The Key West Citizen Newspaper, February 27, 1939, Page 5

sea aaa aihadid MONDAY, FEBRUARY ft vee Summarized Facts Concerning This City’s Advantages, And Its Strategical. Posi- tion’ For “A” Naval: ‘Ar r Base puissant NAVAL AIR. BASE....: KEY WEST, FLORIDA Florida East Coast Terminal property (Trumbo Island) has approximately 140 acres available for development. Includes three deep water piers with a total of 6850 lineal feet of wharfage space, with water depths of from 25 to 27 feet alongside piers. All of substantial construction and in cood ceneral condition. Foundations exist for five large oil or water storage tanks with a total capacity of 74 million gallons. Buildings exist suitable for warehouses. Concrete Sea Plane Ramp. planes operating here. In use at present by Navy ‘Development: It is proposed f! mediately adjacent to FEC Terminal] be bulkheaded and filled. It is es: an addition of 960 acres to this area. includes filling and bulkheading. An i material exists adjacent to development, removal of which would provide maneuvering area and anchorage for sea planes with, adequate protection egainst weather. West- erly side of proposed development would abut Man-of-War Harbor, which has a natural depth of 25 feet and adapts itself for providing additional piers and wharfage space if desired. Should it be desired, this harbor can readily be deepened and widened and materials excavated placed in the vroposed filled area. INTRODUCTION: In the preparation of the following report-on Naval Affairs, there is included’ much’ general information. This information, however, is coiisidered 1 necessary in order to summarize the ad- vantages,of Key, West’ and ‘to present accurately its future possi*’ bilities for a navaT air bage- qy art ae GENERAL LOCATION: Key West lies at the southeastern point,of.the United States, in fact, at the soufiedstern point of North America. It, lies on the route of trade between Europe and the eastern part of North America, on the one hand, and the Panama and Nicaragua Cankls on the other, uidvatso or the trade route between*all of} © North America on one’ side and all of South America on the other: Only two other cities in the world are similarly situated with respect to continents. The one is Gibraltar at the southwest- ern point of Europe lying on the trade routes between the Suez Canal and eastern Asia and also between eastern Asia and Aus- tralasia. This. similarity in position with relation to continents and major trade routes should focus upon Key West the attention of all those who pretend to the broader view of world affairs and progress. Key West lies on one of the chain of keys extending in a southwesterly direction from Florida. Cape Sable and Miami lie directly northeast of Key West at distances of 60 and 130 miles respectively, while Havana liés to the south-southwest at a dis- tanee of 90 nautical miles. STRATEGICAL LOCATION 16 Gy 2% ‘The importance ‘of Gibralter’ from the setenica standpoint is so well-known as’to require no- comi he British govern- ment recognized its importance many years ago and has de- veléped this point to such an-extent that the, name itself is now a synonym for strength. The British Government considered the strategic Tee ance of Singapore so highly that it excepted that location from! the Zones mentioned in the Five-Power Treaty as being free} from further construction of fortifications. In spite of the ten- dency toward reduction of armament, the British Government | has proceeded with the fortification of Singapore and with its; development into a tremendous base for the poe of its’ commerce. The United States Government has never considered pre- paredness as of so much importance as has the British Govern- ment. Consequently, Key West has not been developed into a strong defensive area to be compared with either Gibraltar or Singapore. The fact that Key West Ras pot be ivel developed does not alter its strategic location. sab ek . controls Key West controls all shipping throui ida | Straits and consequently the entire traffie of the Gulf. Key, West lies only 231 miles from the Yucatan Channq,and 507 miles from the Windward Passage and, thérefuré? Practically > controls the Caribbean Sea and the approaches to the Panama and Nicaraguan Canals. anvil vamistald al gcd al The military devélopitiént of Key West has’ not been neg- lected by the Federal Government... The harbor is protected by modern batteries, a submarine base capable of berthing at least thirty-six submarines and their tenders has been con-, structed and the Government undoubtedly has plans for aero-— nautical activities in excess of the 18 Naval seaplanes or flying; boats and two airplane tenders now temporarily based at Key! West. The defense of Key West and the dependent trade routes. obviously must be based upon the use ef submerines and planes. ‘ Key West—The ®. CLIMATE AND HEALTH. | conditions, the health of the residents is excellent. a “4 ® period of 24 years. LAND AREA: ; of the United States bound to the Gulf of Mexico may make the THE KEY- WEST CITIZEN £ ibraltar Of America At. this time when the senate of the ‘entire world are again | turned toward war and armament,.it is-well to consider the ad-' van of Key West as a location for_submarines and particu- | -main ship channel but thoroughly protected and an excellent! anchorage for small crafts during the most severe storms. ndutical work, The climate is such that these activi- WATER SUPPLY: ties may be carriéd out in comfort. Fogs are practically un- j known. The ‘water is as clear as any in the world, making the findings of submarines simple. Practice grounds of any required : depths are-available withip. a few miles of a developed base. Shelter is always. available from the effects of