New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-13
PEARL HARBOR IMPROBABLE.


Again. It has been urged that II We shall take
the group we shall but acquire territory TO
| defend-an element not q strength. but o'
weakness In war. and one which VIII make
necessary large additions 70 our feet. Pearl
Harbor can be made an impregnable ocean for
tress 1t is true that one does not wage war
with fortresses. II is also true. however. that
| they form vantage points from which a force
| may sally and under whose wing that force may
! supply and recruit for fresh attack. II Hawaii
| in naval conflict shall have no useful function
! in this then II would 'eem that. through the
! wars Of all time the eager strife for the pos
session q fOrtresses. Of guarded ports OF from
tier outposts. has been false strategy, an error
| mllitarv.
AS 10 the dread OF the economist or OF the
| altrurian that annexation will require largely
augmented naval strength. II may be said that
/ - an ade1uate force OF the United States be
| stationed at Hawaii and It's coast communica-
| tons he properly guarded. enemy from over
| sea would violate some OF the cardinal prin-
| ciples OF naval strategy and invite sure tsas-
! ter In attacking our western shores without
| first blockading or defeating the Hawaiian
| squadron. The force al Pearl Harbor should
then form simply but the first line OF defence.
! Then the seagoing ships ut 70 lie in line. -
| with their torpedo auxiliares should be gath
cred 70 meet the first assault, leaving the coast
guard 70 the reserve Of torpedo craft and monl-
! tors stationed az fortified ports. The strength
o, the squadron az this ndPacihc outpost
should be doubtless. sufficient 70 meet the
enemy. but the force on me coast could be re-
duced
Some rnisconcepton as 10 Hawairs value In
war seems 10 arise through lack Of apprecia-
ton Of what steam has done In the reduction Of
ocean distances. measuring the latter In the
time spent in traversing them 4 clearer view
NAV be obtained. perhaps. by referring this
time 10 land travel Admiral COlOmb speaks Of
the sea considered as territory over which
military forces march" Let US extend this ex-
rressior somewhat and assume the ocean 70 be.
not a neutral plain, but NO Mans Land. on
which armies may manpuvre Napoleon gave
his system u conducting war AS: ITO march
twenty-five miles a day, 20 fight. and then TO
ann IN ouIet" At fifteen knots speed. a feet
Gould steam from Pearl Harbor 10 San Fran
cisco In less than six days. The Emperor. In
that time would have marched his army one
hundred and fifty miles. H. then, we assume
the sea 70 he a great land plain We must locate
paarI Harbor on that plain az about one hun
dred and fifty miles from san Francisco. and 70
complete the parallel. must make II practically
irnpregnable and capable ~ sheltering one hun
dred thousand men. From this point OF view
EavaiTs reu1oteness would seem to be apparent
=, ,ba vars which gave our Government birth
and which have attended great crises in its his
.ory thousands spent life Itself that a nation
might be formed and preserved for those who
were 10 follow them. The men 81 this genera
TON have added not few stars 70 the blue field
Of our flag As captains OF industry or as toll
ers in its ranks they have 50 developed the re-
sources 81 our wide land that after the wants
y, the greatest home market IN the world are
sIIed there remains 81 our products a surplus
Witch in ever-ncreasing variety and quantity
forces its way into foreign narts Shall not
We 700 serve the greater Republic that is 10
come and in accepting the gift ~ the Ha-
vaiian group. not only make secure our west
ern shore, but give the coming generations
Arm, grasp on the vast-bui for US almost IN
,ouched-,rade az Pacific shores and Islands.
GEORGE ". MELVILLE
Fngineer-in-Chief. l. : y