Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-24
u. S. D|R|G|BLE HAS
TREATY PASSPORT
Los Angeles Guantanamo
Visit Recalls Naming of
Mount Vernon.

Four world powers approved the
passport" that permitted the United
States Navy dirigible Los Angeles to visit
Guantanamo, Cuba, and the Panama
Canal recently. A treaty prohibits the
use Of the big airship in military ma
neuvers, and special dispensation" by
Great Britain, Japan. Italy and France,
the other Signers of the treaty. was
necessary to allow it to call at the Win
ter quarters of the scouting fleet in
Guantanamo, and to continue to Pan
ANA to take part in the joint war games
Of the entire United States fleet.
Guantanamo Naval Station, the Los
Angeles first military port of call, Is
Uncle Sans sentry of the Caribbean"
says q bulletin from the National Geo
graphic Society. Not strongly fortified
enough to be q second Gibraltar. it is,
nevertheless, strategically located on
one Of the largest and finest harbors in
the West Indies.
Despite its location near the far
eastern tip of Cuba, at the crossroads
Of the main routes to the Gulf OF Mex
leo and the Spanish Main, Guantanamo
Is virtually unknown except to the blue
Jackets and officers OF the Scouting
Fleet, who assemble there each Winter
tourist cruises include Guantanamo Bay
because the naval station cannot be
visited by civilians without special per-
mission; and the other two towns on
the bAy Caimanera and Boqueron, o11er
no tourist sights. 1t is closed port
for foreign men-of-war, but merchant
ships may enter by arrangement with
the United States naval authorities.
Scene Is Disappointing.
"The matter of a passport for the
La Angeles seems a bit involved when
one considers that permission was OBJ
tanned from Great Britain, japan, Italy
and France to have the airship visit a
match of United States territory owned
bv the Republic of Cuba. Guantanamo
Naval Station Is not an American col
Ony. It Is q desolate, sandy peninsula
and an adjoining piece OF bay-an
area about half the size OF the District OF
Columbia-which is rented from Cuoa
for az 600 annually, or less than the
average rent for Park avenue, new
York, apartment.
"CJuantanamo Naval Station is en-
ttrely under the jurisdiction OF the
Navy Department, and the only dwell
inrs and other facilities Of the station
are connected with the activities OF the
neet.
brings the American Jack Tar Tor ms
firxt visit to Guantanamo the naval
station Is q disappointing place WnlUe
frame cottages on the coral ellis along
the water front are backed by cactus
clad, brown-green hills. In the lore
ground Q few docks and corrugated IRON
buildings reach q short distance into
the blue waters Of the bay. Big OIL
tanks. the most conspicuous features OF
the landscape, send down from the
sides of the hills innumerable, winding
red and black pipes that look ike the
arms Of an octopus through the SHIN
mering heat waves Of glaring white
coral roads and gray iron roofs.
Boats Bring Water.
Guantanamo Bay Is . magnificent
harhor miles wide and 10 miles long.
Here is water deep enough, sheltered
by the hills from hurricanes, for the
entire United States feet. Now and
then the sharp nm OF shark can pc
seen. Pelicans drift overhead and
nsh hawks and man O. war birds are
forever circling against 3 sky Of almost
incandescent blue.
ashore the naval station reveals
number Of surprisingly pretty palm
shaded walks and roads, while the of1-
GERS quarters Of the resident detail are
overRrown with vines, flowers and other
tropical vegetation. There are hospitals
and club houses and canteens, most OF
which are used only when the feet Is
anchored in the bay. On the nat land
10 base ball diamonds have been laid
out for the use Of the feet, and, in ad-
dition, the ship-weary sailor can md
tennis grounds, hand ball courts, pride
paths and an outdoor moving picture
theater. Here, too, Is one Of the largest
Navy rife ranges. At the edge OF the
reservation Cuban ice cream vendors
set up their stand, and newcomers are
brought TO sample their wares Of goats
milk ice cream.
"Caimanera, across the bay, is mot
ley collection Of shabby frame houses,
some Of them built on piles over the
water. It Is the terminus Of the rail-
way line from the Cuban city of Guam
tanamo and other parts Of Central and
Eastern Cuba. Down this line drinking
water Is brought in tank cars, unloaded
into tank boats and brought across the
bay TO the naval station, for the reser-
vation has nothing but uncertain els
terms, which are speedily exhausted in
the dry season.
When, In 1741, Guantanamo was
British base of operations against the
Spaniards In nearby Santiago, one of
the American Colonials on the staff Of
Admiral Vernon, the British COM
mander, was Lawrence Washington,
brother Of the first President of the
United States. Lawrence Washington
later named his fine home along the
his old commander, and the name re-
property OF George Washington"