The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-09-20
STANDING NECESSITY.

As The Miami Herald aptly points out
in an editorial, the reopening of the naval
station in Key West is not matter of local
the United States is to continue her Cen
trail American policy -"
Indeed, the Plat Amendment alone
is sufficient warrant for this country to
have naval base in active operation near
the country TO which the amendment is
applicable
Nobody in Key West wants to see
trouble in Cuba for sentimental as we'll as
practical reasons: sentimental, because of
our kindly feelings toward the Cuban Re-
public; practical, because as many a bus
mess man in Key West and the P & O.
Steamship Company can corroborate.
when conditions are unsettled in Cuba,
their depressing economic effects are APP
preciably felt il this city.
But as Cuba has had her political up
risings, is having them now and is likely to
have them in the future, this country
should always be prepared to meet them.
and the only way to keep prepared is to
lave The naval station here on an active
basis-a fact, we feel confident, that was
sensed acutely by the naval commanders
who have be here the last few weeks.
The Herald editorial, which The Citi-
zen finds pleasure in reproducing, fol-
lows:
A REAL NEED
Public sentiment which favors econo-
my in national government for every other
place h.t locally kept the Hoover admin
stration from closing army posts. Wheth-
er it also will prevent President Roosevelt
from shutting up at least so of these use
less appendices to the national defense, re-
mains to be seen, but indications that in
the face of a policy of strengthening inn
portant posts and destroying those marked
as unimportant, the protests may not have
much weight.
1t would seem that the government
should set up the armed defense along some
better pattern than the Topsy-like growth
that has so far prevailed. With the war
department, so also with the navy. The
station at Key West was closed on a small
economy wave and now the United States
finds it really needs a naval station in Key
West, because of turbulence in the Carib-
bean. If Mark Wilcox, fourth distifet
congressman, can make that point stick ut
this time, the return of the navy to Key
West should be permanent, because of the
purpose behind the movement.
In this day of advanced transporta-
ton, there is small need for scattering the
standing army through $50 posts, when
so would do just as well, with an enormous
annual saving to the taxpayers. The Herald
hopes President Roosevelt will find it pos
sible to make this sensible consolidation,
as we'll as to reopen base like Key West.
The only purpose of the Key West
naval base is to have man-power and ships
and supplies close to the area in which
the navy must operate. The Cuban dis
turbance will not, we trust, be of sufficient
duration to require much further attend
ance there of United States war vessels.
But no one can tell, and so long as the Unit
ed States is to continue her Central Amer
lean policy, she should be prepared.
The Key West naval base is essential
for that type of preparation. 1t is not To-
cal pride or desire to keep government
income property around that should weigh
in the disposition of that base, any mere
than in getting rid of useless army posts.
The need here is evident, and if the Unit
81 Gates is to have naval bases anywhere,
certainly the one in Key West should be re-
established.