The San Francisco call., 1898-05-03
RHYMES TALK
 OF ANNEXATION Hawaii'S Friends Seek to
 Profit by the War With Spain.
Say Dewey Is Handicapped by Need of a Base Of
 Supplies.
Lodge, Frye and Gray Discuss the Proposed Acquisition of the
 Islands.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, May 2.-The Herald s Washington correspondent telegraphs: Rear Admiral Deweys victory off Ma nila and the report that he has estab- lished blockade at that port was the subject of serious consideration at the White House and Navy Department to-day. In view of the fact that the Spaniards still control the cable from Manila, or they did when last heard from, the Navy Department is in ig- nGrance as to the supply of coal Ad- miral Dewey's fleet has on hand. When the fleet left Hongkong for Manila the coal bunkers of the entire fleet were
 filled to their utmost capacity with fuel. In addition, a collier with a car go of $500 tons of coal accompanied the fleet. The question under considera- tion to-day was how much of that coal supply had been exhausted and how long the remaining quantity would last the admiral in the event of a protract- ed blockade at Manila.
 As China and Japan have delayed making their declarations of neutral ity, it is claimed by those we'll versed in international law that the United States still has those eastern ports open to 1t, where an additional supply of coal may be obtained.
 Rear Admiral Dewey's gallant achievements of yesterday and the able and courag ageous support given him by the officers and men of his fleet render it imperative that the Government should not hesitate a moment to send supplies to him by the fieetest ships that sail out of San Francisco. This is no time to speculate what eastern ports may be open to our ships or in l. cuSsions in the event of the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands. The prompt and vigorous action of Rear Admiral Dewey in front of the Spanish fleet in- spired the Secretary of the Navy to take immediate measure to relieve cur fleet in the Pacific Ocean of any en- barrassment it might feel for want of coal
 Accordingly, orders were telegraphed to San Francisco this morning for the Government authorities to select two of the sWiftest ships at that port, load them with coal and dispatch them at once to the relief of Admiral Dewey's s fleet.
 It was during the consideration of this subject that the question of an nexing Hawaii forced itself to the front. Senator Lodge of Massachu setts, Senator Frye of Maine and Sen ator Gray of Delaware, three of the ablest and best-informed members of the Committee on Foreign Relations, were at the Navy Department and dis cusSed the proposition with Secretary Long. Senator Lodge said he regretted very much the failure of the United States to annex Hawaii several years ago.
 We never needed it as much as we need it to-day added the Massachu- SettS Senator, with great earneStneSS. Tt would be an invaluable piece of property at this moment and to my opinion the United States should not hesitate a moment longer about accept ing the generous and thoroughly busi- ness-like proposition of the Hawaiian Government
 Some of the wise men of this gen. eration," continued Senator Lodge, were shrewd enough to appreciate the necessity of the acquisition of Hawaii by the United States. If our people who were opposed to annexation would throw aside political and personal con- alterations and look at the situation from an international standpoint and as a. plain, practical, business proposi- ton they would insist on the immediate ratification of the treaty now pending before the Senate. Take existing con- ditions into consideration and any reasonable man will be struck at once with the importance of the United d Pacific Ocean. Here is our gallant Asiatic squadron fighting successfully to uphold the national standard in that far away eastern country. We have no means of knowing at the present mo- ment what injuries our ships and crews may have sustained in yesterdays con- fiict We are also in the dark as to the supply of coal the fleet has at it's dis posal. With all foreign ports closed against us our only recourse is to ship q coal supply from San Francisco.
 How different would be the condi- tions if Hawaii had been annexed to the United States before this war with Spain came on. With cable communi- cation between Hawaii and San Fran cisco we could relieve Rear Admiral Dewey's fleet from any embarrassment 1t may be subjected to for want of coal. Consider the difference in the number of days it takes to go from San Fran cisco to Manila and that Hawaii IS more than half way between those points, and it is ct once apparent that Hawaii would be of inestimable value as part of United States territory"
 The question of annexation of Ha- waii is likely to be revived in the Sen ate and the reasons - forth by Sena- for Lodge will be one of the strongest