Page 308 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future
P. 308
286 Strategic Features of the Gulf of
line, having regard to the draught of water for
heavy ships. Key West, an island lying off
the end of the Florida Peninsula, has long
been recognized as the chief, and almost the
only, good and defensible anchorage upon the
Strait of Florida, reasonable control of which
is indispensable to water communication be-
tween our Atlantic and Gulf seaboards in time
of war. In case of war in the direction of the
Caribbean, Key West is the extreme point now
in our possession upon which, granting ade-
quate fortification, our fleets could rely ; and,
so used, it would effectually divert an enemy's
force from Pensacola and the Mississippi. It
can never be the ultimate base of operations,
as Pensacola or New Orleans can, because it
is an island, a small island, and has no re-
sources — not even water ; but for the daily
needs of a fleet — coal, ammunition, etc. — it
can be made most effective. Sixty miles west
of it stands an antiquated fortress on the Dry
Tortugas. These are capable of being made
a useful adjunct to Key West, but at present
they scarcely can be so considered. Key West
is 550 miles distant from the mouth of the
Mississippi, and 1200 from the Isthmus.
