The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-13
BATTLESHIP FOR HAWAII.
THE OREGON TO RELIETE TIM
PHILADELPHII AT HONOLULU.

Ir Japan Sends Othor Vessels 10 support tno
Naniwa Our Government VIII Rcinrorcc eho
Oregon President Mckinley Has a Ps,-
icy, ana Will Not WAIVER In Executing n.
WARRINGTON, July l2.-RocognizIng the gray
ity OF Japan's attitude toward annexation, the
Administration has decided to send the big
battleship Oregon TO Honolulu TO rcliove the
cruiser Philadelphia and tho old corvette Ma.
rion' now stationed there, both OF which need
renovation. Orders wcro issued by the Navy
department to-day that the Marion return home
at once. and instructions will 20 TO Honolulu By
the steamer leaving San Francisco on July ~.
lhe Philadelphia Is In n very unsorviceablo
condition, In consequence Of hor long anchorage
In semi-tropical waters. She moods repairs bad
ly, and 1t Is necessary TO got hcr back to the
United States. Tho Philadelphia will remain
at Honolulu. however. until the Oregon reaches
there. and perhaps longer.
1t has boon intended by the Navy Department
Tor some time to send the cruiser Baltimore to
Hawaii. but it will take longer to make her TO
pairs than was expected at first. The probabili-
ties now are that she will not be ready for see
service until some time in October. But thip
unexpected postponemcnt Of her assignment to
the Islands has served q good purpose In allow.
Ing the Navy Department to send tho Orerou.
one OF the most formidable ships In the service.
without giving Japan the opportunity Of cor-
STRUNG this action as o display Of unfriendlinec,
on the part Of the United States.
1t is not customary to scnd battleshipa IN
foreign ports, and tho Oregon never has mado
SO long q voyage as that from San Francisco
to Honolulu, q distance OF 2,1Oo milea.
Her longest trip was from San Fran
cisco down the coast 70 Acapulco, Next
co, about 1900 miles, and the voyage
demonstrated the excellence Of her seaeoinR
qualities. While japan cannot consistently OBJ
1ect to the disposition Of our naval vessels. n
has been no uncommon occurrence In diplomacy
for one nation to c~onstrue the presence of q wal.
ship or an unusual display of naval strength by
another nation at q port in which both have a
vital interest as an act to be Vowed with CON-
Germ, and information to that effect has been
conveyed frequently to the Government of the
onending country. II Japan should send such
an intimatton to this Government it would b
met by the explanation that the Oregon 10 the
only vessel available for the service.
In detaching both the Philadelphia and the
Marion the Navy Department will not weaken
lts naval force at Honolulu. The Oregon 10 more
formidable than both and capable Of combating
any vessel In the Japanese Navy. She is 90 far
superior to the Japanese cruiser Naniwa, now
at Honolulu. that comparison is ont Of tho cues
ton. The Administration Is taking Japan
seriously in her stand concerning Hawaiian an
nexation. Minister Hoshi's frank statement to
Secretary Sherman that his Government pro
tested against tho annexation of Hawaii by the
United States because 1.-THE maintenance Of the
status quo OF Hawaii is essential to the good un
derstanding of the powers which have interests
In the Pacific" has been viewed with moro con-
Germ by the President and the Cabinet than tho
other points Of objection. as indicating the r.
mored purpose of Japan TO secure some sort Of
control OF the islapds. Japan fnsista that aha
does not seek to embarrass tho United States.
but tho Administration 10 Il taking no chances.
The intention to send the largest available
vessel to Honolulu shows that this Government
purposes to be prepared for emergencies pending
the settlement Of the Japanese claims against
Hawaii and tho ratification Of tho annexation
treaty. How Japan will view the assignment OF
the Oregon to Hawaiian waters remains to be
seen. but it Is certain that II other vessols are
sent to support tho Naniwa the United States
will respond in a vigorous manner that will
leave no doubt as to the ~etermined policy Of the
Administration that foreign countries must
keep hands of Hawaii.