prevailing winds. The loss of torpedos is’ insignificant. Hundreds of square miles | with no interference from surface: traffic “are available for , maneuvering. Practice with submarimes and planes can be car-' ried on continuously as there are practically no days during the. year when weather ‘conditions are unsuitable. | Key West is the only seaport from which the vast commerce! of the Gulf of Mexico can be effectively controlled. This is due | to its proximity to the Yucatan Channel-and the fact that there’ are no Jand areas of foreign possessions between Key West and , Cuba as is found at Miami. The following extracts are from report to the War Depart- | ment by a Special Board of Army Engineers dated February 17, 1845, in justification of the construction of Fort Jefferson, Dry | Tortugas, and the same thing applies to Key West today, within sight of which this vast commerce passes: “Par. 6—The Florida Reéf extends from:Cape Florida to the Tortugas. Its southerly boundary-throyghout its whole extent | | is in contact with. the.Gulf Stream... This stream affords the | only route to vessels with ports in the Gulf of Mexico, and fleets! under convoy from the Leeward Islands of the West Indies, ; bound’ to the Atlantic @cean.' Vessels from'the Atlantic seaports passage around the west.end of Cuba, but the usual route is across the ‘Bahamas and through the Gulf Stream; those bound to the United States ‘cfos$ the Gulf so as to make the Florida} Reef at some point betwéen Cape Florida ena Sand Key Light} and follow the Reef to Tortugas. “Par. 7—Thus it is seen that nearly every vessel engaged in the commerce of the Gulf of Mexico, and many of those engaged in the most valuable portion of that of the Leeward West Indies Islands, must pass in the neighborhood and often in sight of the Florida Reef. It is not necessary to remark upon the value of this commerce further than to state that it embraces the greater part of that of the Valley of the Mississippi. . .” ; , The latitude,of. «West is 24% es North and the climate is aie ret table: which follows shows the! normal avi ‘ature for each month of the year, the hh highest ark bodehe tellgeratures for lash gear end the Horaiel | HARE AD IN: i Normal Average : Normal Temperature Highest’ coment Rainfall ; 81 48 1.96 84 51 1.36 85 55 1.39 87° 62 1.29 88 68 3.54 age 1819, 90 70 4.24 83.5 92 13 3.28 83.5 91 14 451 82.2 90 - 3 6.70 491 87 70 6.00 74.3 86 58 2.19 70.3 83 53 1.67 July August September October November - December .. A careful study of the above table confirrhs the claim of Key West to the most delightful climate in the United States, The winter months are particularly delightful and the normal heat of summer is tempered by almost continuous breezes from Practically all of the water used ‘in Key West is that which | is collected from roofs and stored in adjacent reservoirs. In) many sections of the island this supply is supplemented for irri- gating and flushing purposes by water from shallow wells. In! addition the Government and the ice manfacturing plant have i operated distilling plants. ! These sources are fairly satisfactory under existing condi- tions, but it is a well-known fact that water can be secured on the mainland and piped to Key West and steps are now being taken to have an adequate supply provided from that source. ‘KEY WEST HARBOR: The greatest physical asset of Key West is its harbor. Key West enjoys the distinction of having the only natural deep wa- ter harbor in South Florida. Practically no money has ever been spent on the three major entrances to the south and only a rela- tively small amount of about one million dollars in deepening the northwest entrance. Above all, the harbor and all of the major entrances aré self-maintaining and cannot be closed. In a section where other natural harbors do not exist and where artificial channels are subject to silting and to complete closure during’ high winds, the importance of the harbor of Key West cannot he, over estimated. The piles reef lies about six miles south of Key West. The main channel cuts through the Reef with a depth of 30,feet and enters an indefinitely large anchorage area where the depth ranges from 35 to 40 feet. The 30-foot channel then passes through an inner reef and enters another large anchorage area having depths of 31 to 35 feet. From this area the channel passes along the western end of Key West carrying a natural minimum depth of 26 feet to Man-of-War Harbor, which is the logical area for air base development. The Northwest Channel leads from the western end of Key West to the northerly reef carrying a present depth of 18 feet. This channel can be deep- ened to 24 feet for the small sum of $600,000. To develop a harbor approaching that of Key West would cost millions and its harbor is therefor an asset of inestimable value to Key West. With but comparatively little expense the channels could be improved ‘to enable the largest airplane carriers to proceed to and from piers located at the air base. 1 t 1 ‘ TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES: ‘The finest system’ of piers of permanent and indestructible character are available at the former Florida East Coast Rail- way terminals. Other adequate commercial piers and water- front property is in service and the Federal Government has ex- cellent pieré at the Lighthouse Service Depot, the Naval Station and Submarine Base, all of which are within the protected wa- ters of the’ finest natural harbor on the South Atlantic or Gulf Coast. Excellent. transportation facilities are available over the highway and by steamship connections with Atlantic, Gulf Ports and Cuba. An indestructible transportation route for barge traf- fic is now available and can be further developed over the