Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-10

| mas undoubtedly given 10 the isidHuo
their present wealth, and. In connection
with their geographical position, their
commercial Importance. Several amend
ments were added by the Senate relative
TO the use OF Hawaiian harbors by the
United States. In 1877 another treaty was
made which agreed that in exchange for
| certain commercial advantages the United
States should have exclusive eight TO es-
tablish a Manifestation in theNHawaiian
Islands. and Pearl Harbor was desig-
mated. In 1889 the United States pro-
posed an enlargement OF these provisions
| by which both were to have superior ad-
vantages and the United States were
TO have perpetual as well as exclusive
right to establish and fortify a naval-sta-
ton.
A PRoTEcToRATE
Hawaii is an American State and is
embraced in the American commercial
and military systems The United States
| has for many years past kept warships
at Honolulu. and has exercised a friendly
suzerainty over the islands, which is
without parallel In the history OF the
| world. The attitude OF this government
has been that of a de-facto supremacy, IN
reality a protectorate. The treaties that
have been discussed and ratified between
| these countries have been for the closest
reciprocity and for a restriction upon the
| disposal Of Hawaiian bays harbors, and
/ crown-lands 10 other nations; and at
tempts have been made by both TO have
| ratified treaties Of annexation. Indeed. for
| the past fifty years this has been a ques-
| ton familiar alike to Americans and Ha-
waiians. and It's Importance increases with
each new event in the Pacific, and with
| each island seized there by European
| maritime powers. In 1886 HawaiIa was
| nearer to the United States than to the
| territory Of any other country. Now, the
English possession, Johnson Island, ac-
| quired In 1891, is only 600 miles away.
England has also seized and fortified Fan
ming and Christmas islands. forming
chain of possessions toward Australia.
France and Germany have not been far
behind Great Britain. Both have strongly
fortified stations in the Pacific. 1t Is a
notable fact that European powers, espe-
cially England, have been strengthening
themselves more and more in the Pacific
as an isthmian canal has become pos
sibiiity of the near future. England has
chain of fortified stations around the
world at intervals of 5000 miles or less,
guarding all the main thoroughfares OF
trade on the globe. There Is a single
fiaw-the non-possession Of Hawaii. She Is
weaker in the Pacific than in any other
quarter OF the world. The possession OF
Hawaii would make her strong where
now she is weak, would make her mistress
of the Pacific, as now she is mistress OF
the Atlantic. Sentiment has not hOisted
the British flag over strongly-fortified sta
lions all over the world. Centuries of eX-
perience have taught Great Britain that
this is the only way to protect her COM
merce in peace or in war. Other foreign
nations have not been slow to grasp this
idea. France. Germany, Holland. Spain.
and Russia are second only to Great
Britain in the possession Of such stations.
POINT OF CONTROL.
Hawaii Is the strategic point of control
for the whole Northern Pacific. Turn tor
a moment from the Pacific to the At
lantic, and examine the condition OF az
fairs there. Our Atlantic coast is menaced
by line Of hostile stations England has
strongly-fortified and completely-muni-
toned stations at Halifax and st. Johns.
Bermuda has been fortified and supplied
at very heavy expense, and there she
has built the largest floating dry-dock in
the world; ample shops. and immense
quantities of coal have been provided.
Thus, at go miles from New York, and
less than 600 from the Carolinas, she
has station second TO none in the world,
from which. as base. her ships could IN
and control the commerce OF the Western
Hemisphere in that ocean. Our Gulf coast
is similarly threatened by jamaica and
st. Lucia; and these, with Belize, would
control any isthmian canal on the At
lantic side. England recognizes that the
opening OF such canal must OF neces-
slty divert the route OF trade on tina
Western Hemisphere from the Straits OF
Magellan to the Isthmus, and. she Is en-
deavoring to be ready for such a contin-
gency. France has ST. Pierre and Mique-
lon on the northeast, and Guadaloupe
Martinique, and Cayenne on the south
and southeast. Spain has Cuba and Porto
Rico. while the Dutch at Curacao, and
the Danes at ST. Thomas, either of which
could probably be used by Germany, COM
plete the line of hostile bases on our At
lantic coast.
Returning to the Pacific, any foreign
power occupying Hawaii would have an
impregnabIe base from which to strike
at any part of our Pacific coast and de-
stroy our Pacific commerce. Not only this,
but Hawaii Is the only base in the Pa
cihc from which this could be success
fully done Great Britain's ships are never
more than 1900 miles from base OF
supplies and repair. where, protected by
immense land-batteries and all modern
appliances for harbor defence. they can
find Ravens of safety and refuge.
COALING wARSHIPs.
One OF the greatest difficulties is in
coaling ships-of-war. Vessels of the Phia- |
delphla class have a coal capacity of loo !
tons. Moving at a moderate rate Of speed, !
such vessels can accomplish about 5000 /
miles without recoaling. but under forced |
draught $500 miles would probably be the |
greatest distance they could hope TO |
make. Commerce-deStroyers are designed 1
to make very long cruises, and will carry 4
from 1900 TO 1900 tons of coal. Moving 4
slowly, such vessels will accomplish about /
1900 miles without recoeling; but to ,
overtake and destroy commercial steam |
ers, they must often move at their high :
est speed. and under such circumstances
they would NOT make over 1000 or 1900 !
miles. Therefore, IL shlps-of-war operate
from a single base, 200 to 1000 miles for
cruisers and 5000 to 5000 miles for COM
merce-destroyers would be the extreme
distances for operations, barring delays
from accidents and Gripping from hostile
vessels which are always likely contn-
gencies. Much has been done In recent
years 10 improve the United States navy.
New ships, equal to any others in the
world have been built at very great cost,
but the government does not seem 10 have
been equally progressive in providing the
necessary coaling stations. All other great
nations have recognized the necessity OF
providing them. Without such stations, =
for example, TO nation could make sue
cessful war against the United States-a
fact fully appreciated by Italy in the late
diplomatic incident arising from the New
Orleans affair.
WOULD BE SAFE.
To protect our Atlantic coast in case
of war, the United States would have 10
capture and retain the hostile bases 'front.'
ing that coast, and TO protect her Pa
cihc coast. she must similarly hold Ha-
wall. II she possessed these etrongholds
she would be safe against the combined
attacks OF the world. The power that
holds San Francisco and Hawaii will con-
troll the western outlet OF the isthmian
Canal, and hence the commerce OF the
Pacific. The possession OF the Bermudas
by the British In the war of isl2-r4 caused
mmense damage TO American trade in
he Atlantic. Geographically, the Ha-
saiian Islands bear the same important
relative position towards the Pacific that
he Bermudas do toward the Atlantic
,oast-a position which makes them i'm
.f.Tfo 49, fcx nj .arfft