The San Francisco call., 1913-08-04
GREAT BRITAIN
PLANNING A BIG
BASE OFF FLORIDA
Strong Naval Station in the
Bermuda Islands Said
to Be Contern-
plated
REPORT REACHES
STATE DEPARTMENT
Inquiry Made as to Prepara-
tons of u. S. for Protec-
ton of Canal Routes

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.-Keen in
terest has been aroused in official cir
cles here by a report, reaching the
state department, that Great Britain
in contemplating establishing a great
naval base in the Bermuda islands.
1t Is stated authoritatively that the
British government has made inquiry
concerning the plans OF the United
States for the protection OF the Pam
anna canal routes and 1t has been sug-
gested that this indicates an inten-
tion 70 safeguard British shipping
through the isthmus as IS done in the
Mediterranean.
oficials realize that the problem
raised is a tremendous one. involving
as 1t may the very life of the Monroe
doctrine and marking perhaps COM
plete revolution in foreign naval pol
Icy in the western hemisphere. For
1t is expected that If Great Britain
changes her naval policy in American
Atlantic waters. other European ma
tions probably will follow suit.
While these changes may be ex-
pected in the Atlantic waters and the
West Indies. officials likewise realize
that with the opening of the canal
the United States must contend with
Japan for the domination of the Pa
cifc.
ONCE ABANDONED STATIONS
The British royal navy abandoned its
naval stations in this country about
ten years ago. when the United States
gave UP the idea of the construction
Of fh.
digging the big waterway across Pan
anna.
Apart from the West Indian station,
the royal navy maintained stations at
Esquimault. British Columbia and
Halifax, Nova Scotia.
There once was plan to strengthen
greatly the fortifications at Esqui-
maGlt, overlooking the strait of Juan
de Huca, in order to make that an i'm
portant base, but both of these sta
tions now have merely nominal ex-
istence under the government of the
dominion OF Canada and are little
more than recruiting stations for the
royal navy.
British troops We're withdrawn from
st. Lucia in the West Indies in 1905
the guns were dismounted from the
fortifications and what once was a
great military station became onlE a
coaling place and is not today even a
saluting port
Three light draft cruisers, the
Auolus. Melepomene and the Sirius.
flying the British eolors now base at
Kingston Jamaica. They are insig-
nifcant as war vessels. corresponding
TO such American cruisers as the New
Orleans ard Albany.
FORMIDABLE POSITION
If Great Britain undertakes TO es-
tablish herself in Atlantic waters,
however. the proposed Bermuda sta
ton. near Hamilton, would occupy a
formidable position. The present
equipment there is meagre. but the
garrison consists of two companies of
artillery, company of engineers and
a battalion of infantry.
BY way of looking out for future
contingencies at the Pacific terminal of
the Panama canal, the British claim
ownership Of Clipperton island prob
ably the finest deep water harbor in
that part of the Pacific ocean.
While Great Britain thus is assert
ing herself. officials here remember
how long Germany has looked with
wistful eyes at the Danish West In
dian island of st. Thomas, which occu-
pies a strong strategic position in re-
lation to the Panama canal.
American naval strategists always
have favored the acquisition by the
United States of the Danish posses
sions, which Germany would have
taken over years ago but for American
objection.
Then there is the Dutch island of
Curacao, where the Germans made
themselves very much at home during
the blockade of Venezuelan ports by
Germany, England and Italy in 1903
Diplomats at the state department
IS well as naval strategists, realize
that the determination of the future
ownership OF these islands is one Of
the important questions confronting
the limited States