A TRAGIC ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 39, 15 February 1941, Page 6

A TRAGIC ISLAND

KEY POINT IN THE AMERICAS

COLLAPSE OF TRADE v

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

VANCOUVER, January 13. In a normal year, 600 ships would

have visited Fort de France, the port of the French island of Martinique, to land flour, meat, vegetables, codfish, clothing, and medicines, and.to load rum, sugar, molasses, and . bananas. Since the collapse of France, in June last, not a dozen ships have visited the port. The sugar cane crop is now being harvested by .-30,000 cutters. If means to market it and other island products are' not found soon, ' the 250,000 residents \>f the island will face distress and possibly an epidemic. . It is believed that the immediate-future of Martinique is one jDf the subjects-to be discussed by the American Ambassador to Vichy, Admiral Leahy. "

What is, however, of more immediate concern to the United States is the value of Fort de France, with its magnificent natural harbour, the best in the Caribbean, as a naval base. It lies midway between Trinidad and Porto Rico, directly facing the Panama-Canal. Protected from. the trade winds, the harbour is a perfect landing place for planes. It is now being used daily by planes of the Neutrality Patrol that ply between Newfoundland and British Guiana. There is no doubt that America would feel more secure in regard to the defence of the Panama Canal if she could get the use of- Fort de France immediately. Lying in the harbour-is the French aircraft-carrier Beam, which was turned'back by the. outbreak of war after having taken delivery of 65 American bombing planes. Under the terms of the Armistice the cprnplenient of the Beam was reduced from 800 to 400 men. Other vessels-- the auxiliary cruiser Quercy,. the Esterel, and Barfieur, have been demobilised, and their armament removed. They will return to the banana trade. While the Beam could be useful in defending the port, she could not put to sea Hence Martinique, in itself, i s not regarded as a menace to the canal, but the canal defence scheme would be immeasurably enhanced if the United States could establish a naval and air base there. •■ . . ■.

It is believed that the Beam carried m her strongroom, 350,000,000 dollars in- gold, with which to pay for armaments. This gold is, said to be stored in vaults in the fort. - An American destroyer is constantly on guard at-the entrance to the harbour. Every vessel, entering and leaving, is carefully scrutinised. Should any attempt- be made to seize Martinique, or to change its ownership/ the United States is authorised by the Pan-American- Convention to occupy1 it. The island, as a prospective colony .is regarded as a serious liability One thousand lepers are "confined" to one section 'of Fort, de France. They live on v^ s ' which are not enclosed. Syphilis is rife. There is enough serum at-the hospital for malaria, but-none to deal -with a possible-epidemic: of dysentry or typhoid. Even th§ -colour; ed population nvill not drink'Si"e- water unless it is boiled. Whites and Creoles drink bottled water. One aiid all ask to be adopted into the .American colonial family. . '