The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-05-17
COALINC STATION
United States to Use Hawaii as
Base Of Supplies.
MAY ANNEX ISLANDS AT ONCE
Action Expected in Com mittee.
Many Warships Will Pass
Through.
MAY ANNEX ISLANDS AT ONCE

NEW YORK, May 9.-The Herald S
Washington correspondent telegraphs
Every ton of coal at the Hawaiian ISL
ands suitable for steamer use has been
bought for the navy of the United
States. Orders have been issued from
the Navy Department to dispatch at
once coIliers to Honolulu loaded with
more coal, and that point is to be made
the most important coaling station in
the entire Pacific ocean.
It is foreseen by the Administration
that there will have to be constant
passing back and forth between the
Pacific coast and Manila of naval YES
sells, transports and supply ships, and
it is absolutely necessary that these
vessels should take on coal at Homo
lulu, as few of them can steam the en-
tire distance from San Francisco to
Manila without recoaling en- route.
It is we'll understood by the Admin
istration that the Hawaiian Govern
ment will make no objection to the
United States naval vessels and trans
ports coaling at Honolulu, though it is
realized that by taking that course the
Hawaiian Government takes all re-
sponsibility of becoming an ally of the
United States in the war with Spain.
1t is realized that if Spain had suffi-
cient force in the Pacific the Hawaiian
Islands would be attacked. 1t is furth-
er realized that, after having allowed
the United States to use Honolulu as a
coaling station in the present war, if
this Government should become invoI-
we'd in hostilities with any other power
having naval forces in the Pacific, that
power would take possession of the
Hawaiian Islands at once.
In view of these facts the Admins
tration is hopeful that the annexation
of Hawaii to the United States will be
accomplished without delay, by ratii-
cation of the pending treaty by the
Senate or by the passage of a joint
resolution.
The House Committee on Foreign
Affairs will tomorrow resume cOnsid-
Grafton of Newlands' resolution for the
annexation of the Islands, and there is
little doubt that it will be favorably
reported to the House, where it will
receive early consideration and prob
ably be agreed to on Thursday. 1t is
suggested that the House take no ac-
ton in regard to annexation until after
the Senate had exhausted all it's re-
sources by voting on the annexation
treaty. AS, however, there is no posi-
bility of a two-thirds vote for the
treaty being secured in the Senate, it
is not probable that there will be any
delay on this account.
Additional impetus may be given the
movement for immediate annexation
tomorrow by an official offer from Ha-
wall for a transfer of the Islands to the
United States for the purposes of the
war with Spain. 1t was announced in
a press dispatch some days ago that
President Dole had sent a communica-
ton to this Government making such
an offer. Mr. Hatch did not receive
anything by telegraph from San Fran
cisco relating to such an offer, but mail
which arrived by the steamer which
brought the press dispatch to San
Francisco reached Washington today.
AS the Minister was absent in New
York, this mail will not be opened un-
til his return tomorrow, when, if it
contains an offer from President Dole
to transfer the Islands to the United
States, it will be at once communicated
to the State Department.
The first use of Honolulu as a coal
ing and supply station will be made by
the cruiser Charleston and the supply
ships which she is to convoy to Manila.
This expedition is to start from San
Francisco next week and the Admins