Page 325 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. 303

tegic effect of Ireland upon Great Britain.
There a land barrier of 300 miles, midway be-
tween the Pentland Firth and the English
Channel — centrally situated, that is, with ref-
erence to all the Atlantic approaches to Great
Britain— gives to an adequate navy a unique
power to flank and harass either the one or
the other, or both. Existing political condi-
tions and other circumstances unquestionably
modify the importance of these two barriers,
relatively to the countries affected by them.
Open communication with the Atlantic is vi-
tal to Great Britain, which the Isthmus, up to
the present time, is not to the United States.
There are, however, varying degrees of impor-
tance below that which is vital. Taking into
consideration that of the 1200-mile barrier to
the Caribbean 600 miles is solid in Cuba, that
after the 50-mile gap of the Windward Passage
there succeeds 300 miles more of Haiti before
the Mona Passage is reached, it is indisputable
that a superior navy, resting on Santiago de
Cuba or Jamaica, could very seriously incom-
mode all access of the United States to the
Caribbean mainland, and especially to the
Isthmus.