Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-03-20
Uncle Sam In The Caribbean
No. g. Why We Bought Them
Bu Frederic J. Hdskin

1.-THE night that the cable brought word Of
break in diplomatic relations between the United
States and Germany was busy one in the offices
of the Hamburg-Amercan Steamship company
here Lights burned in the German establish
ment until 2 o'clock, and large force was at
work. The next morning the Offices did not open,
and it became known in St Thomas that all the
holdings of the Hamburg-American Steamship
company in the island had been sold to Danish
resident for the sum of $l75OOO. 1t was said that
the property is really worth much more, and that
the man who bought it could not raise $4,000
He departed from St. Thomas shortly after the
transfer.
This transaction seems to have been merely
ruse to save the German property from confisca-
ton in case of war 1t is ruse that has been
tried before, and has not always worked. But
the so-called sale of the Hamburg-American prop
erty to St. Thomian, who supposedly is about
to become citizen OF the United States, taken in
conjunction with number Of other things, IS
rather significant.
The case may be stated broadly by saying that
although there are very few Germans in St.
Thomas, it is pro-German island. There are
few entente sympathizers here, and good many
who do not say anything about the war, but
surprising number Of the native creoles are openly
and vigorously pro-German. The Hamburg
American establishment has been, in effect, a
diplomatic outpost as we'll as a shipping Office.
There is no doubt but that Germany wanted
ST. Thomas, and it is probable that she could have
induced Denmark to cede it to her. The only
thing that stood in the way was the Monroe doc
trine. Although she was not prepared to DEFY
that famous policy, it seems pretty certain that
Germany was making friends in ST. Thomas, ac-
curing certain vicarious influence there. The
strong pro-German sentiment that exists in this
island and the transfer of the property are about
the only facts that can be brought forward as
proof Of this, but there is also much rumor. 1t
Is said, for example, that few years ago con-
cealed stores and arms were found on the island
Il IS also said that the real mission of two United
States gunboats, which have been cruising among
our new islands for several weeks, was search
for a German submarine base. Taking into ac-
count the sympathies of the ST. Thomians and
the character Of the Danish government, it seems
probable that Germany would have encountered
base or secret wireless station somewhere in
this maze of islands.
1t is this state Of affairs which most amply
justihes our purchase OF the Danish West Indies.
ST. Thomas Is strategically valuable island sit
uated directly upon many steamship routes lead
ing to our Panama canal. We do not need it
badly as naval base ourselves nor Is it ideal Tor
that purpose; but to have it owned and fortified
by hostile power would be most undesirable,
while to have the same power conducting secret
negotiations to gain control over II might be even
more dangerous. T1CHCC ] piOpdpy wei thaS
the United States owns ST. Thomas Although
the price is high, it is less than the price OF one
battleship.
For the purpose Of a naval base and Of forth
fcations both the harbor and the island are not
all that could be desired 1t is true that the harbor
absolutely safe" and II has even been asserted
that 1t would accommodate the "navies OF the
world" -,
As matter of fact, the harbor is very small
and would not accommodate large battle fleet:
One man OF wide experience states that 1t will
not serve for anything more than submarine
base, and there seems to be general agreement
that the harbor is too small for an all.around
naval base. Them. too, we. are negotiating tor
a naval base on Fonseca bay with Nicaragua,
while it has been learned unoAicia1y that both
Of the principal parties in Santo Domingo are
now willing to concede. the United States the
right 10 establish naval base on one Of the ex.
ceifent harbors Of that island.
Adjoining the St. Thomas harbor is another
one of about the same size, having maximum
depth of about forty feet and an average OF nine
teen. 1t is connected with the main harbor by
narrow mud-choked passage. 1t is said that
Sir Francis Drake had this passage blocked be-
cause when he chased Spanish GALLONS into St.
Thomas harbor they always escaped by this chan
mel between Water island and St. Thomas. At
any rate, the channel could easily be made pass
able again.
Estimates as to the value Of the island for
fertilization also vary. Some men who ought
to know describe IL as Gibraltar, while others
say it is too large to be ideal for defense. At
any rate, there Is one point near the center Of
the island from which large guns could reach the
sea in all directions. 1t seems probable that the
island could be made thoroughly safe, though
probably at much greater expense than smaller
and more compact land mass.
Once again, most of the descriptions are
wrong in saying that st. Thomas had modern
coaling facilities. For many years all the coal
Ing at St. Thomas was done with baskets carried
on the heads OF negroes, and this hand-coaling is
all that has supported Its population. Then the
West India company installed modern coaling
plant. Forthwith hurricane came along and
ripped it all to pieces--a catastrophe which was
greeted in st. Thomas as gift of providence.
They have been coaling with baskets ever since.
St. Thomas, then, as it appears to the inquir-
ing layman, is neither an American Gibraltar nor
an especially good naval base. 1t can doubtless
be made serviceable unit in our system of de-
lenses, but its chief value to us is that nobody
else has it.