Evening star., 1941-03-21
By RANDOLPH LEIGH.

MAN O. WAR COVE, Magdalena
Bay, Lower California (By maiD.-
It Is hard to realize that we are In
one of the strategic naval spots OF
the world, for we are here almost
alone, save for a million or so birds
and an incredible amount of marine
life.
There Is a little settlement OF
about a dozen houses, occupied by
port officials, this being a port OF
entry. I noticed on the record book,
however, that we are the second
foreign vessel to put in here in
four months. And yet this is one
Of the very best of harbors, and Its
waters and the waters just beyond
1t in the open sea are fabulously
rich with food stuff. Pearls also
are found here. Whales come In
in dozens at times. Along the beach
nearby. indeed, there are the skele-
tons Of four whales that must have
been nearly 10 feet long.
OF course, q little further down
this large bay, which is nearly 20
miles long, they are starting some
naval base work. There Is great
deal of mystery about that, and a
pretty general feeling that 1t Is tled
1p with a willingness to help the
United States defend the Western
Hemisphere.
Almost as wonderful as the mari
time possibilities of the harbor, are
those for an air base, commercial,
of course. I walked for a mile or
two along the northern shore OF
the bay, and my feet did not leave
a dent in the sands. The beach is
hard enough for an automobile rae
ing course, or for the landing and
taking off Of planes, and needs
nothing to be done to it, apparently,
for runway purposes. 1t is trifle
sloping in spots, but not too much
%.
People Are Happy.
Some day, something will be done
about this wonderful spot. The
sheer pressure of human needs in
Mexico and elsewhere would seem
TO make it inevitable. But, for the
present, there is not a chicken or
a cow or a pig to mitigate the
horrors of living cut off from normal
food supplies.
However, the few persons who
live here seem among the happiest
I have met in Mexico. They are
far above the level of intelligence
which one would expect in such a
lonely place. They have good
climate, and they know it. They
fish a little and hunt little up
the lagoons, for there are wonderful
Wild sheep nearby. They play DOM
inoes. And yet had the feeling
that they knew more and thought
more than they pretended to. They
had the air of men who waited
quietly for important things that
were near at hand. Perhaps 1t was
all my imagination, but I am leaving
here with the distinct impression
that things are soon going to hum
here in a way that will interest
Washington, and even places further
away.
Lower California, the peninsula,
Is noticeably different from the
mainland on the other side of the
gulf, particularly as to its inhabi-
tants. There are fewer Indians,
for one thing. On this side, the
Indian is the exception, and on
the other, the rule.
American Influence Strong.
Most surprising of all is the fact
that American influence seems so
much stronger here than elsewhere
In Mexico. OF course one would
expect that up near the border,
where Imperial Valley straddles the
international line and there are
many interlocking interests. But 1t
10 the same all the way down the
peninsula.
Lower California has the largest
free port in the world. In fact, it
h all free port, every foot of it. Just
what this means is a puzzle to me,