Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-22
NAVY At HONOLULU.
Admiral Irwin's Comments on Late
Events In Hawaii

The criticisms provoked by the failure to
make public the reports of naval operations
In the Hawaiian Islands made by Admiral
Irwin and forwarded to this country by
the revenue steamer Corwin, do not apply
to reports received from Admiral Irwin of
a later date and received mere on Friday
last. These reports were given to the press
Saturday evening. They show conclusively
that Admiral Irwin is following the course
adopted by Capt. Wiltse of the Boston at
the time of the revolution a year ago, in
observing a strict neutrality with no pur-
pose Of landing troops unless it became
necessary for the protection of American
lives and property.
Admiral Irwin's first report is dated Homo
lulu. January g. and in part. says:
THE military preparations for defense
continue to be made by the provisional
government, and the excitement is unabat-
ed The newspapers assume that 1, as mill
tary representative of the United States
government, intend to use force to restore
the queen. Since my arrival l have care
fully avoided all expression of opinion, ex-
cept In conference with the United States
minister. and have ordered all my command
to pursue similar course. / may further
add that Mr.. Willis has never given me
the slightest hint that there was ever any
intention on the part of the United States
government to use force in order to restore
the queen. My orders to preserve strict
neutrality have been implicitly obeyed.
1T has been asserted quite often that
we were prepared to land. which is true,
but our motives were Intentionally mis-
construed, as Mr.. Willis stated openly,
and his statement was published, that we
would land solely for the purpose of sup
pressing riot and to protect the lives and
property Of the defenseless.
Were it not for the course OF the news
papers in their endeavor to influence pub
Hr min In fha atf fAl
easiness would be felt and business would
go on as usual
THE commanding officers of the Japa-
nese cruiser Naniwa Kan and the British
cruiser Champion called on me to arrange
for landing force to protect the lives
and property of their countrymen in case
there should be any serious riot They
offered to cooperate with me and to place
their landing parties where, in my opin-
ion, they would do the most good.
Now, as the general public in Honolulu
is fully aware of the above fact and have
no longer any apprehension of any riot.
and. as the perusal of the President $
message has convinced every one that no
force would be used to change the gov
ernment, 1t is criminal for any one to make
the miSstatement referred to.
Foreign influence, inimical to the in
terests of the United States is secretly
at work here, as it is wherever have
any trade interests, and that influence
will account for many of the misstate-
ments in the papers"
In separate report, bearing the same
date. and like the other written apparently
in reply to charges made in the Hawaiian
press, Admiral Irwin says;
Il have the honor to call the attention
of the department to the admirable dis
cretion exercised by the officers and men
of this squadron, under the most trying
circumstances. Notwithstanding the great
parade of preparations for war. not one
case Of misconduct on shore has occurred.
and this evidence of perfect discipline has
been very favorably commented upon by
disinterested parties ashore and afioat"