The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-01-13


killed on outpost duty, June, 1898"
Passing through Thoroughfare
Gap and crossing the Divide beyond.
the trail stops abruptly in front of
ruined ranch house. Here we are
told the Spaniards paused in their
retreat and a single S-inch shell from
the Texas crashing through the roof
demolished the house and killed
twenty-five men outright. This is
tradition for which the natives vouch
but the facts will never be known
definitely as not one of the garrison
of Ft. Toro succeeded in rejoining the
main Spanish army. Those who es-
caped death on McCalla hill and the
pursuit that followed fell one by one
in the underbrush victims of Cuban
guerillas or what was even worse
devouring thirst.
The Naval Station.
Having succeeded in liberatlng the
Cubans and, with an eye open to the
great possibilities of the bay as
western Gibraltar on which to base
fleet guarding the southern coast
and the Panama canal, the American
government soon opened negotiations
for its acquisition. This was readily
arranged by the Cuban congress, and
thus it happens that a portion OF Gu
ba is today as much American soil as
is Bamberg county. The station snug
giles at the base of high range OF
hills, which, ending in precipitous
cliffs at the edge of the sea, makes
it immune from gunfire of any hos
tile fleet that might be sent to reduce
it. Great modern redoubts behind
which crouch monster guns and NOR
tars stand on each side of the en-
trance ready to enfilade an enemy's
vessels, while line after line of sub
marine mines, easily and quickly
placed, preclude the possibility of a
vessel forcing passage.
The station is entirely modern.
Great machine and woodworking
shops. immense storehouses and pow
er plants are fitted to prepare the
feet for fighting. No detail has
been neglected, and each winter dur
ing the Atlantic fleets visit of three
months in these waters, the station is
placed on war footing. In this way
everything is kept in readiness for
the supreme test of war, which there
is no surer way of preventing than
being fully prepared, Enormous steel
tanks holding millions of gallons of
fuel oil supply fuel to the docks
where torpedo boats and destroyers
come and go during all hours OF the
day and night. No more fuss and
CRIME and dust coaling ship. Now
it is only question of opening a
valve and, with a little fuming, the
modern destroyer is oiled and ready
to dart out after it's iunsuspecting foe.
Submarines, that modern terror OF
the seas, may fill quickly with gaso-
line and charge their wonderful bat
teries at moments notice, ready to
submerge for it's dreaded work be-
meath the waves. Space for hangars
and repair sheds is ready to take care
of aeroplanes and dirigibles which,
high in the air, like. giant hawks,
watch the coast and issue warning of
the approach of hostile force.
Then to keep in touch with the
master minds in Washington, who di-
rect all operations in time of war,
a modern radio station has been pro-
vided. From the antennae stretched
between two great steel towers, three
hundred, feet high, at the touch of
key magic waves emanate carrying
reports to Washington and receiving
back the orders of the day. On clear
nights when static is good, messages
may be received and sent to Panama,
far distant Honolulu and to vessels
thousands of miles at sea.
In addition to the radio, there is
branch of the Central and South
American cable on the station, and,
through the courtesy of the manager,
the officers are daily supplied with
the cable dispatches. At the break
fast table, they read the latest news
from the battle fronts in Europe,
topics Of interest from aHparts of
the world, including the latest lynch
ings in Georgia and the election riots
in Charleston, before the morning
train reaches Bamberg with the same
news. So, after all, the outpost on
which Uncle Sam puts so much re-
lance is not so distant, and there can
be no reason why many of the read