The San Francisco call., 1897-07-13
But There Is a Possibility That
Japan VIII Again
Protest.
PHILADELPHIA AND MARION TO
BE RELIEVED.
Gravity OF the Annexation Ques-
tion Suggests Preparations
for Emergencies.

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 12.-Rec-
ognizing the gravity of Japan's attitude
on the Hawaiian annexation question the
administration has decided to send the
big battle ship Oregon to Honolulu to re-
lieve the cruiser Philadelphia and the old
corvette Marion, both of which need reno
vation. Orders were issued at the Navy
Department to-day for the Marion to re-
Iurn home at once, and instructions will
go to Honolulu by steamer, leaving San
Francisco on July II. The Philadelphia
is in a very unserviceable condition in
consequence of long anchoring in semi
tropical waters, and therefore it is neces-
sary to get her back to the United States
The Philadelphia will remain at Homo
lulu, however, until the Oregon arrives
and perhaps longer.
1t had been intended for some time to
send the cruiser Baltimore to Hawaii, but
the repairs required will take longer than
first estimated, and the probabilities are
that she will not be ready for sea service
until October. But this unexpected post
ponement OF her assignment to the islands
has served good purpose in allowing the
Navy Department to send the Oregon,
one of the most formidable ships in the
service, without giving Japan an oppor-
tunity for constituting the act into dis
play of unfriendliness on our part. 1t is
not customary to send batIle-ships to
foreign ports, and the Oregon has never
made so long voyage as that from San
Francisco to Honolulu. Her longest trip
from San Francisco was down the coast to
Acapulco. Mexico, 1900 miles, and the
voyage demonstrated the excellence of
her sea-going qualities.
W hile Japan cannot consistently object
to the disposition of our naval vessels, it
has been not an uncommon occurrence in
diplomacy for one nation to construe the
presence of a warship or an unusual dis
play of naval strength by another nation
at port IN which both have vital inter
ests as an act to be viewed with concern,
and information to that effect has been
frequently conveyed to the Government of
the offending country. If Japan should
send like intimation to this Government
it would be met by the explanation that
the Oregon is the only vessel available.
The Oregon is SO far superior to the Japa-
nese cruiser Naniwa at Honolulu that
com parison is out OF the question.
The administration is taking Japan
seriously in her stand concerning Ha-
waiian annexation. Minister Hoshis
frank statement to Sherman that his Gov
ernmert protested against the annexation
of Hawaii by the United States because
the maintenance of the status quo of Ha-
waii is essential to the good understand
ing OF powers which have interests in the
Pacific" has been viewed with more con-
Germ by the President and his Cabinet
than other points of objection, as indi-
eating the rurnored purpose Of Japan to
secure some sort of control of the islands
Japan insists that she does not seek to
smbarrass the United States, but the ad-
ministra ton is taking no chances. The
intention to send the largest available
vessel shows that this Government pro-
poses to be prepared for emergencies
pending the settlement of the Japanese
claims against Hawaii and the ratiticat ton
of the annexation treaty. How japan
will view the assignment of the Oregon
to Hawaiian waters remains to be seen,
but it is certain that if other vessels are
sent to augment the Naniwa the United
States will respond in a vigorous manner
that will leave no doubt as to the deter
mined policy of the United States that
other powers must keep their hands off
Hawaii.