Evening star., 1940-08-22
BY LEICESTER HEMINGWAY
and ANTHONY JENKINSON.

"Snoop cruise tn those tD1ters.
BY LEICESTER HEMINGWAY
and ANTHONY JENKINSON.
NEW YORK. Aug. 22.-Sleepy San
Miguel, the only town on isolated
Cozumel Island, of the Yucatan
coast, seems to be browsing on as 1t
has for centuries. unmindful of the
current World War. But at one end
Of the waterfront a newly-built con-
crete shed stands apart from all
other buildings. Clean and white,
with the limpid, deep-blue waters of
the bay tapping gently at its base, it
looks innocent. But take a look be-
hind its locked door and you'll see
more than 500 drums of Diesel fuel
oil stacked inside.
There is deep waters fathoms-
right up to the coral foundation the
shed stands on. Germany's biggest
ocean going submarine draws far
less than that. The contents OF
those 500 drums could be poured into
the tanks of U-boat lying along
side as easily as you carry groceries
into. your home, and less conspicu-
ously.
There are no prying eyes on
CoZumel. No passenger steamers 60
there, there is no hotel, no tourists,
no foreign commerce, and only at
intervals of several weeks do occa-
sional cargo schooners and wooden
freight boats stop by. The inhabit-
ants go to bed early. If they saw
q submarine in broad daylight they'd
have difficulty in spreading gossip
beyond their own wooded shores. At
night, they need not see anything.
Pro-Nazi Coldwell.
The white buildings and the oil
belong to the islands leading citizen
and merchant, 30-year-old Oscar
Coldwell. This dark-haired young
man is ambitious. energetic and pro-
Nazi. Before taking over the family
interest on the death of his father
last year, he was radio operator
aboard United Fruit Co. steamships.
In the backyard of Coldwell's store
and bar, the islands largest, are 200
more drums of fuel OIL He may say
this stock of more than 700 drums is
for legitimate commercial purposes.
But the few Diesel-motored trading
schooners that call carry their own
fuel supplies and hardly burn a
drum a day. Coldwell's own 90-ton
schooner, Beloit, which he recently
bought. carries her fuel supply from
the mainland. The municipal power
plant has its own large stock OF
fuel oil.
Like other Nazi associates in the
Caribbean, Coldwell is laying In this
supply Of Diesel fuel because there
is big money in it for him. Island
fuel depots are the basis of Ger
many's raider shuttle service in the
Western Caribbean. This shuttle
service, by menacing the Panama
Canal and the New York Panama
trade route, can get a strangle hold
on Uncle Sans throat-an objective
worth any price to the Nazis. 1t is
no wonder that Coldwell and ex-
bootleggers OF the area are cooper.
ating-for a price.
Also Has Radio Station.
Coldwell is a valuable man to the
Nais beyond his fuel storage and
schooner. His store is we'll stocked
with food supplies and with his radio
training he can receive and transmit
German messages. The Colzumel
radio station is located over the
Coldwell bar. Radio stations are
an important part Of the NaA net
work in the Caribbean. Two Ger
man refugees" who took up resi-
dence in San Miguel during 1899
are Coldwell's closest associates.
It is not surprising that the Nazis
early decided to make Cozumel a
link in the chain Of refueling points
to be used by raiders in the Carib-
bean. Lying close enough to the
Straits of Yucatan to be a perfect
lee for any marauding raider waiting
for its prey or wanting to refuel after
q dash through surrounding waters,
the island has been almost entirely
neglected by commerce and civiliza-
tion. It's settlement, largely grouped
IN the area Of San Miguel, leaves
miles of deserted coast line, of which
any vessel might lie for days un-
reported.
It's further strategic importance
lies In two things-its air facilities
and south lagoon.
Airfield Being Enlarged.
American Airways formerly
used Cozumel as stop on the
Havana-Belize, British Honduras
route, but that section Of the mail
and passenger system was aban-
doned soon after it was begun and
today, years after the route was
discontinued, Cozumel's air COM
merce has been monopolized by the
Mexican Francisco Serabia line,
which operates land planes to and
from Merida.
The northern lagoon, which was
used by Pan-American planes, is
now deserted. 1t is handy spot
for any seaplanes caring for we'll
hidden base, invisible from any pass
ing shipping. The landing field used
by the Mexican planes lies just north
Of the outskirts Of San Miguel. There
are no planes based at the field and
It is adequate for the occasional
flights which carry Cozumel's tiny
packet Of airmail. This field is now
being enlarged. This is being done,
Coldwell says, Ito accommodate tri-
motored planes"
The south lagoon, on the leeward
side Of the island, Is a perfect hide
out for any craft wishing to escape
detection. 1t was used until re-
Gently by the Mexican Navy as a
base for a 100-foot patrol gunboat.
Huge Fuel Tanks There.
Omcials OF the government, feel
ing that they ought perhaps to
keep a sharper watch on the actual
tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. de-
cided this could best be done by