The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-09-08
NT6 the Danish
West Indies des-
tined TO become a
great naval base for
the better protection OF y
the Panama Canal Zone?

80 the United States, rs she has
0&0sl threatened TO do on several oc-
casions. about 13S square
miles will be added 10 the territory
over which the American flag flies, and
our government will come into posses
sion of one of the finest harbors in
the West Indes-a valuable naval
base and coaling station long coveted
by political and military authorities in
Washington. This is according 10
writer in the New York Times Naga-
zine.
ST. Thomas, st. John, st. Croix and
the other tiny islands and rocks which
compose the Danish West Indies are
not intrinsically valuable. Their land
Is poor, their crops are small, their
population is becoming smaller year by
year; for several years their revenue
has been decreasing and they have
been financial burden to Denmark,
but they lie in a strategic position with
regard TO the Atlantic trade routes
leading TO the Panama canal, and for
that reason they have potential value
In the scheme of defense which must
be worked out TO protect that great
waterway against an enemy.
The chief surprise In Washingron's
announcement recently of the negotia-
ton of n treaty with Denmark for the
transfer of the islands 10 the United
States was the price-$25, ,OOO,OOO-
which the convention fixed. In 1868
for the islands and Increased the sum
TO S7,500,0OO two years later. In 1907
the Roosevelt administration agreed TO
pay $5,000,OOO, but the upper house of
the Danish rigsdag refused TO ratify
the convention, which the United
States senate had ratified on February
II. Possibly Denmark will eventually
be willing to accept less than S20,OOO,-
600, for an influential element In that
country is anxious to sell the islands.
Moreover, the Islanders themselves
apparently wish to improve their eco
nomic condition, and ii is highly prob
able that they would vote TO place
their future I'm the hands Of the United
States. They voted In favor of the
transfer so years ago and they have
less to lose and more to gain at this
time.
The reasons that induced the
United States to try to purchase the
Danish West Indies toward the close
of the Civil war apparently hold good
today, with certain notifications. Dur
ing the Civil war the federal govern
ment had no naval base in the West
Indies, and when Ii was necessary TO
refit warships on duty in the Caribbean
the vessels were compelled TO take a
long voyage to find a shipyard. Now,
however, the United States has naval
bases In Cuba and Porto Rico, but
these are not considered sufficient TO
guard the trade routes and the Allan
tic entrance to the Panama canal. San
Juan, the chief port OF Porto Rico, has
spacious anchorage, but unfortunate
ly the water is comparatively shallow
and the harbor is suitable only for the
smaller class of war vessels.
On the other hand, the harbor OF
Charlotte Amalie, in st. Thomas, is
deep enough to float the largest battle
ships without danger, and there is an
other good anchorage called Coral bay
in st. John. With proper Notifications,
naval men believe that st. Thomas
would provide serviceable and vir.
tually impregnable base-a sort IF
American Helgoland i'm the Caribbean.
The port of Charlotte Amalie has long
been one of the great coaling stations
Of the world. II has shlpyards, dry
docks and repair shops, and besides
being a port of refuge IL is the head
quarters for several lines of passen-
ger and freight steamships. Undoubt-
edly the ports proximity TO the Pana-
ma canal gives IL an Importance which
may account for the high price the
United States is asked to pay for the
Islands.
1t has been said at various times
that Germany is opposed TO the sale of
the islands, hoping that some day a
modification of the Monroe doctrine
would enable her 10 acquire them for
naval purposes. Whatever truth there
may be in this statement IL is certain
that the United States will allow no
foreign power 20 take control OF the
Danish West Indies, even though they
are not brought under the American