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Show m - m j MH: ; - s v 0 , , r V y 1 and when the latter went forth for the naval duel that resulted in the sinking of the Alabama, the Confederate, privateer, pri-vateer, at Cherbourg, more than 100 Azoreans were members of the crews of the two Union ships. Today there are many pensioners on the islands veterans who served under Sherman. Grant, Sheridan and Howard. : Beautiful Sea and Sky Effects. S. G. W. Benjamin says : "No part of the Atlantic is more prolific in the wonders of the sea than the Azores, The inexhaustible diversity of the cloud scenery of those islands I have never seen approached except at Madeira, Ma-deira, combining the effects of sea and land clouds. "At sea the impression of distance is conveyed as never on land, because no hills nor mountains intervene to interrupt the view of the most distant dis-tant cloud strata, and no clouds are so full of suggestive form, of representations repre-sentations of dreamland as those far-off, far-off, low-lying, vapory forms, couchant along the dim offing, picturing phantom phan-tom towers and oriental domes clustered clus-tered on the edges of precipices flanked by ice-clad peaks and overhung over-hung by groves of palms. Off Pico, one evening, I saw in the sky horsemen horse-men chasing a stag and, as they faded away, a triumphal march of knights in gilded armor moved slowly and majestically ma-jestically westward. No effort of fancy was required to distinguish all these groups with perfect distinctness. "One of the finest effects at sea is mirage, which is confined to ho one part of the ocean, although the conditions condi-tions that produce it do not always seem thoroughly explained by saying that it is due to refraction. To see the shore raised above the water and hovering mysteriously in the air, reflected re-flected in another sea of its own, is a sight that the most threadbare familiarity famili-arity can never make less wonderful." CONCERNING the reports that the Azores had been utilized by the United States as a naval na-val base, a writer in the Chicago Chi-cago Examiner says: , "These islands lie in the Atlantic ocean, 800 miles off the coast of Portugal. Portu-gal. Situated well to the south of the main transatlantic ship routes to England Eng-land and France, they afford an admirable ad-mirable rendezvous for our patrolling fleets and a convenient port for assembling as-sembling military stores and troops. Such a base for ships to prevent the wholesale destruction of navigation and for the protection of neutral as well as allied shipping should be as welcome to Portugal as to the other allied countries. "Powerful wireless stations on the islands keep in touch with shipping on the Atlantic and, located as they are so close to the trade routes between be-tween this country and southern Europe, Eu-rope, it is quite probable that the islands is-lands have been rendered safe from U-boat U-boat attacks and that our allies are using them as a base of operations. "O Observador, Lisbon, has constantly con-stantly advocated the creation of naval na-val police and protecting stations in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. In urging this course of action, ac-tion, in a recent issue, it states : 'None would be more important in point of geographical position and natural resources re-sources than a naval repairing, furnishing fur-nishing and protecting station in the Azores or Western islands and, if necessary, nec-essary, for a relay point for American forces crossing the Atlantic. Some understanding already ought to have been had between Portugal, England and America.' Harbor Facilities Not Very Good. "The Azores occupy an area of 922 square miles. The archipelago comprises com-prises nine islands, of which the chief are St. Michael, in the Southeastern group ; Terciera, Graciosa, Saint George, Fayal and Pico, in the Central group. In 1911 the population of the islands was 242,613, mainly of Portuguese Portu-guese origin. "The islands at present do not afford af-ford the best of harbor facilities. Those," however, that may be available avail-able have potential possibilities that should not greatly tax the ingenuity of our engineers. "One of the best harbors Is at An-gra, An-gra, on the island of Terciera. However, How-ever, the islands afford other advantages advan-tages that would make them an excellent excel-lent base. The climate Is mild and snow seldom seen. The temperature is never higher than SO degrees. An-gra An-gra is the only cify on Terciera, and has 12,000 population. It affords many diversions and its inhabitants of every class are notably deferential and hospitable. hos-pitable. Here there are three social clubs, an athletic club and a lawn ten-id:: ten-id:: association. "The deepest, and some claim the safest, anchorage is at Vellas, between be-tween I'iso and St. George. It is known as St. George's channel. The natives of St. George are chiefly occupied occu-pied in raising catlle and manufacturing manufactur-ing cheese for export. Pico and Fayal. "On Pico, across the channel, is the symmetrical, cone-shaped peak, rising to a height of 7.SG5 feet above sea level. The climate here is unrivaled. It is said to be one of the healthiest spots in the world, absolutely free from marshes or stagnant water. "Fayal is perhaps best known to American tourists. Here the first Azoreun and fourth consulate of the United States was established in 1M)U. Here the first American residence resi-dence was built by John I!. Dabney, the first consul. The harbor at Horta, Fayal, is the most spacious in the Azores. By improving the breakwater here an excellent port would be afforded af-forded to vessels of our fleet. At tlorla are anchored eleven submarine ,-ables wilh a joint central station for the English, American and other companies. com-panies. "As a relay point for troops the Azores would meet ulmost every requirement. re-quirement. The climate is equable; access easy, abundant streams for water supply; fertile soil and within two days' sailing of the continent. "That the Azoreans would give our troops and ships a cordial welome is unquestioned. Friendly relations between be-tween the United States and the Azoreans date back to the War of 1812 when the Armstrong was beached ou the Island. "During the Civil war the Tuscarorn and Kears-'irgf were stationed there, |