The record-union., 1898-12-24
The Government Will Safely Guard
American Interests.
Further Territorial AGquls ltlun by the Pow
ers TO Be Prevented.
The Island of Guam Will be Pro.
tected Against Amy UnfriendIy
Incursion-The Hawaiian ISL
ands to Become a Strong Base
of Naval Strength.

NEW YORK, Dec. pa special to
the Tribune" from Washington says:
The Importance of American inter-
ests in the Pacific Ocean, which have
been SO noticeably increased by Dew
ey's victory at Manila and the assump-
ton by the United States of augmented
responsibilities in consequence, has
received significant recognition from
the Navy Department in the issue Of
orders to carry out plans which have!
been carefully matured in the last few
weeks with a view to maintaining alb
solutely the political geography of that
vast ocean as it exists at the present
time and to prevent any further acces-
sions of territory by European Powers
in the tracks of American commerce or
along the lines of communication be-
tween the United States and itE most
distant possessions.
Perhaps the official action of greatest
importance relates to the dispatch of
the auxiliary cruiser Yosemite about
January 1st from Norfolk to the La
drone Islands via the Suez Canal. Com
mander George E. Ide of the Yosemite
will sail under orders to hold his ves-
sci at Guam as station ship, and while
tect the Island of Guam against any
unfriendly incursion. The seizure of
this island during the war and it's ac-
QUESTION under the treaty of Paris by
the United States may prove to be the
result of remarkable farsightedness on
the part of the naval advisors of the
President, as it practically commands
the Caroline archipelago, being within
a Of
islets of that group.
The strategic value of the Yosemite's
station at Guam is, therefore, manifest.
and is calculated to prevent any
change of sovereignty over the Caro-
lines. without the cordial consent of the
United States, especially as Dewey's
squadron at Manila will be rather aug
mented than reduced in strength in the
course of a few weeks
Another important order which has
been issued provides for the loading of
the collier Abarenda at, Norfolk with
the best duality Of Pocahontas coal.
and for the departure of that vessel
about January 1st for Samoa via the
Straits of Magellan, voyage Of over
10000 nautical miles. The Abarenda
will lie in the harbor of Pago-Pago,
doing duty as a station ship. until the
arrival there next spring of the con-
tractors and material for the coaling
establishment to be erected by this
Government at a cost of 100000.
The Abarenda will be armed and
fully able to give good account of
herself if the serenity of the Samoan
group be too severely strained by Ger
man interference. She will be only
Z,oOo miles from Honolulu, where the
Oregon and the Iowa are to rendezvous.
and these battleships can join her at
any time with the certainty of securing
coal for return voyage from her
bunkers. The lack of coal at Samoa
has hitherto been the chief objection to
sending high powered war vessels
there to protect American interests
Another order bearing on the situa-
ton in the Pacific has been prepared to
send to the special squadron when it
arrives at Callao, directing the distill-
ing ship Iris to proceed directly to Ma
Mia. Before starting on this voyage
she will take a full complement of fuel
from the other colliers of the squadron.
enabling them to hurry on to San
Francisco with the Iowa, while the
Oregon and the Celtic continue their
voyage to Honolulu.
Before the end of January the Ha-
waiian Islands will become a strong
base of naval strength, and, in con-
junction with the effective forces at
Manila and San Francisco, will effect
ually command the entire Pacific
Ocean.