Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-23
Naval Force to Be. Maintained at
Hopoluln.
YORKTOWN zV9l ARRIVE SOON
The PhiladSphR to Be Replaced
nr
by the Baltimore.
N ANIWA HASsDEPARTED

That the administration Is determined not
to be caught mapping in the matter of the
annexation of Hawaii,in the event of favor
able action by the Senate, Is evidenced by
the action of the Navy Department with
respect to the disposition of the vessels Of
the Pacific squadron. Although the recent
departure from Honolulu for Japan OF the
formidable Japanese warship Naniwa has
left Japan withoue naval representation in
thos- waters the Navy Department deems
1t the part Of prudence to make no reduc
ticn in our military strength in Hawaii.
A number OF changes have taken place
in the naval representation there and others
are In prospect. but all the movements
are made under a plan to keep. at least two
ships constantly in the vicinity of Homo
lulu for prompt SERVICE in case of emer-
gency.
The two vessels enew there are the flag
ship Philadelphia and the gunboat Ben
nington. The latter recently relieved the
old corvette Marion, which arrived at San
Francisco a few days ago. The Phila-
delphia Is In need of q thorough overhaul
Ing after her long stay in tropical waters,
and has been ordered to San Francisco for
that purpose.
Her return is delayed. however. by the
fact that there are not enough available
men on the Pacific coast to man the Balti-
more, now at San Francisco. which vessel
cific squadron, with station at Honolulu.
In consequence OF this lack of men it has
been decided to keep the Baltimore at San
Francisco until the arrival there of the
Philadelphia, SO as to utilize the crew of
that vessel
Yorktown Going to Honolulu.
In pursuance Of the plan Of keeping two
vessels at Honolulu, the Philadelphia will
defer her departure for the United States
9ha 10 bNyt
town. which left Yokohama, Japan, yester-
day for that port. The Yorktown had been
on the Chinese station for three years and
had been ordered to San Francisco to re-
ceive a necessary overhauling.
IEasmuch as 1t was necessary for her to
stop at Honolulu for coal and provisions, 1.
was decided to take advantage of her pres
ence in Hawaiian waters to allow the
Philadelphia to go to San Francisco as
soon as possible in order to expedite the
orders have been given for the Philadelphia
to start for San Francisco Immediately on
the arrival of the Yorktown at Honolulu
and for the latter vessel to remain there
until relieved by the new flagship Balti-
more, which will start for the Hawaiian
capital soon after the Philadelphia reach
San Francisco. III
It Is expected that the Yorktown will
reach Honolu9u Abeut the 18th rroximo,
and that the BALTIMORE will relieve her of
of November.
No Intention to Send the Oregon.
1t is stated at-the Navy Department to-
day that thera IS nd intention of sending
the battieship Oregon. now at San Francis
CO. to Hawaii; the present naval force
there being regarded as sufficient for the
full protectiontof ATfierican interests under
existing conditions. ain case Japan should
assume a menacingf or hostile attitude it
would, of couFses become necessary to in
crease our military strength in that guar
ter at once, and the Oregon would I'M
doubtedfy be the firSt ship selected for that
purpose. I'll ~ b. s..'r-. ,iG11
Rear Admiral Miller. comma nding the
naval forces In the Pacific, will remain; at
Honolulu until otherwise ordered by the
President He will rot return on the Phil
adelphia, but when that vessel leaves sfof
homei he will transfer his flag to the gun
goat Bennington spending most OF his time
on shore, however, keeping a sharp look
out for developments. Although there is
no Japanese warship in Hawaiian waters
at present, 1t is likely that there will be
one, and probably two,s there before the
annexation of the island becomes an ac-
&C mplished fact When the Naniwa left
for Japan it was generally understood in
Honolulu that she would return after re-
oeiving needed repairs Whether she will
be reinforced remains to be SEEN