Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-31
N THE WEST INDIES
OUR NEW NAVAL STATION IN
CUBA.
Guantanamo Was Once Visited by Co.
lumbus-Present Appearance About
Same as 400 Years Ago.


According to the writer, Guantanamo bay
lies about forty miles east of Santiago. on
the stretch Of seaboard facing the channel
which runs between Cuba and Haiti It
was visited by Columbus in 1891 on his
voyage to the east end Of Cuba, and was
the scene Of an abortive English scheme
to capture Santiago and subjuente Cuba in
114l. 1t was also the spot wher. Gamer
leans first landed during the Spanish
American war, with the same Impractical
bic idea of operating against Santiago
During the entire period of the Spanish
occupation Its commercial and strategic
possibilities received scarcely any atten-
ton, and today its appearance differs but
little from that which 1t must have pre-
scented 400 years ago. 1t is about ten miles
long, and varies in breadth from half a
mile to four miles. 1t runs into the heart
or very extensive plain. the bordering
hills rising dimly on the far horizon.
Originally it seems to have covered q
much larger area; it is now thanked by salt
marshes and sand flats, while the banks
and islets, which rise here and there to
height of thirty feet, are constructed Of
coral of quite recent formation. The geo.
logical movement has accentuated the
shallowness of the upper part of the bay,
but 1t has left deep and unobstructed the
main channels and lagoons at the mouth;
in many places the rock goes clear down
to a considerable depth, while a number Of
escarpments and islands have been brought
into greater prominence, and these have
been noted as suitable for Notifications
and other works. On the east the noun
tains gradually approach the bay and
finally sink into a low range, called the
CuZco Hills, which runs along the coast
and terminates in a broad bluff at the en-
trance to the harbOr. The same character
istic exists on the west. but in a less pro-
nounced degree. Two rivers flow into the
bay. the river Guantanamo, which empties
itself just inside the mouth on the east,
and the Guaso, on the same side higher up,
but both are unimportant physical fea-
lures of the region.
The entrance, between the leeward and
windward points, is about two miles wide.
Both sides will be strongly fortified, and
1t is proposed to erect barracks on the
Cuzco Hills, where the full force of the
healthful ocean breeze IS experienced.
From the sea the channel runs straight
and wide into spacious anchorage under
the lee Of the eastern headlands. This
range is the chief element contributing to
the security of the harbor. 1t protects 1t
from the winds and hurricanes that sweep
up from the southeast and also from the
occasional south winds which blow right
into the mouth of the bay. but leave UNI
rufned the sheltered waters of the anchor
age Here at present lie the Olympia and
Vixen, with an attendant collier, and here
could ride the vessels of a large fleet with
perfect safety and freedom of movement
In blight at the end Of the promontory
on the leeward side nestles a small village
the home of few fishermen and the pilots
engaged in handling the scanty shipping
of the port.
The Low Mangroves.
On the opposite side the low mangroves
sweep round into a conspicuous coral ridge
called Caracoles Point. overlooking the an
chorage; here it is proposed to erect power
full batteries. From this point the bay pro-
ceeds in a northerly direction and becomes
broken up into a series of lagoons Islands
and swamps. but the main channel. which
passes to the left of an island called Medic
Cav, continues broad and deep. 1t has been
discovered that the channel to the right.
though narrower. is deeper and capable OF
taking vessels of the greatest draught. The
whole of the water area In this part OF the
bay Immediately back of the anchorageIt
has the name of Granadillo bay-is we'll
ADAPTED for wharves and docks, and 1t Is
here that it is proposed to place these and
other works. The islands are suggested as
suitable for hospitals The bay then con-
tracts. and the bank on the right rises to a
height of about thirty feet here can be
seen the ruins of a small Spanish fort which
was destroyed by the Americans. The cham
the bav. a beautiful sheet Of still water
Caimanera is situated on the left shore;
1t is the only port on the bay; but it is
merely the terminus of the Guantanamo
railroad. and consists Of a few wooden
buildings and matched hutS. a government
wharf. and the railroad sheds. The custom
house Offlcer lives at guantanamo, which
is twelve and one-half miles in the interior
beyond a stretch of sour. unproductive
land. Guantanamo is a typical SPANISH
American town. without hotel, unpaved,
insanitary, its only virtue a good water
supply, which was provided by the Ameri-
cans during the military occupation. 1t
contains about 1900 inhabitants. A branch
of the railroad proceeds to Jamaica and an
other to Soledad. two sugar centers six
miles further on and near the foot of the
hills. One or two private wharves belong
ing to sugar estates occupy positions on the
upper reaches of the bay. but otherwise it's
shores remain under the dominion of man.
grove and bush.
The country round the station is at pres
ent destitute of the facilities which would
add to its amenity and security. The chief
drawback is the lack of an adequate sup
ply of fresh water. 1t is proposed to dig
wells within the boundaries of the station
ard to supplement the provision thus OBJ
tanned by laying down pipes from Guanta-
ramo. probably also from a river some
leagues to the east But the disadvantage
of depending on water conveyed from
long distance is felt to be a serious one in
connection with the naval station in an
alien country.