The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-04
Suggested This Indicates an
Intention to Protect Brit
ish Shipping at Panama
THE OTHER NATIONS
MAY FOLLOW SUIT
Washington Realizes Problem Raised
Tremendous One and May In
yolye Very Life of Monroe
Doctrine

washington. August 3.--Keen inter-
est has been aroused in official circles
here by report reaching the state de-
partment that Great Britain is contem-
plating establishing a great naval base
In the Bermuda islands. 1t is authorl
tatively stated that the British gov
ernment has made inquiry concerning
the plans of the United States for pro-
lection of the Panama canal routes and
1t has been suggested that this indi-
Gates an intention to safeguard Brit
ish shipping through the isthmus as is
done in the Mediterranean.
Problem Tremendous One
Officials realize that the problem
raised is a tremendous one involving as
1t may the very life OF the Monroe doc
trine and marking, perhaps, complete
revolution in foreign naval policy in the
western hemisphere. For it is expected
that If Great Britain changes her naval
policy in American Atlantic waters
other European nations probably will
follow suit. While these changes may
be expected in the Atlantic waters and
the West Indies. officials likewise real
ize that with the opening of the canal
the United States must contend with
japan for domination of the Pacific.
The British royal navy abandoned
its paval stations in this country about
10 Aears ago, when the United states
gave up the idea of the construction
of the Nicaraguan canal, and set about
digging the waterway across Panama,
whose approaching completion bids fair
TO revolutionize international relations.
Apart from it's West Indian stations,
the royal navy maintained stations at
Esquimault. British Columbia and Hal
flax. Nova Scotia.
There once was plan to strengthen
greatly the fortihcations at Esquimault
overlooking the Strait of Juan De Fuca
IN order to make that important base,
but both these stations now have a
merely nominal existence under the
government of the Dominion of Canada
and are little more than recruiting sta
tions for the royal navy British troops
were Withdrawn from st. Lucia in the
West Indies in 1906. the guns were dis
mounted from fortifcations and what
once was great military station. be-
and is not today even saluting port.
The three light draft cruisers. the Mel
pomene, Aeolus and the Sirius, flying the
British colors now base at Kingston,
Jamaica, They are Insignificant as war
vessels, corresponding to such American
cruisers as the New Orleans and Albany.
If Great Britain undertakes to establish
herself in Atlantic waters, however. the
would occupy a formidable position. The
present equipment there is meagre, but
the garrison consists of two companies of
artillery. a company Of engineers and
battalion of infantry. BY way of looF-
ing out for future contingencies at the Pa
ciic terminal of the Panama canal, the
British claim ownership of Clipperton
island, probably the finest deep water
harbor In that part of the Pacific ocean.
Germany Not Asleep
While Great Britain thus is asserting
herself. officials here remember how long
Germany looked with wistful eyes at the
Danish West Indian island of st. Thomas,
which occupies strong strategic posi-
tion in relation to the Panama canal
American naval strategsts always have
favored the acquisition by the United
States of the Danish possessions, 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 the Ven-
ezuelan ports by Germany, England and
Italy in 1903. Diplomatists at the state
departnlent. as we'll as naval strategists,
realize that the determination of future
ownership OF these islands is one of the
important questions confronting the
United States.