The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1916-09-07
Are the Danish
West Indies des- - !
tined to become a
great naval base for < /
the better protection of \
the Panama Canal Zone?

fSY~I f DENMARK finally cedes her
IHl West Indian possessions To
sszse.sz4 the United States, as She has
kss9s11 threatened to dc on several Oc-
casions, about 13S square
miles will be added to 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 Indies-a valuable naval
base and eoaling station long coveted
by political and military authorities in
Washington. This Is according TO
writer in the New York Times Maga-
zine.
St. Thomas, st. John. st. Groix and
the other tiny islands and rocks which
compose the Danish West Indies are
not intrinSieally 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 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 oft TO protect that great
waterway against an enemy.
The chief surprise in Washngton's
announcement recently of the npgotia.
ton of treaty with Denmark for the
transfer of the islands to the United
States was the priee-$25. 0ao. 600
Which the convention fixed. In lSGa
Secretary Seward offered Sao00oo0
for the islands and increased the SUN
to $75O0,0o0 two years later. In 1902
the Roosevelt administration agreed TO
pay 100000, 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 S25OO0,-
600, for an influential element in that
country is anxious TO sell the islands.
Moreover, the islanders themselves
apparently wish to improve their eco
Atot4AAN N'iiA4AAApii' anu II - AIsllS I'lOb-
able that they would vote to place
their future in the hands of the United
States. They voted in favor of the
transfer 80 years ago and they have
less to lose and more TO gain ut 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 it was necessary to
retit warships on duty in the Caribbean
the vessels We're compelled to take a
long voyage to find a shipXard 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
Is 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 a serviceable and vir.
tually impregnable hase-a sort If
American Helgoland in the Caribbean.
The port of Charlotte Amalie has long
been one of the great coating stations
of the world. 1t has shipyards dry
docks and repair shops, and besides
being Il port of refuge it is the head
quarters for several lines of pnSSen-
ger and freight steamships. Endoubt-
edly the ports proximity to the Pana-
ma canal gives ii an Importance which
may account for the high price The
United States is asked TO pay for the
islands.
1t has been said TIT various times
that Germany is opposed 10 tile safe Of
the islands. hoping that some div "A
modification of the Monroe doctrine
would enable her to acquire them for
naval purposes. Whatever truth there
may be in this statement 1t is certain
that the United States will allow no
foreign power to take control of the
Danish West Indies. even though they
are not brought under the American