Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-08-26

That what New York and the east
generally are pleased to call the "Sug
ar Trust" will benefit materially from
the purchase Of the Danish West In.
dies Is the burden OF an article which
n. Insley Casper has written fer the
New York World. In part he says:
The sale Of the Danish West Indies
TO the United States for about $25,.
100000, officially reported from the
White House, the treaty for which
was signed by Secretary Lansing and
Minister Brun in New York on Friday.
can be looked upon as business
proposition in which the American
sugar trust has taken an active part.
and the financial secretary in the Da-
nish cabinet has utilized an opportune
moment in international political az
sairs TO drive o hard bargain for his
country.
During the civil war President Lin
coin and Secretary Of State Seward
became convinced that the acquisi-
ton of the Danish West Indies should
become part of the program OF the
state. department, as an adjunct TO
the Monroe doctrine England. France
and Spain. then the principal masters
OF the West Indies. had recognized
the confederate states as independent
Privateers and blockade runners from
the South made the ports of the West
Indies their chief stOrehouses for
arms, ammunition and food. The har-
Dor at ST Thomas. administered by
the Danish king, was the only one
IN the West indies which was open
to the ships OF the North and where
the flag of the United States received
friendly greeting.
The mercantile marine flying the
stars and stripes had almost disap.
peared from the seas through the op-
erations of the great European pow
crs, principally Great Britain, ace-
ing in the West Indies in conjunction
with the confederacy, when Mr.. Lin
coin and Mr.. Seward were aroused
to the necessity OF taking action. Be
fore recommending to Congress the
purchase Of the Danish group they
obtained from Vice-Admiral Porter his
report on the subject, which has been
Incorporated into the Official docu-
nents relating to this matter at the
state department. Porter stated:
est Thomas lies right in the track
of all vessels from Europe, Brazil,
the East Indies and the Pacific Ocean
bound to the West Indian islands or
To the Atlantic states. It is the point
where all vessels touch for supplies.
when needed, coming from any of the
above stations II is a central point
from which any or all Of the West
Indian islands can be assailed, while
IL is impervious to attack from land
ing parties, and can be fortified to
any extent The bay. on which lies
the town of St Thomas, is almost
circular, the entrance being by neck
guarded by two heavy forts, which
can be so strengthened and protected
that no foreign power can ever hope
to take il.
"St. Thomas Is a small Gibraltar
of itself and could not be attacked
by a naval force. There would be
TO possibility OF landing troops there,
as the island is surrounded by reefs
and breakers, and every point near
which vessel or boat could approach
is a natural fortification and only re-
duires guns, with little labor expend-
ed ON fortified works. There is no
harbor in the West Indies better fit.
ted than St Thomas for a naval sta
ton. It's ilarbor and that of ST. John.
and the harbor formed by Water Is
land. could contain all the vessels O.
the largest navy in the world, where
they would be protected against an
enemy. In fine, st. Thomas is the
keystone to the arch of the West In
dies. II commands them all. II is OF