Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1898-05-05
Possible That United States Nay Seize
a Chinese Port.
Effect Of Great Britain's Declaration About
Coal on This Port and It's Coal
Supply.

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will affect the United States at
only one point-in the Far East.
The United States now has at
Hongkong feet of six vessels-
the cruisers Baltimore, Olympia,
Raleigh and Boston and gunboats
Concord and Petrel-and these
ships are awaiting the word to
rush to Manila.
If the Notifications of the Phil
ippines should stand off the Am
erican fleet for any length of time
the operations of the vessels would
be greatly embarrassed, for by
Englsnd's declaration her colo
nists will be allowed to sell to
either bellieerent a supply only
sufficient to take him to his home
port.
Approaching the position as
sumed by the British Government,
Commander Dewey, acting under
instructions from Secretary Long,
has purchased a large quantity Of
coal and has stored it on board
two colliers, which will accompa.
ny his fleet to the Philippines.
Extended operations would neces.
state renewal of the supply, and
the central position of Hawaii is
pointed to by naval experts, who
want it for a naval base.
Hawaii is 1000 miles from the
Philippines. Her position in the
family of nations would compel
her to observe strict neutrality
and not to favor one belligerent
more than another, but her annex
alton to the United States, it is
pointed out, would result in plac-
ing supplies for the Asiatic squs-
dron 1000 miles nearer to the ves-
sells than would be the case if
coal, munitions of war, ETC., had
to be shipped from the United
States. 1t is also pointed out that
Hawaii will find it necessary to
sell coal to Spanish vessel COM
ing to Honolulu sufficient to take
it a portion of the way to it's next
home port, just as she would sell
coal to an American ship.
In the event that coal is de-
clared contraband of war by
France, Hayti and San Domingo,
naval authorities say it would be
impossible for Spanish vessels to
secure fuel in the West Indies.
Discussing this subject editori-
ally the San Francisco Chronicle
suggests that the United States
may be forced by the exigencies
of war to follow the example OF
other nations and seize a Chinese
port for a coaling station. II
says:
"The embarrassment of Com
modore Dewey's squadron in
operating against the Philippines
could hardly be less. The
moment war breaks out the
British coal supply at Hongkong
will be shut off to the belliger-
ents, and Dewey must depend on
the coal in the bunkers of his
ships and that in the holds of the
two colliers he has bought
Should the war be prolonged, it is
conceivable that the fleet would
find itself at a full stop, unless
supplies of coal could be sen,
from here or from Hawaii. All
through the trouble the need oil
coaling stations would be sorely
and continuously felt Perhaps,
in view of the unsettled claims OF
this country against China for the
murder of American missionaries
at Foochow, it may be deemed ad
visable, following recent prece-
dents, to seize a Chinese port and
use it as a coaling and naval base
Ii 80, action cannot come too soon
after a declaration of war with
Spain.
SIN this emergency the value to
the United States of the Hawaiian
Islands is likely to loom up in
such way as to confound the
strategists of the sugar trust anG
the silurians who think that the
Navy can make war anywhere
from a home base. 1t will be all
important to have coal available
at Honolulu, though the neutrsli-
ty of that country may stand il
the way of our getting hold of it
Should such contingency arise
however, we imagine that the isl,
/ anln maLll la tnEnn ..Io Ih.