The sun., 1910-10-27
St Helena.

Has any little island IN tho world
suffered more from the changing Cond-
tlons of the last half century than ~
Helena N was an important port for
supplies when sailing vessels rounded
the Cape. a centre of world interest
when NAPOLEON was held there a pris-
oner. and a point of strategic value
when England was building up an Indian
Empire Now the British Government
- debating n II IL worth the whii" to
! fortify H. II since the people of ~
Helena say they have no means Of
support since the troops left them four
years ago, II would not In beSt Ia aban-
don the island altogether
The present interest of the British in
the island il largely a matter OF senti-
ment II has many associations with
the empire Discovered by the Portu-
g,iese settled bv th" Dutch IL came into
the possession Of the British Fast In
dia Company. and for a century was
wrangled over by England and Holland
Before the building of the Suez Canal
It was a port OF call and az many as a
hundred vessels were often anchored
on jamestown taking in fresh vege-
tables and water. From garrisons sta
tioned there troops were sent as reen-
forcements TO Buenos Ayres and were
used in the early wars against the Dutch
az the Cape A the headquarters OF
a Vice Admiralty court the island was
from ls45 10 1850 the centre Of attempts
at suppression Of the slave trade along
the west coast OF Africa But ~.
Helena owes It's fame principally 10 the
fact that II was from 1915 20 1921 the
place Of exile Of NAPOLEON. who died
AZ the farmhouse OF Longwood near
jamestown II served the British again
a. a place Of exile during the south
African war when about 200 Boer
prisoners. including General CEoNIF.
were held there
Steamers no longer need stop at ST
Helena for supplies; the island Is "A the
direct route to the Cape and IL Of no
value AZ a port Of call The people
have Communication with the rest of the
world only about once a wear through
the visit Of small vessels that bring sup
piles There appears TO be no reason
for IN" upkeep of garrison on IN. -l-
and. The London Sidrddrd say-
Thsr. Il Al important station % 'h. rs'.rn
T,sgrsph Company here this certainly n,
strong ArEumeh, IN favor - equipment aIsp ne
'Nsnd ~ogH become - "uc- m por'ant ~ N.
>u-, ,aoal we're bloc.ei aI'ho gh NJ islanf
ross-sses M doo.S Aud .audinE O., often Bsi IN
~ surf Ngaln,' 'h-s- arguments
must b- placed ~ expense - property 'prt'y'ng
me place md ih- ooaup ~ any garrison ,taton.t
mere win ~. necessity ~ -eepa g 20. island sIp
pu-i Ni'b zone Aluds u provisions aud no m.
niuous ~ va - present there sr- 'wp = incn
Euns sui qIic- nr.ng guns on ladder H.I. oy'r
ID".inE No anlhorags bI' - make tr- Island
capable - defence would reqglre big glus and
a gropo-'IouAA garrison Docs fscit''e, would
b- required - sUfy his vhirh means ne -
peudifurs - 'arge sums - monry S4ppo,Inz
s.cn programme ~as carried o4' ta- vaIu- of
~ H-s7a 1d-r rIls'ug conditions ~ steam
usIEa'Ipn sUIl remains lYpo'h-ur.l even IN ~. 7
. ,'.nr u ~
The population of the island has been .
gradually dwlndling. manv of thus" 4
y no could have moved away. and there 4
has been no immigration ~ wears The
BRUSH Government ha- built a mill for .
: h. ir-a tment II New Zealand fax aud .
has mad" grants for instruction IN la'"
making In spite nf this the people com
PLAIN ui isolation and loneliness and lack
of means 81 support Unless James
town - fortified, II l. believed that the
inhabitants will desert the island and
l~av" y barren vast" before another
wear