Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1903 — ON GUARD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ON GUARD.

—Chicago Inter Ocean. _ ©FFICEHS of the navy who have seen much seriye in the West Indies, • although disappointed that the United States did not acquire the sites for four naval stations in Cuba, as was tha original proposition, feel gratified that two such desirable sites as Guantanamo aud Bahia Honda have been agreed to. Guantanamo, which is about fifty miles east of Santiago, on the southern coast, has a strategic importance that was appreciated when the battalion of marines, under Lieut. Col. Huntington, landed' there early In the war with Spain, in 1898, following the arrival of the , United States navy fleet off Santiagb. Its harbor is large and deep, and it Is so nearly landlocked that It would seem to be a good base for naval operations, either offensive or defensive. The Bahia Honda site Is between forty 1 and fifty miles from Havana, on the northwest coast, and is also well adapted to naval purposes, having deep water and fine natural defenses.