The state herald., 1898-12-30
TAKES WAKE ISLAND.
TITS NEEDED FOR CABLE STA
TION.
General Otis Told to Capture IlolIo In
Order to Rescue the Belesguered Span
iRrds.

Washington. Dec. 24.-The 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 1855 east.
1t Is distant about 1000 miles from
Nihnu, the westernmOst of the Hawaii
nn islands, and 1,3OO miles east from
, Guam. 1t is almost In II direct line
between these possessions Of the
United States and Is admirably adapt
ed for use as 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 n 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
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
10 be already American territory. for
in 1851 admiral Wilkes surveyed the
place and asserted title. 1t is not in
hnbited SO far rs known at the present
time. though in the past some gunnO
gathcrers have temporarily lived on
the island.
The Bennington Is now at Honolulu.
and the orders to her will 20 out by
steamer. After hoiSting the flag on
Wake island she will proceed to Guam
and make the survey of the island.
which was ordered some time ago. She
has already completed Il survey of
Pearl harhor. seven miles from Homo
lulu, which will form the foundation
of the government plans for the en-
lnrgemcnt of the harbor there and the
Strengthening of the channel connect
ing the inner harbor with the ocean.
The auxiliary cruiser Yosemite will
he dispatched about January LIST from
Norfolk to the Ladrone islands, via
Sucz canal. Commander George T..
Ide of the Yosemite will sail under or
ders 10 hold his vessel a; Guam as sta
tion ship. and while there TO be con
stantly prepared TO protect the island
of Guam against any unfriendly incur
sion.
The stragctic value of the Yoscmltes
station mt Guam is manifest. and is cal
culated to prevent amy change of SOW
ereignty over the Caroline islands
without the cordial consent of the
United States, especially as Dcwcy's
squadron at Manila will he rather aug
mented than reduced in strength in the
course of few weeks
Another important order which has
been issued provided for loading the
collier Abarenda at Norfolk with the
best quality Of Pocahontas coal and
for the departure OF that vessel about
January list for Samoa. via Straits of
Magellan, a voyage of over 10000
nautical miles. The Abarcnda will lie
in the harbor of pago-Pago. which Is
owned by the United States. doing
duty as station ship until the mr..
rival there next spring OF the contrac-
tors and material for the coaling estab-
lishmcnt 10 he erected by this govern
mcnt at cost Of 100000
The Abarcnda viii he armed and full
ly able to give II good accoun, of her
self II the serenity of the Samoan
group Is too severely strained by Ger
man Interference. She VIII he only .
600 miles from Honolulu, where the
Oregon and the Iowa are to rendcZ-
vous. and those battlesbips can Join her
at any time with the certainty OF Sc
curing coal for n return voyage from
her bunkers. The lack OF coal NJ Sn-
moa has hitherto been the chief obJcc-
'ion to sending hIgh.powered war yes.
sells there TO protect American Inter.
ests.