The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-08-15
Valuable Naval Base May BE Taken

A report is current in diplomatic
circles, that there is danger of the
seizure by Germany of the last
French possessions in North Ameri-
ca; namely the Miquelon group.
which consists of two islands (Saint
Pierre and Miquelon) of sandy for
nation, having total area of about
SO square miles. and situated about
10 miles off the south coast of New
foundland.
Aside from their value as naval
base, which would be the only base
obtainable to the Germans in North
America. and thus of inestimable
value in directing operations against
merchant vessels, there are two ca
BILE stations on the islands, one
owned by the French Cable company
and the other by the Anglo meri-
can Cable company. British cor
poration.
Saint Pierre is the principal settle
ment of the two islands. 1t has a
sheltered harbor with about IA feet
of water, and a good roadstead for
large vessels. The population is
about $500, which is swelled during
the fishing season to about 10000
by the arrival of extra fishing hands
from France.
Few Americans know of the exis-
tence of these Islands, and fewer still
know Of the work of the Catholic
church there.
Interest to Catholics is due not
only to the history recalled by this
possession of France on the CONT
nent. but also by the reason of the
great Catholic work among the in
habitants of these two Islands.
Father Hamon, or "Pere Yves" as
is generally known as, is chaplain to
the thousands of fishermen who live
work and die on the Grand Banks.
near which the Titanic disaster oc-
Cured He keeps the Sailors
Home" at Saint Pierre on the New
foundland coast.
Father Hamon was born in Brit
tany and speaks Gaelic as his native
tongue. He attended the University
of Louvain, the Roman Colleges and
the Jerusalem Biblical Institute of
his order. called the Assumptionists,
yet he finds pleasure and loves to
work among the fishermen and sail
ors of the northern seas.
He was one of the founders of the
Sailors Home at Saint Pierre, about
Fl years ago, under the auspices of
the French Society of the Works of
the Sea. The Society has a similar
mission and a sister ship In Iceland.
In 1895, Father Hamon returned as
usual with the fishermen at the end
of the season (Which lasts from the
middle of April to October) to
France. After his arrival there in
that year, he was sent to Madagascar
where there was an uprising of the
natives, and he served as chaplain to
the soldiers with the same success
which has attended his work among
the sailors. He was twice wounded
in this campaign. and only consented
to leave the field of action in order
to accompany the Hospital Ship back
to Marseilles.
Totor no Tn rhinu oho,
lain of the French Red Cross Hos
pital ship during the Boxer uprising
ii. 1900,
Associated with him on the Banks
of Newfoundland is Mr.. Berger. bet
ter known to the sailors as Brother
Eugene. He has spent 20 years in
this work, and two years ago was
awarded the Montyon prize of 1000
francs by the French Academy for
signal service to mankind.
Saint Pierre is home to all. and
the work accomplished in this sim
pie structure. with it's mission cross
bearing an heroic figure of the Cruel
fed, is simply phenomenal.
One thousand sailors come to port
every month to pass their shore
leave and visit the home. One hun
dred and fifty small fishers go out
and return every day. One hundred
deep sea sailors are always in port.
And then there are the shipwrecked,
rescued by the Hospital Ship Saint
Francis. which gives medical atten-
ton to those who need it.
These sailors have already been
called upon by their mother country
for service in her navy, where they
will be invaluable. owing to their
long experience on the high seas.
In this Sailors Home, the faith
of old mother Church has been
spread with every means at the dis
posal of her ministers. They have
preached in the chapel, the club
room, and in their little magazine
called Newfoundland"
Temperance has been advocated
ON every side. and as substitute
against the use of liquor. a ITEM