The Ordway new era., 1916-09-08


West Indian possessions t"
the United States, Rs she has
&l threatened to do on several oc-
casIons, about l33 square
ales will be added to the territory
,er which the American fiag flies, and
r government will come into posses
pn of one Of the finest harbors In
"a West Indies-a valuable naval
kse and conling station long coveted
political and military authorities In
|ashington. This Is according to a
litter In the New York Times Maga-
be.
st. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix and
Ne other tiny islands and rocks which
Impose the Danish West Indies are
bt intrinsically valuable. Their lnnd
poor, their crops are small, their
bpulation Is becoming smaller year by
Ear; for several years their revenue
hs been decreasing and they have
ben financial burden to Denmark,
BIT they lie In strategic position with
kgard to the Atlantic trade routes
)ading to the Panama canal and for
Dat reason they have potential value
worked out to protect that great
Paterway against an enemy.
! The chief surprise in Wnshington's
announcement recently of the negotin-
Jon Of treaty with Denmark for the
fnnsfer of the Islands to the United
tates was the price-$25. coo. .OOO-
bhich the convention fixed. In 1865
ecretary Seward offered S5,O0O,OOO
br the islands and increased the sum
b s7,50O,0OO two years later. In 1902
be Roosevelt administration agreed to
by S5,OO0,OO0, but the upper house Of
be Danish rigsdug refused to ratify
be convention. which the United
hates senate had ratified on February
d. Possibly Denmark will eventually
e willing to accept less than S25,OOO.-
90, for an influential element In that
puntry is anxious to sell the Islands.
BORROWER. the islanders themselves
apparently wish to improve their eco
>omic condition, and it Is highly prob
ble that they would vote to place
belr future in the hands of the United
|tates. They voted in favor Of the
fHnsfer so years ago and they have
ess to lose and more to gain at this
lime.
The reasons that Induced the
United States to try to purchase the
Danish West Indies toward the close
the Civil war apparently hold good
pday, with certain notifications. Dur
bg the Civil war the federal govern
pent had no naval base In the West
ndies, and when 1t was necessary to
efit warships on duty in the Caribbean
pc vessels were compelled to take
|owever, the United States has naval
|ases in Cuba and Porto Rico, but
hese are not considered sufficient to
uard the trade routes and the Atlun-
pc entrance to the Panama canal. San
uan. the chief port of Porto Rico, has
the water is comparatively shallow
md the harbor Is suitable only for the
mailer class of war vessels.
On the other hand. the harbor of
fhnrlotte Amalie, in st. Thomas, is
eep enough to float the lnrgest battle
hips without danger, and there Is an
ther good anchorage called Coral bay
st. John. With proper Notifications.
nvnl men believe that st. Thomas
Pould provide n servicenble and vir
pally impregnable base-n sort of
american Helgoland In the Caribbean.
me port Of Charlotte Amalie has long
cen one of the great couling stations
the world. 1t has shipyards, dry
ocks and repair shops, and besides
eing port of refuge it Is the head
narters for several lines of passen-
er and freight steamships. Undoubt-
ply the ports proximity to the Puma
"a canal gives 1t an importance which
ay account for the high price the
hlted States Is asked to pay for the
Hands.
1t has been said at various times
at Germany Is opposed to the sale Of
e Islands, hoping that some dny
publication of the Monroe doctrine
ould enable her to acquire them for
val purposes. Whatever truth there
ay be In this statement 1t Is certain
at the United States will allow no
reign power to take control Of the
uhish West Indies, even though they
g not brought under the American