Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-12-29
TAKES WAKE ISLAND.
1T Is NEEDED FOR CABLE STA
TlON.
General Otis Told to Capture IlolIo In
Order to Rescue tho Beiea usred Span
iaFds.

washington, Dec. S4.-Ihe govern
ment has determined to hoist the flag
over an island far out in the Pacific
ocean and orders We're sent out late
this afternoon to the commander of
the Bennington, Captain Taussig, to
proceed at once to take possession in
the name of the United States govern.
ment of Wake island, lying in lati.
tude 10 north, longitude 160 east
1t Is distant about 1000 miles from
Nihau, the westernmost of the Hawaii
an islands, and 1900 miles east from
Guam 1t Is almost in direct line
between these possessions of the
United States and Is admirably adapt
ed for use as n station for Pacific
cable to connect the Philippines with
Hawaii and the United States. 1t Is
about three miles In length and incloses
lagoon of salt water. The average
height of the island is eight feet above
high tide. 1t is scarcely capable in
itself of sustaining life, but 1t Is ex-
pected that cable station can be
maintained without difficulty by the
erection of condenser to supply fresh
water.
Some station In this locality Is
deemed to be absolutely necessary to
the maintenance of n cable and for
that reason the American Peace COM
missioners at Paris endeavored to Sc
cure one OF the Caroline islands, but
without success. Wake island Is said
to be already American territory, for
in 1851 Admiral Wilkes surveyed the
place and asserted title. 1t Is not in
habited SO far rs known at the present
time, though In the past some guano
gatherers have temporarily lived on
the island.
The Bennington Is now at Honolulu.
and the orders to her will 60 out by
steamer. After hoisting the flag on
Wake island she will proceed to Guam
and make the survey of the islsrd. :
which wns ordered some time ago. She
has already completed n survey OF
Pearl harbor.. seven. miles from Homo.
lulu. which &Ill form the foundation
of the government plans for the en-.
largement of the harbor there and the
STRENGTHENING OF the channel connect.
Ing the inner harb0r with the ocean.
The auxiliary cruiser Yosemite will
be dispatched about January 1st from
Norfolk to the Ladrone Islands. via
Snex canal Commander George L.
Ide Of the Yosemite will sail under or
ders to hold his vessel at Guam as sta.
tion ship, and while there to be con.
stnntly prepared to protect the Island
Of Guam against any unfriendly Incur
sion.
The strngetic value OF the Yosemites
station ut Guam IL manifest. and IL cal.
culnted to prevent any change OF SOW
crcignty over the Caroline Islands
without the cordial consent OF the
United States, especially as Dcweys
squadron at Manila will be rather aug.
mented than reduced In strength In the
course Of n few weeks.
Another important order which has
been issued provided for loading the
collier Abnrcnda at Norfolk with the
best quality OF Pocahontns coal and
for the departure Of that vessel about
January LIST for Samoa, via Straits OF
nautical miles. The Abarenda will lie
In the harbor OF Pago-Pago. which is
owned by the United States. doing
dug as station ship until the ar-
ttvnl there next spring Of the contrac.
tors and material for the coaling cstab-
llshmcat to be erected by this govern.
mcnt at a cost Of 100000.
The Abarcndn will be armed and ful.
ly able to give good account OF her
self II the serenity OF the Samoan
group Ii too severely strained by Ger.
man Interference. She will be only ..
900 miles from Honolulu. where the
Oregon and the Iowa nre to rcndez-
vous. and those battlcships can join her
at any time with the certainty OF Sc
curing coal for return voyage from
her bunkcrs. The lack OF coal Mt Sa.
mon has hitherto been the chief obJcc.
ton to sending hiIh.powcred war yes.
sells there to protect American inter.
estM
Denver. Dec. 2i.-A special from
Washington. to the News. says:
The secretary of war has cablcd