In- side Route from Miami to Key West, which is an extension of the Intracoastal Waterway down the Atlantic Coast and up the Gulf Coast. This would be of outstanding value during a nation- al emergency, inasmuch sa it would be indestructible and the movement of traffic over the route would not, under any condi- tions, be interrupted. over the water. The official Weather Bureau reports covering ; ‘CONCLUSION: a period of fifty-eight years show that the temperature has nev- | er risen above 100 degrees nor fallen below 41 degrees. Key West is the only city in the United States that has never had } frost and probably the only city that has never suffered heat! above 100 degrees. As a consequence” 68 Wthese ideal: climatic wod Fog is unknown nor is the excellent visibility, ever affected by dense smoke experienced in areas near the, Everglades, where a the, vegetation and such are on fire and burning! over long pe- A' great deal of publicity has been given to the storms of Florida and it is best to treat the subject frankly. Florida occu- stlon attdir Key. West has everything to offer that is of paramount im- * portance in the location of a naval air base—strategic location, development, excéllent harbor facili- conditions with unexcelled visibility for, the, shin th of student aviators and their acquirement of self- confidence under ideal conditions during that critica) period in the, develo) rear of ap.effigient aviator. It offers the finest loca- for the p conservation of the health, com- fort suipoghl of the. personnel, in a community that has always been extremely friendly and considerate of such Federal em- ployes. a pies an area which is about 450 miles in each direction. This is ‘REP! ORT: equivalent to an area bounded by New Yofk, Cleveland, Ashe- | ville, and Capt Hatteras. In any such area of this size there: must be storms but all of these near Florida are for various rea- sons given extensive publicity of “Florida Storms”. When it!, comes to facts, it is found that in fifty-eight years there have} been but seven occasions in which the wind has risen above sixty miles in Key West, no lives have ever been lost on this island as a result of storms, and all damage due to storms has been confined to trees and shrubbery and light structures. The period of storms is practically confined to the months of September and October. Their presence need not adversely influence the establishment of any activity, industry or business or the invest- | ment of funds. Of a possible sunshine, there was an average of 71% over if The island of, Key West is about three and one-half miles; long by one mile in width. This limited area need be of no great | concern as the island is surrounded on the north and west by, extensive area of shoal water, which can be filled as the neces-| sity arises at a cost that will be less than would be the case if this | area now existed a solid land. Therefore, the present limited! extent of Key West is no handicap but jrather offers a means of | development along most scientific and economical lines. The; vast area to the northward of the city that could be economically | developed into an outstanding airbase is not nly adjacent to the | Eel In the disposition of the armed forces of the country and the selection and development of certain points for suitable Naval bases, regard should be given to those points, which, from their strategic location, would produce the greatest degree of service and protection to the largest territory possible, and it is this phase of the situation that it is desired to give particular stress to in suggesting Key West as the LOGICAL NAVAL BASE FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO. : ; The South today is one of the riches sections of this great and glorious country, its wonderful resources are almost beyond comprehension, its magnificent forests, its inexhaustible deposits of minerals and oils, its agricultural resources, all go to make it a country of limitless possibilities—in fact, it may be termed j an empire whose. development and growth has hardly begun, Therefore, it is fitting and proper that in the various prepared-' ness measures now receiving the attention of Congress, .we should see that proper steps are taken to safeguard the interests of this territory. During the World War a distinguished member of Congress said, “Any plans of the Government looking to national pre- paredness that do not embrace Key West and the Florida Straits | would in the judgment of all thinking people be fatally defec- tive”, It is hardly necessary to mention the necessity of military improvements at Key West; its geographical location in this con- nection speaks for itself. Its value from a Naval and military standpoint as applied to the protection of the commerce and ; PAGE FIVE wealth of the Gulf States, and those of the interior, whose nat- ural commercial outlets are through the Gulf ports, is incaleul- able. All shipping coming‘into’and going out of the Gulf of Mexico pass directly by our doors, and Key West is sufficiently near the Yucatan Channel, effectively to command the approaches from that direction with a fast cruiser, destroyer and air patrol. Key West, commanding and controlling as it does, the entire Gulf of Mexico, if an adequate offensive and defensive was maintained here, would mean to the cities of the Gulf seaboard immunity from attack by a hostile fleet. No extensive defenses would have to be maintained at the ports bordering on its shores or contiguous thereto, neither would there be any neces- sity for Naval bases in these areas, for if we are able to keep an attacking fleet out of the Gulf of Mexico, extensive defenses at its ports would not be required. It is conceded that in the event of the United