The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-01
AN EYE ON HAWAII.
England Jealous of the
United States.
TRYING TO DIVERT TRADE.
Following Her Old Policy, Great
Britain Aims to Create -
Feeling Toward America.
Special to THr xoKxrSe c. Z

WASHINGTON, Dec s1.-The Vas nEton
Post bss commenced agitaye the estion
Of supremacy In ths Hawaiian lands.
alleging that England g determiI cd that
the United States saall gain no toothold
there. not even 10 mt extent of acquiring
station fer coaiing pu poses England is as
mercenary and grasp lg as ever, it 5 sad.
and is attempting to create q feeling OF
TeVulsion against the United States fOr the
benefit OF her own tradesmen.
The Pos. quotes from a confidential re-
port made during the Cleveland admiuistra-
ton by MsJor-General Schofeld ani Colonel
b. .. Alexander concerning their special
mission 10 and Inspection OF the Hawaiian
islandS Ihese distinguished Unls ed Stages
officers acting upon confidential instruc-
tions from tne President Of the United
States, visited the Hawaiian Islands aud
ascertsined the defensive capabilities of
their different ports, examined into their
commercial facilities and collected all the
information in their power on other sub-
tects In references to which the United
States Government ought to be rforDed in
the event OF war with q powerful mari
time nation. The secrecy ard mystery
which surrounded proceedings in he
United States Senate last year as to the
proposition 10 appropriate $3.50, 600 TO be ex-
pended under the direction OF tie President
of the United States toward the establish
ment of 1oreien naval station for the
United States in Hawaii weIe due in part;to
the fact that the Senate had before 1t The
various secret and confidential matters re-
l2ting TO affairs in Hawai- which it was
deemed impoiitie al that moment to discuss
IN public session
One OF these documents was the conf
Dental report made By General Schofeld
and Colonel Alexander. and there we're
similar reports Of later dates sp.Ade TO the
Navy Department by United Ftates officers
relative to the iHEestigatiosys looking 10 he
EslectIon of suitable sites " be- acquired n
Pearl River harbor for the United States
naval station. and the practicability AID
cost OF removing tho coral reef at the ell
trance Of that haTbor.
In compliance with their confidential n
EtTuctions General Schofe.d and Colonel
Alexander maze lengthy report to the
Government e. Washington. They ascer-
tained that Honolulu is the only good COM
mercial barber on the whole group of
the Sandwich Islands. There are many
other sO-called harbors or places for anchor
sge. but they are mostly open roadsteads,
Rffording shelter only from certain winds,
and they are all entirely Incapable Of being
defended by shore batteries. Even the har-
Dor Of Honolulu Itself cannot be defended
from the shore. II is d small harbor, lying
seaward from the land, and is only pro-
teeted from the sea By outlying coral reefs.
An enemy could take uP his position outside
the entrance to the harbor and command
the entire anchorage as well as the town Of
Honolulu itself.
This harbor void therefore, he 81 nc
ase 10 "a as Arbor Of refuge IL a wsR
With powerful maritime nation.
With one exception there is no bsrbog on
she Islands that can be made TO sal sly ths
conditions necessary for barbor Of refuge
in time Of war. This is the harbor of Eva
or Pearl River.
From our examinations" these United
States army officers say, I'VE are of tbs
opinion that this island and the adjacent
shore to the orth and west Of it afford the
most advantageous location for a naval
depot of supplies and equipment in all
these waters. But there is not sufficient
water at present for heavy vessels to enter
Pearl River haTbor. At the entrance of the
harbor there is coral reef some $50 to 800
yards in width. with q depth Of only two to
three fathoms Of water on the reef at low
water. If this coral barrier were removed
Pearl River harbor would seem TO have all,
or nearly all. the necessary properties to en-
able it TO be converted into good harbor OF
refuge"
General Schofeld and Colonel Alexander
say that an entrance could easily be cut
through the coral reef by surface blasting,
and that the fne debris remaining would be
washed seaward under tie Influence Of the
currents. while the larger masses could be
removed by dredging or by divers, the
Islands furnishing many men skilled in such
business, They further say that the amount
of coral to be removed TO open chan
mel 200 yards In width. with depth of 26
feet of water at low tide, would be about
100000 cubic yards, and that it could be re-
moved for 81 Per cubic yard, or for the sum
Of about $4,000.
Emphasizing the interesting information
contained In the body Of their reports, these
distinguished officers Of the United States
army close their main report with the very
pertinent remark: 1T Is to be observed
that IL the United States Is ever to have
harbor Of refuge and naval station In the
Hawaiian Islands IN the event OF war. that
harbor must be prepared in advance by the
removal Of the Pearl River bar. When war
has begun. 1t will be too late to make this
harbor available. and there Is no other suita-
bic barbor on these Islands,"
The information given in these Schofeld-
Alexander reports. and in the corroborative
reports made by naval officers, formed the
basis of the action In Congress, which cul-
mina'ed in the appropriation Of S250. 600
toward the establishment Of a naval station
at Pearl River. The Posts article is written
IN the hopes Of stimulating the State De.
partment to take some action TO checkmate
the entertainments oil England on the
hawaiian Islands.