The evening herald., 1917-04-19
THE EvER-FA|THFUL
ISLE IS OLD NAME
BESTOWED ON CUBA
Cognomen First Applied by the
spaniards Revived With Great
Enthusiasm; Casts Lot With
Country Which Made Her Free.
Special cor..pOudsne. to The Herald.

Special Correspondence TO The Herald
Washington. u. C., April i9.--'The
Ever. Faithful Isle" applied TO cuba,
is phrase which seems destined 10 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 so many ties OF commerce.
treaties and cordial co-fraternity." as
President Menocal declared In his re-
cent proclamation.
at was the spaniards who first ap-
piled the term Ever -Fithful Isle be-
cause of the loyal attitude OF the
Cubans al the time Of the overthrow
of the Spanish Bourbons hy Napoleon
says todny's war geography bulletin ~
the National Geographic society And
now, In the face Of n great crisis,
Cuba. faithful and unhesitating. casts
her lot with the country which made
her free.
Neutrality Menace tO 4. :.
while Cuba's army Of 1000 men
ana 49, officers and her total unor-
ganized available military strength OF
$50. 900 may not seem Of vast import
ancc in struggle where fighting men
the declaration OF war against Ger
many Will doubtless be a vast relief To
those strategists Of the United states
army and navy whose duty It IL TO
torosee lurking danger. Had cuba
seen ~ 10 remain II neutral. and had
her neutrality been carelessly main
tanned her $500 miles OF coaEtline. In
dentsd By numerous bays and gulfs.
would have been n constant menace TO
the United States as possible bases for
hostile submarines and raiders In
fact. IL might have been necessary for
our government 20 maintain a cOnsid-
cradle fleet To patrol these waters,
whereas now there viii be active aud
intelligent corporation ON the part
OF the island authorities.
Cuba has an area approxlmatins
that of the state of Pennsylvania. with
"A population equal TO that OF Miscon-
sin. It's greatest length Is $50 miles,
while the width varies from 25 to 100
miles II is trayersod by 2.3OO miles
of railroads. supplemented by geo
miles Of electric railways The length
of its cart roads and highways II
scarcely more than half as much as It's
railway lines.
Both copper and manganese. cN-
tremclH valuable In the manufacture
of munitions. are mined In considera-
bic quantity in the vicinity OF Santiago
dc Cuba while 1000 workmen are en-.
ployed ~ the iron mines which furnish
the United States with an average Of
50, ,0OO tons OF ore every month.
liarbOrs at Our Disposal.
Under the treaty signed July ..
1903, the United states acquired coal
ing stations IN the Bay Of Guantana-
mo on the southeast and Bahia Honda
on the northwest at an annual retail
OF $1,000, but with Cuba as an ally
instead Of a neutral the splendid har.
hOr nf Havana. one Of the finest ia
the world. a. well az those of santiago
de Cuba, Gienfuegos. Matanzas, and
numerous others will be at our dis
pOsal.
Cuba Is separated from the main.
land of the United states by the straits
of Florida. Toe miles wiue, ana from
Mexico by the iuCatan channel, l3o
miles wide.
The attitude Of the island republic
is particularly pleasing 10 the United
states in contrast 10 the harassmcnts
- IN, Mexican situation.