States becoming involved in war with any European country, the base of opera- tions would largely be in the Caribbean, for it is generally ac- cepted that our Naval forces would have to bear the brunt of the fighting. With our enormous interests in the Panama Canal and its value to us in safeguarding and protecting both the At- lantic and Pacific seaboards, the Naval development of this port should become a military necessity, for Key West is 500 miles nearer the Canal than any other seaport in the Gulf of Mexico, which: gould be used as a base of Operation, and operating from here. would insure the quickest: possible route to the Canal. As a base of Naval operations Key West would be of incal- culable yalue in the event of hostilities, and this has been recog- nized by all military authorities in times past. Admiral Mahan and other distinguished Naval strategists stated that Key West represents the Key to the Caribbean. During the Civil War its possessions enabled the Federal Government sucessfully and ef- fectively to blockade the entire Gulf seaboard and starve that portion of the Confederacy into submission. Later, during the Spanish War, it was the base of operations for the entire Fleet engaged in that offensive and during this short period was the seat of more activity than any other Naval base in the country. Its value during the World War was again demonstrated, at which time every branch of the Government was represented here. Its air and destroyer patrol precluded any possibility of submarines attacking the commerte and particularly the oil supply, emanating from Gulf ports, and enabled the Allies to provide themselves with the supplies so vital and necessary for the successful prosecution of the War. Key West is one of the few ports in the country where the interests of the Army and Navy are so closely allied, where one is so necessary to the other. where the latter in its operations from here as a base will re- quire the protection of the former, hence the necessity of ade- quate fortification here for this purpose. In the recent press reports of congressional consideration of the various preparedness measures now before Congress, the reference to New Orleans, Jacksonville and Miami is noted, and the claim for preferential consideration of them as suitable Naval bases in the defense program. In all spirit of fairness and without any desire to be critical, wouldn’t it be just as log- ical to establish an emergency hospital for the care of a great city’s injured, who require immediate treatment, fifty miles in the interior, instead of having it in some central location in that city, where the injured could be given prompt and immediate attention? This is only a fair illustration of what it would mean if any other point of the Gulf seaboard was given preference over Key West in the national defense program now receiving the consideration of Congress. Again Key West is the logical location for an airplane base, for its value consists of being able to operate in the proximity of where the enemy is likely to approach, so that our air forces can intelligently inform our Fleet of the enemy’s movements. In the wildest flight of imagination, it cannot be seen where this could be done from any other port on the Gulf seaboard or in the State of Florida, as the former are over 500 miles from the Florida Straits and 600 miles from the Yucatan channel, and no ports on the East Coast of Florida possess adequate berthing or mooring facilities for our Fleet, and to provide these would require the expenditure of many millions of dollars and inter- minable delay, where, on the other hand, many of the necessary facilities?already exist here. It is only through the Straits of Florida ; ahd the Yucatan Channel shat an enemy’s fleet can enter the Gull-ef Mexico, ‘ It is not the intention or desire to request consideration of Key West at the expense of or to reflect disparagingly on any other city on the Gulf Coast or in the State of Florida, but rather that this matter should be considered from a broad national standpoint where the interest of the country at large would be best served, and if considered along these lines, Key West would have no concern whatsoever as to what the findings would be. Unfortunately, though, it is well-known that there are times in the consideration of national affairs and policies where those measures possessing most merit do not receive the most consid- eration on account of the communities advocating them not pos- sessing sufficient political prestige. However, this should not be the case and it is noted that the time is now fast approaching when these matters and problems will be given more serious consideration, and the people at large will be demanding of their representatives, regardless of what section they come trom, careful study in the congervation and protection of our country’s resources. There is much to be lost'through an inadequate defense of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. The commerce out of the ports of the Gulf is now reaching enormous proportions, all of which pass within sight of Key West. Surprising as it may seem, there is only one port in America, New York, whose shipping exceed in volume that which passes in sight of Key West. It is to protect this Gulf commerce, its mineral, oil and agricultural resources, that we are urging the necessity of main- taining adequate defenses at this point, as Key West is the logical military and Naval base for these operations. An adequate of- fensive and defensive base here will preclude more than any- thing else, any interference with the commerce originating out of the great Southwest, Middle West and Southern territory, whose natural outlets are the ports on the Gulf of Mexico.