Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-05-03
THE EvER.FMTHFul ISLE"
Cuba's Seconding Of u. s.. Stand
Peculiarly Gratifying.
Her Cooperation Will he Most Help.
ful to This Country ana . Pleas.
ing Contrast 70 the Mexican
Situation.

The Ever-Falthful Isle." applied to
Cuba. is phrase which seems destined
to be revived with great enthusiasm in
view Of the island republics declaration
Of war, "seconding the high attitude of
justice and humanity assumed by the
United States OF America, bound to Cuba
by 80 many ties Of commerce, treaties
and cordial Confidently" as President
Menocal declared in his recent proclama-
ton
ut was the Spaniards who first applied
the term ver-Faithful Isle because of
the loyal attitude of the Cubans at the
time Of the overthrow Of the Spanish
Bourbons by Napoleon" says q
war geography bulletin Of the National
Geographic society. And now. in the face
Of great crisis, Cuba, faithful and un-
hesitating. casts her lot with the country
which made her free.
While Cuba's army of 1900 men and
IA omcers and her total unorganized avail
able military strength OF $4,000 may not
seem OF vast Importance in a struggle
where fighting men are counted in mil.
lions, nevertheless the declaration Of wal
against Germany will doubtless be a vast
relief to those strategists Of the United
States army and navy whose duty 1t Is
fit to remain neutral and had her neu.
trality been carelessly maintained hel
$500 miles Of coastline, indented by nu.
merous bays and CULTS, would have beer
constant menace to the United States
as possible bases for hostile submarines
and raiders. In fact, it might have beer
necessary for our government to main.
tain considerable fleet to patrol these
waters. whereas now there will be active
and intelligent cooperation on the par,
Of the island authorities
Cuba has an area approximating thai
of the State Of Pennsylvania. with a pop.
ulation equal to that OF Wisconsin. Its
greatest length Is 100 miles. while the
width varies from Is to 100 miles. It IL
traversed by 1900 miles OF railroads, sup.
plemented by 200 miles of electric rail-
ways. The length Of its cart roads and
highways is scarcely more than half az
much as its railway lines.
Both copper and manganese. extremely
valuable in the manufacture Of munitions
are mined in considerable quantity in the
vicinity Of Santiago de Cuba, while 4,0Ot
worlmen are employed in the iron mines
which furnish the United States with ar
average of $1,000 tons of ore every month
Under the treaty signed July 2, 1903
the United States acquired coaling sta
| tions In the Bay of Guantanamo on the
southeast and Bahia Honda on the north
west at an annual rental Of 5000. bu
with Cuba as an ally instead Of q neutra
the splendid harbor Of Havana, one Of
the finest in the world. as we'll as thoss
OF Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos, Matan.
zas. and numerous others will be at oul
disposal.
| Cuba is separated from the mainland
Of the United States by the straits o.
Florida, 100 miles wide. and from Mexico
by the Yucatan channel. 100 miles wide.
The attitude OF the island republic !!
particularly pleasing to the United Statei
in contrast to the harassments Of thu
Mexican situation"