The record-union., 1897-07-20

WASHINGTON, July 10. - With a
view to have available for Immediate
service needed as many of the ships of
the navy as possible, Secretary Long is
considering the advisability of placing
the monitor Miantonomah in reserve.
| The Miantonomah was laid up in or
binary at League Island in 1895 and
since that time but little attention has
| been paid to the ship except to make
repairs from time to time.
Secretary Long now intends to have
the vessel put in thorough condition so
that she can be ordered into the re-
serve with the Columbia and Minneap-
| Oils. This means that a short crew
with full supply of stores and coal
will be kept on board, and that she can
be made ready for sea service within
i've days if the necessity arises.
While department officials declare
| there is no significance in this move,
the attitude of Japan with respect to
Hawaii and Cuban troubles are suffi-
cient to make the Administration de-
sire to be in good shape to meet any
emergencies that may arise
1t has been intended by the Navy
Department for some time to send the
H.,
take longer to make her repairs than
was expected at first The probabili-
ties now are that she will not be ready
for sea service until some time in Oc-
tober But this unexpected postpone
ment of her assignment to the islands
has served a good purpose in allowing
the Navy Department to send the Ore
gon, one of the most formidable ships
in, r rt1A
the opportunity of constituting this ac-
ton as a display of unfriendliness on
the part Of the United States.
1t is not customary to send battle
ships to foreign ports, and the Oregon
never has made so long a voyage as
that from San Francisco to Honolulu.
distance of 2,100 miles. Her longest
trip was from San Francisco down the
coast to Acapulco, Mexico, about 1,S00
| miles, and the voyage demonstrated
the excellence of her seagoing qualities.
While Japan cannot consistently OBJ
Iject to the disposition of our naval yes
sells, it has been no uncommon occur
renee in diplomacy for one nation to
construe the presence of a warship or
an unusual display of naval strength
by another nation at a port in which
d
be viewed with concern, and informa-
ton te that effect has been conveyed
frequently to the Government Of the
offending country. If Japan should
send such an intimation to this Gov
ernment it would be met by the ex-
planation that the Oregon is the only
vessel available for the service
In detaching both the Philadelphia
and the Marion the Navy Department
will not weaken its naval force at Hon
olulu. The Oregon is more formidable
than both. and capable of combating
any vessel in the Japanese navy. She
is so far superior to the Japanese cruis-
er Naniwa, now at Honolulu, that COM
parison is out of the question. The Ad-
minstratiOn is taking Japan seriously
in her stand concerning Hawaiian an
nexation. Minister Hoshi's frank state
ment to Secretary Sherman that his
Government protested against the an
neXation of Hawaii by the United
States because "the maintenance of the
status quo of Hawaii is essential to the
good understanding of the Powers
which have interests in the Pacific"
has been viewed with more concern by
the President and the Cabinet than the
other points of objection, as indicating
the rumored purpose of Japan to Sc
cure some sort of control of the islands
Japan insists that she does not seek to
embarrass the United States, but the
Administration is taking no chances
The intention to send the largest
available ship to Honolulu shows that
this Government purposes TO be pre-
pared for emergencies pending the set
tlement of the Japanese claims against
Hawaii and the ratification of the an
nexation treaty. How Japan will view
the assignment of the Oregon to Ha-
waiian waters remains to be seen, but
it is certain that if other vessels are
sent to support the Naniwa the United
States will respond in a vigorous man
ner that will leave no doubt as to the
determined policy of the Administra-
ton that foreign countries must keep
hands off Hawaii.