington. July 12-The request Of the
r,,ban Government for the prompt removal Of
enc naval coal pile from Havana may not. after
an be taken seriously by the administration.
A cursory examina tion of the question by Sec
-e+a-v Moody who has not yet had time to
become thoroughly familiar with all the phases
Of naval policy in the brief period he has had
for consideration Of such q large subject, rem
ders i certain that he will proceed with great
elaboration in this matter
II already appears that the inpatience of the
Cubans TO get rid of the small quantity Of coal
in the Triscornia sheds is confined TO a few Of
the more impulsive soldiers who followed
Gomez in the insurrection. and that the better
class Of citizens, including all the conservative
men on whom the United States relies for a
stable administration Of affairs friendly to this
government. are not at all anxious to have
American warships avoid visiting Havana Har-
Dor occasionally. taking coal and spending
money there. II is also Impossible to reconcile
the alleged irritation caused by an unguarded
inert coal pile which leads to demands for its
immediate removal. with the fact that at the
same time no tender national sentiment is
offended by the maintenance Of four batteries Of
United States coast artillery. with five hundred
soldiers, IN the heavy fortifcations commanding g
the capital city.
from Havana on a tract Of land hitherto re-
garded as commercially worthless, but leased to
the United States and under option for pur-
chase given by its owners to the Navy Depart
rnent The garrisoned batteries held by the
army belong to the Cuban Government There
IS also q floating steel dock in Havana Harbor.
purchased from Spain by the navy. 1t is under
repairs, which cannot be finished before next
January, giving constant employment to three
2
its presence has been entered by President
Palma although its latent offensive powers
could be demonstrated if an occasion should
arise for sinking ii in the narrow entrance chan
mel Of the harbor
CUBANs' FEARS UNREASONABLE.
Another element Of doubt as TO the sincerity
Of the Cuban objection TO pile of four thousand
tons Of soft coal. worth $4,000. bearing no
weapons and flying no insignia of sovereignty
is the well known complacency of the Japanese
over the American coaling station at Yoko-
hama, that country's chief seaport. The United
States owns the site at Yokohama Only three
years ago II was the subject Of such cordial
expressions by the Japanese Government that
the United States navy spent large sums TO re-
Ia bilitate the station. which had not previously
been put TO such use. Japan is under no such
obligation 10 the United States Cuba is. and
serve IT'S sovereignty against foreign aggression.
The Spanish naval station at Havana was in
the city limits. at the extreme inner end Of the
harbor. but the American naval officer who
went to Havana to select a site there under the
guarantees Of the Platt amendment, afuci-
mated as probable the Cubans' wish TO retain
the old Spanish property. and selected the T is
cornia tract across the bay. and as far as posi-
bic from the town. yet enjoying the superb ia
ci-'es of the harbor itself. He also visited the
other ports Of the island and found that none
OF them were adapted for the location of a naval
establishment, although Guantanamo and Nipe
might be used as war rendezvous in emergen-
cies, CienfUegos being comparatively inaccessi-
bic TO first class vessels. The navy therefore.
although entitled under the Platt amendment
TO hold perma nentIv several naval stations in
Cuba has found only that meets the single
requirement Of practical ava liability which fort
urlately combines as well the most important
strategic position for the domestic defence Of
the United States.
The administration has also been impressed
with the unreasonable character Of the Cuban
fear that a naval coal pile at Triscornia is a
menace 10 Cuban sovereignty. through a refer
ence to the Insignificant influence eXerted on the
politics Of New-York State. the business inter
ests Of New-York City and the free navigation
of New-Yo Harbor by the Brooklyn Navy
Yard. except benefcently employer Of
labor.