Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-29

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gap, but there are many channels
between the islands into the Carib-
bean which In case of emergency |
might have to be blocked by air |
and sea forces.
Under present conditions all of |
these channels would have to be |
patrolled by aircraft and warships, |
which probably would have to be
based In Puerto Rico. There Is |
small Marine Corps aviation base
at st. Thomas, Virgin Islands, but |
1t is no better located than the |
Puerto Rico bases from the stand
point Of covering the long chain Of
the Lesser Antilles.
Serious Problems Presented.
While $50 miles is not much of
range for modern patrol airplanes
and bombers, the patroling of a
range of even this length presents
serious problems when continuous
operations must be carried on.
Perhaps three or four times the
number of airplanes would be re-
qnired to completely protect line
of this length from a base at one
end than from bases at both ends
or at one end and the center of the
line. This Is due to the greater
length of time required to reach
patrol stations, the increased amount
of repair and overhaul work re-
quired by the extra flying and the
reduced length of time each air
plane can remain on patrol station,
necessitating use Of additional air.
craft to provide full coverage.
In event of combat, moreover. the
increased distance from base would
reduce the amount of bomb loads
and ammunition even large planes
could carry. Even more serious,
however, would be the effect on
protective pursuit aircraft, which
should accompany bomber forma-
tions for protection against possible
carrier-borne fighters. A distance
of $50 miles out and back Is beyond
the range of most of the worlds
pursuit and fighter aircraft, which
must depend upon nghtness for
speed.
The same difficulties would apply,
but, of course. to a lesser extent. to
patrol operations by cruisers, de-
stroyers and submarines. The dis
tances involved might be a serious
handicap to vessels of the mos
quito fleet" which are becoming
more prominent in the worlds
navies.
The British island of Trinidad Is
located at the extreme southern
end of the Lesser Antilles, just off
the South American coast. of which
1t was undoubtedly a part at one
time. Establishment of air and
naval bases there would cut in half
the patrol distances required to
cover the entrances to the Southern
Caribbean and would permit the
same number of aircraft and sur
face vessels to do a far more eff
fective defense job.
Naval Station at Trinidad.
There already is a British naval
station at Trinidad which Is capable
of being developed into a fleet base
in case of necessity. Midway be-
tween Trinidad and Puerto Rico is
the French island of Martinique,
which also has an excellent shell
tered naval station which could be
developed into strong supporting
base.
In the hands Of an aggressive
enemy either Martinique or Trini-
dad would provide bases thanking
our sea routes to important supply
bases in South America and obvi-
ously would be sources of great
peril to the Canal Zone.
Trinidad is 48 miles long by IS
miles wide. with an area of LISA
square miles and a population of
nearly 100000, about one-third of
which is from the East Indies. due
to importation by the British of
laborers. The island Is mountain
GUS, especially in the north, where
the hills reach a maximum eleva.
ton of 3,100 feet. Extensive de-
posts Of oil exist in the southern
portion of the island.
The capital, Port of Spain. is To-
Gated on the principal harbor on
the Gulf of Paria, between the
western shore of the island and the
Venezuelan mainland. The harbor
is an open roadstead, safe and shell
tered but shallow. Large ships
must anchor about a half mile of
shore.
Discovered by Columbus.
Discovered by Christopher Co.
lumbus in 1896 the island remained
in Spanish hands for three CEN
turtles until taken by the British in
1897. The Spanish capital, however,
was burned by Sir Walter Raleigh
in 1895. The island was ceded to
Great Britain in 1902 by the Treaty
of Amiens.
Martinique, with an area of but |
$50 square miles and maximum
dimensions of about 40 by 81 miles, |
also is mountainous. its highest |
peak being Mount Pelee, 4,430 feet, |
which erupted in 1902, taking a toll |
of 10000 lives. The population now
is about 235 900. Also discovered by
Columbus, Martinique has been in
French hands since 1885, when 1t
was taken over by French colonial |
company, except for three periods, |
when it was seized temporarily by
the British, 1t. became q part of
the royal domain in 1874 and has
been in French hands continuously |
since 1914
The principal harbor is on the
west Of the island and Is known as
Fort de France Bay, taking its
name from the colonial capital. |
Fort de France. Three forts guard |
the bay, which recently became the |
center of an international incident
when French warships, including an
aircraft carrier, were blockaded
there by the British following the
German conquest of France. The
French ships now are demilitarized,
and aircraft on the carrier have
been added to the islands garrison. |