Evening star., 1940-10-06
BY WILL P. KENNEDY,
Star Stad Cnrrespondent


SAN JUAN. Puerto Rico, Oct. S.
Here in the West Indies, where Co.
luunbus landed and whence came
Alexander Hamilton to help found
the United States of America (par-
ticularly in its financial structure), ,
the United States has set up and
is rapidly developing a citadel for
her scout and combat forces which
seems destined to be the headquar-
terS of otf-shOre defense of the en-
tire Western Hemisphere.
Here is the strategic connecting
link in the chain of eight naval
and airplane island bases newly
acquired through the 50-destroyer-
swap with Great Britain-outpOStS
in the Atlantic, stretching from
Newfoundland to British Guiana.
From these West Indies stations of
the United States the airship and
fleet patrol can be extended to cover
the entire coast line of the Western
Hemisphere and $500 miles out to
sea-almost to Africa. This gives
force to the Monroe Doctrine as
expanded by the Havana Pact en-
tered into by Secretary of State
Cordell Hull with all our American
neighbors to the South.
l Center of Sea Power.
Eventually the vast Caribbean
Sea, thus made impregnable with
its spacious annex the Gulf OF
Mexico, should become under chang
ing world conditions which threaten
Britains naval control, the center
OF world sea-poWer now that the
United States has what Secretary
Knox terms the worlds greatest
Navy Just as holding fast the
portals to the Mediterranean at
Gibraltar. Suez and Alden has his
torically made Great Britain proud
mistress of the seas" a fleet with
Caribbean base-as at Guantanamo,
Cuba, or in Puerto Rico-can at
tack the flank of any enemy coming
towards Americas S shores across the
North Atlantic, and harass hostile
force crossing the South Atlantic.
With this enormous advantage there
is no possible hostile base of opera
tionS within Americas seas, since we
hold all points Of vantage with our
air and naval forces iii complete
command. From it we can send forth
our defensive and offensive forces
into either ocean which can be
quickly reinforced.
Here in the West Indies are i'm
portant stations for the Navy. Army
and Marine Corps particularly
aviation and submarine bases, with
Warship harborage-Which are pri-
marily guardians of the Panama
Canal and so of two oceans. This
gives the United States command
ing position in the Atlantic, as it
has had in the Pacific, and assures
free and exclusive use of the Pana-
ma Canal link between the two
oceans. Admiral Mahan said the
Caribbean is 'the key to two great
oceans-the Atlantic and the Pa
cilc."
Scenes of Intense Work.
These stations at Charlotte Amalie
on st Thomas of the Virgin Islands:
San Juan and Point Borinquen on
Puerto Rico and Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, fortresses commanding the
Windward and Mona Passages, are
now scenes of intensive development
with initial appropriations aggre-
eating upwards of s50,000,0 900,
sum which will be multiplied as
fast as the need arises and work
can be done efficiently.
These first of Americas off-con-
tinent defenses tie in with the new
naval air station at Jacksonville,
Fla. for which up to $4,000 900
has been appropriated and the en-
larged Naval Reserve base at Miami
which is to be regular naval air
station. Another important link is
the naval station at Guantanamo
Bay, alongside the Windward Pas
sage from the Panama Canal which
connects by rail with Havana, and
thence by Car ferry with Port Ever
glades, Fla. This is vital lane
tor oil and coal supplies.
Puerto Rico is likely further to
fulfill its mission as Gibraltar of
the Caribbean" for it may be chosen
as the important fleet base in the
anticipated new world center of sea
power 1t has been rather gener-
ally conceded that Guantanamo Bay
might be selected and developed,
even though it is not actually owned
bv the United States and is too
small and too far setback from the
exit for prompt movement against
the enemy despite its other ma
tural advantages. There has also
been consideration of the recently
acquired Jamaica base, which some
years ago when the West Indies
trade was of outstanding impor-
tance to Great Britain was the chief
overseas naval station of the Royal
Navy. 1t has been admitted that
San Juan is too small and made
ouate for large warships. even with
its close-by Isle of Culebra, and
that eventually second class naval
station and fleet anchorage will be
required. Then where else?
Vieuues Bay MAY Be Base.
1t has been learned on excellent
authority, that there is under con-
temptation a new area-5 miles IN
diameter, sufficient to berth at ease
the entire fleet. where so or more
of the largest warships could berth
with many more smaller craft ad-
jacent. This is in Vieques Bay. be-
tween Vieques Island on the south
and Fajardo. Puerto Rico, and
Clllebra to the north. Here, with a
breakwater that would cost up to
$4,000 900, a sufficiently large fleet
base could be made, we'll protected
with two exits to the north, east and
south, from which the fleet could
expeditiously drive forth against the
enemy-and entirely in territory al
ready owned by the United States
This is recognized as most
strategic location-for which the
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