New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24
PRICE THREE CENTS.
ACTION IN THE PACIFIC.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF
THE PRESIDENTS PLANS.
ORDERS ISSUED FOR THE BENNINGTON
TO ANNEX WAKE ISLAND AND
TAKE POSSESSION OF SPANISH
PROPERTY AT GUAM.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TEruUNE.l

by TELEGRAPH TO TIE TEibJNh.l
Washington. Dec. 23-The determination OF
the President TO leave nothing undone TOWARD
the maintenance OF the status quo in the Pa
oihc Ocean as shown in The Tribunes dispatch
regarding the marked increase OF naval activity
10 the westward Of the american continent was
emphasized again to-day by the dispatcn OF
Geographic orders 70 San Francisco TO be car
ried by the steamer leaving there tomorrow n
Commander Taussig. Of the Bennington at
Hcnolulu. TO proceed without delay to the La
drone Islands and assume possession in the
name Of the United states OF all property on the
island OF Guam which had belonged 10 the
Spanish Crown and establish thereupon naval
station. He was Informed that the collier Bru-
tus had already started from Manila TO meet him
at Port Louis d'Aprs, TIE capital OF the La
drones. and the spot which has been selected
as the American seat 0, government Of that
ar pelago
WANTED FOR A CABLE STATION.
The most important feature OF commender
Tausslg's orders, however. directs him TO find
Wake Island. which on the chart lies 600 miles
west OF Hawaii and 1900 miles east u the La
drones directly on a line drawn through the
two groups lie Is 70 take possession OF this
lonely spot in rnidocean and formally annex it to
the United states This Isand was discovered
q score OF years ago by Commander wilkes
while on a surveying expedition
al nd MI fey
tent. but & has az excellent harbor which may
be found useful some day coal base, and IL
10 admirably situated for cabie station as IL
breaks in two the 3300-mile stretch between
Honolulu and Guam. which. on account OF it's
great length. would make a submarine cable
difficult II not impossible, to operate Cn'h
recently the United States would not have taken
the trouble 10 assume sovereignty over this In
significant piece OF real estate. but the persist
ence with which the spaniards refused 10 give
up an iset in the Carol.nes for cable purposes
made Wake Island ndspensa5ly important.
THE WORK TO BE DONE AT GUAM
The orders 70 Commander Taussig clothe him
with wide discretion on reaching Port Louis
d'Apra authority being given him 70 acquire
not only al Spanish State property but any
private holdings that he deems essential to
arst-class navf' station. having in view the an
tsipated enormous expansion Of American trans
pacific commerce He Will erect the necessary
wharves 70 land the coal from the Brutus ana
also such buildings as are essential.
The Bennington viii remain az Guam until the
Yosemite. now at Norfolk VIII n will be the
regular station ship can make the long voyage
20 her destination by way Of the suez Canal In
tho TWO months thus consumed she will make
thorough survey Of the harbor OF Port Louis
d'Apra. and will visit all parts Of the archipel-
ago. surveying the channels between the Islands
and establishing American Jurisdiction over
every bit OF and within the limits OF the group.
The Bennington has already completed sur
yey o, Pearl Harvor. seven miles from Homo
lulu which Will form the foundation OF the Gov
ernment's plans for the enlargement o, the har-
bor there, and the improvement Of the channel
connecting the inner harbor with the ocean