The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-10
UNITED STATES SENDS THE FLAG
SHIP PHILADELPHIA.
Japan Must Not Interfere With Ha-
waiian Affairs-Admiral Prepared
to Defend-American Authority to
Be Maintained.

SAN DIEGO, April 2.-The flagship
Philadelphia has been a busy center of
activity all day long. On one side
lighters have been moored, and a
steady stream of coal has gone into
the bunkers. AS soon as they are filed
the carpenters will rig up temporary
bunkers on deck, so that the cruiser
will leave here with all the coal she
can carry. Messengers and orderies
have been flying hither and thither,
hurrying up supplies of various kinds,
and kilograms have been going to and
fro all day. Among the officers and
crew the most intense interest is
shown in the forthcoming trip to Ha
wall
There is a feeling of excitement
from the fact that has leaked out from
official sources that serious business
awaits the flagship in Honolulu har-
Dor. While the greatest secrecy has
been enjoined on officers and men,
they are so glad of the possible OPP
portunity to do a little fighting that
they cannot be made to keep still. This
feeling is shared as fully by the Of
ficers as by the men, and indicates
that the annexation feeling is as
strong inFthe ships of the Navy as it
is on shore. One of the officers said
today that the evident desire of the
Secretary of the Navy and Admiral
Ramsey to make the cruise appear an
ordinary affair was on account of the
keen watch kept by the japanese on
American movements.
81 have no doubt" he said, ''that the
Japanese Government is already aware
that the Philadelphia is to sail. Every
| thing of nature out of the ordinary
is promptly cabled to Toxic. For this
reason secrecy is very necessary at
Washington, and here, too, for that
matter"
Yet the officers and men are anX-
ious to talk upon the subject, and in
their enthusiasm the officers drop
more or less information. 1t was
learned this afternoon that lengthy
instructions in cipher had been sent
to Admiral Beardslee, which occupied
his attention until late last night. To-
day he replied in a long dispatch One
officer said that the first instructions
did not confer upon the Admiral the
absolute authority he desired, and
that he objected seriously to going to
Honolulu without cable connection
power to deal with emergencies as
they arose. He therefore asked for
more complete authority. 1t is report
ed that he told friend this afternoon
that he would not leave for Honolulu
without absolute power to deal with
any diplomatic question as it arose,
in case of any active difficulty with
Japan. His position is all the more
determined from the belief that
Japanese cruiser is already at Homo
lulu, or will be by the time the Phil
adelphia arrives.
Through close personal acquaint-
ance with one of the officers of the
Philadelphia fairly good idea of Ad-
miral Beardslee's position was learned.
This officer, after strict promises of
secrecy in regard to his identity had
been given, said: "Admiral Beardslee |
has received instructions to go to Ha- !
waii and be prepared to defend the in
C in,
of an uprising among the japanese,
or in' case of an attempt on the part
of the japanese to eoverturn the Re
public. If the japanese simply TO- |
ment trouble and the affair is local. |
the American squadron will simply |
protect American interests. If Jap |
anese cruiser or the japanese res !
dents attempt to overturn the Repun- |
lie, and the Republic is unable 10
cope with the difficulty, Admiral |
Beardslee will assume control of af- |
fairs and protect all interests against
the Japanese. If other foreign war
vessels are in the harbor of Houolllp !
it is expected that they will cooperate |
with the American squadron. But re
American authority is, in all case., to
be maintained predominant in case the |
officers of the Republic are unable -
maintain order.
From all ! can learn, any attempt |
ON the part of the Japanese to fly the |
japanese flag is to be Immediately re-
sented by the American Navy, which |
will tear the flag down. If the Jap |
anese attempt to tear the republican |
flag down there will probably not be |
any action on the part of the Ameri-
can squadron until it becomes appar- |
ent that the japanese are too strong |
for the island Government. We fully |