The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-01
NAVAL BASE HERE
SOUGHT BY GERMANS
Attorney General Palmer, Former
Alien Property Custodian. Tells
of Hun Efforts.

Indications that Germany was paw
ing the way for the seizure Of naval
base on the west coast of Florida, and
had also planned TO get foothold In
the Western Hemisphere by means of
the Virginia Islands, are revealed in
the story of Attorney General A.
Mitchell Palmer. former Alien Prop
erty Custodian. on Crushing the Ger
man Advance in American Industry"
which is printed in the July Scribner's
The contemplated German naval
base in Florida was said TO be at ST
Andrews Bay. described as the best
habor on the Gulf of Mexico, and the
nearest harbor in America to the
Panama Canal
Here says Mr. Palmer. "a typical
Junker. Prince of the German EN-
pire. Forstlich Schamburg Holfkam-
men. had made large investment
running into millions. He seems never
to have visited the property nor re-
ceived any dividends or other earnings
from it, but allowed the profits TO be
returned to the business and further
investments made until the company
had acquired more than hundred
thousand acres Of timber lands near
the bay
THE German Consul at Pensacola
was the secretary OF the company.
while it's chief officer changed about
every two years. in each case. however
being man who was sent there by
Germany from a similar enterprise
in South America. Vigorous oppo-
sition was offered by the company TO
penetrate it's lands to the waters
edge. It's lands were so situated that,
IL the American government itself had
desired to build terminal facilities for
it's own use upon its own harbor. to
open quick and direct communication
with the Panama Canal, it would have
had to deal with the German en-
pire."
Mr.. Palmer says that German
agents made determined efforts by
legal subterfuges to keep their control
OF the Hamburg American Line agen-
OF the Hamburg American line prop
erty in the Virgin Islands. and de-
scrihes the manner in which the le-
gal tangie. intended to save the prop
erty for Germany, was cut by his Of
fice. Describing the FORMIDABLE char
acter OF the German works In the
harbor OF st. Thomas, Mr.. Palmer
said
"At the most advantageous point In
thar harbor, the Hamburg American
line built great terminal. consist
ing Of land, buildings. docks. ware
houses water tanks. and ceterns.
lighters motor boats. loading para
phernalia. and coaling facilities.
This plant had all the character
istics of a. naval base: 1t is signifi-
cant that its principal building COM
prising the harhor. Is OF reinforced
concrete. the plaza in front OF it hav-
ing an eight foot foundation OF con-
crete At for gun emplacements.
when We contemplate tho fact that
by this convenient arrangement ship
OF the Hamburg American line, cor
poration subsidized by the German
empire, and in which the kaiser was
stockholder. at any moment might
have unloaded lonG~Eange guns from
its hold, and promptly put them in
position to command the entrance to
the Caribbean Sea, we may have some
substantial clue to the reason which
prompted Germany In bringing sum
cient influence to bear upon Denmark
TO prevent the sale, whenever Ameri-
ca in the last twenty-five years sought
to acquire the Danish West Indies.