Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-10
WARS SHADOW IN CARIBBEAN
Europe Spending Millions to FOrtify Posses
sions in the West Indies,
AMERICAN EXPANSION PRoVoKEs RIVALRY
British Armaments in Jamaica, Gas
tries and BermudR-France spend
ing Money Javishly-Little
Holland Astir.

As the cutting Of the isthmian canal by
the United States became more and more
probable within the last few years, the
European nations holding territory in the
Caribbean sea actively began Strengthening
the Qualifications OF their chief strong
holds in that region at the cost Of millions
OF dollars. Now that the Panama ditch
is finally decided upon and will be COM
menced in a short time, they are straining
every nerve to complete their schemes OF
fertilization and to improve their strategic
positions on what will be the second trade
route Of the world, II not the first.
England has led the way in this matter,
France has followed suit at Martinique and
Guadeloupe, and even little Holland mas
been spending a good deal Of money on the
defenses OF Curacao and Surinam.
A glance at the map Of the West Indies
will show the position of England in rela-
ton to the Panama canal. Jamaica has al
WAYS been its center of offense and de-
Tense in the West Indies. From Jamaica
It sent It's fleets to fight the French and
the Spaniards in the days OF Rodney ana
Nelson. Jamaica must necessarily be the
central point Of any West Indian naval
maneuvers In which England is concerned.
And 1t happens by a marvellous stroke OF
luck for England that Jamaica is the
strategic key OF the Panama canal. All
ships going or coming through that water
way must pass within a short distance OF
Port Royal.
The Gibralter of the Caribbean.
The tourist who enters the smiling har-
Dor Of Port Royal is impressed by the per-
feet peacefulness of the scene. His ship
glides swiftly through water as smooth as
glass toward range Of verdant mountains
sloping right down to the waters edge. No
where is there the slightest sign OF war or
warlike preparations, yet few places are
30 strongly defended. The tourist does not
know that the pressure Of a button ashore
would blow up his ship, for the entrance
to the harbor is a perfect network OF sub
marine mines. Nor does he know that
those smiling, green clad hills contain a
dozen masked forts, armed with the biggest
and latest style guns, some OF which are
capable Of throwing a shell ten miles or
more.
Port Royal has been regarded for many
years as practically i~mpregnable by British
naval and military authorities, who call 1t
"tho Gibraltar Of the Caribbean" Many
mimic attacks have been made upon it by
land and sea, but 1t has always repealed the
invaders with terrible imaginary losses.
Once the entire British North American
squadron-a score of battleships, cruisers
and destroyers-made a sudden night at
tack. The ships were detected before they
could get near the harbor's mouth. Twenty
searchlights from the forts concentrated on
them, and the hills belched a hurricane OF
fire. In ten minutes, according to umpires,
every ship was sunk or crippled.
Yet the British War office and Admiralty
are not satisfied with Port Royal. Every
month they are sending out fresh men and
fresh guns to strengthen the Notifications.
Two new forts are now being constructed
at fresh points, four others are planned
and all are to be armed with the latest
type OF twelve-inch disappearing gun.
J These new forts are costing millions OF
| dollars, and millions more will have to be
spent before the present scheme of forth
! fcation is completed. Like all other Port
Royal forts they are being constructed SO
that they will be invisible from the sea and
offer absolutely no mark to an attacking
fleet. They are built right down in the
earth, and the enemy will have to batter
down the hillside before he destroys the
forts and dismounts the batteries.
The military authorities Of Jamaica guard
these forts most rigidly, and nobody is al.
lowed to inspect them. Tourists who have
tried to photograph them, or to bride the
bcuIElCb " ltI uSIu lhoNACs hdNc Ollcn kul
into serious trouble, and only escaped
going to Jail by the Intervention OF theii
consul.
1t is commonly believed in the British
army that valuable rdnan secrets are
guarded in these forts, as all officers as.
signed to dut in them have to undertake Il
reveal nothing they see, even to thei
brother officers outside.
The nefensea of CaatrIaa
The West Indies are OF enormous extent
A man who only knows them on the maj
can hardly appreciate the vast area o
sea they cover. The long chain OF Wind
ward and Leeward islands, nearly all o
which belong to England, are a full 100
miles from Jamaica. In time Of war the,
would be in a perllous position, II the,
relied on Port Royal as the only fortihe,
coaling station for the feet defending them
Ships coaling at Port Royal would hav
to work their way 800 miles to windwarl
before they could get to a point near thes
islands at which a naval battle would b
likely to take place, or before they coul
reach Martinique and Guadeloupe, an
posing they had to blockade those place
in the event Of a war with France. BY tn