Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-12-13
Preparation for War.

After the undecided character of the
news received by the China an opinion
prevail ed that until the arrival of the
Australia that instructions would be re-
ceived by the latter vessel for i'm
mediate restoration. Pending the Aus
tralia's arrival several important cab.
met and council meetings were held
and it was determined to meet the pro.
posed restoration by the com bined
forces of the government, the American
league, the annexation club and the
citizens reserve guard, whose joint
strength Is estimated at 1000 men on
the island within Honolulu.
Orders were at once given to those
governments having or to have here
after war ships in Honolulu harbor
that no nation would be allowed to land
troops without the written consent OF
the provisional government. This no.
tice was served upon the foreign
dihaomatic corps in writing on Nov
emeber 25 and was intended to be
final from its date pending and after
the arrival of the Australia. The notice
applied to the japanese cruiser Naniwa
which arrived yesterday and the japan
ese Consul General Fujii has privately
announced that Japan would not inter
fere should war break out between the
provisional government and other ma
tions. The Naniwa will be neutral for
the projection of the lives and property
of Japanese residents.
Active preparations, both for defense
and aggression if necessary, were begun
the day after the arrival of the steamer
China.
Two hundred and fifty men were put
to work fortifylng the executive build
ing. The verandas were fortified with
three tiers of sandbags and the roof will
bs similarly treated. Companies of
sharp shooters, all trained men, will
occupy the four corner towers from the
basement to the roof.
Minister Willis has promised to give
the provisional government thirty-six
hours notice before action.
''In case such notice comes" said a
prominent man to an Associated Press
correspondent, "should Cleveland at
tempt to carry out his policy against
Americans in Hawaii 500 men will be
at once be put to work and before the
time expires the executive building
will be surrounded on all four sides
with rifles, $50 feet from the building,
which will defy attack and be absolute
ly safe from the guns of the ships
Careful inquiry has put the associated
press in possession of the fact that in
case of defeat the revenues of the gov
ernment have already been secreted
and the government will be re-organ-
lied at other headquarters.
The@frst action by the authorities
here after the arrival of the text OF
Blount's report was to remove Fred
Wund derberg from the clerkship he
holds in the supreme court. 1t is
learned upon the best authority com.
ing directly from royalist sources that
the British minister, Wodehouse
has lately stated to differeut persons in
Honolulu that there was an understand
ing between President Cleveland and
the English government that the mon
archy should be restored. In private
circles here on the annexationist side
an opinion has been freely expressed
that the presence OF the British cruiser
Champion here at the present time was
owing to the fear by the English foreign
Office that President Cleveland would
not be able to carry out his policy.
This theory reached the executive
and advisory council and special ses-
sion was held in which Mr.. Brown in
troduced the following resolution which
was unanimously recommended by the
council to the executive:
Revolved; That the executive council
inquire of ths American minister
whether his instructions were covered
by and in harmony with. the letter OF
Secretary Gresham to President Cleve-
land. If 30, whether he was instructed
to use force.
Resolved; That should his answer be
in the affirmative these councils will
recommend that Mr.. Willis be lmme-
diately given his passport and that the
ex-queen be made a prisoner of state.
From $50 to 800 troops are in the
executive buildings and ammunition
and stores have been provided to with
stand continuous attack for one month