Value of Coal Stations.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2089, 26 March 1898, Page 2

Value of Coal Stations .

The command of the sea now depends on the control of fortified coal stations, remarks Harper’s 1 Weekly.’ Coal is the breath of the empire. Prince Henry of Prussia and his mailed fist on board the Deutschland would be drifting helpless and impotent if it were not for English coal supplied at seven English coal stations. To reach China, he and- his mailed fist are abso-lutely'-depend ant on the goodwill of the British. To carry out the Kaiser’s orders, he requires English coal. To stop him England would not require to declare war. The gospel of the Kaiser’s anointed person cannot be spread beyond the German ocean if England refuses the coal necessary to the propaganda German coal station s cannot Jbe improvised. The British fleet in China is probably strong enough' single-handed to cut off the coal supply of Russian, German and French men-of-war. With Japan, England commands the sea, and Japan is heart and soul with England. Swift colliers (convoyed in the event of war) would sustain the fighting power of the British China squadron. What ; about Russia and Germany ? They have no coal stations, except the French stores at Dakar and Madagas- ‘ car. France has few colliers, and nomeans of maintaining the coal supply :of her fleet in- the Gulf of Peehili. No < coal is available for the three powers, should England and Japan agree to. refuse them entrance to the coaling ; stations. If the fumes of the Jubileeffiave the memory of the •fleet at S'pithead on Tune 2.6 th, wi'h •all its defects, keeps up the price of ; consols and enables level - headed Englishmen to sleep o’high.ts even while Germany, France and Russia are nosing, at the stranded carcass of China.