The Monte Vista journal., 1898-12-31
TAKES WAKE ISLAND.
1T - NEEDED FORA AcAsLE STA
TON.
General Obs Told to Capture Ilollo in
Order to Rescue the isclsaguered Span

over un island far out In the Pacific
ocean and orders We're sent out late
this afternoon to the commander OF
the Bennington, Captain Tuussig, 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 1866 east.
1t Is distant about 1000 miles from
Nihau, the westernmost OF the Hawaii
an islands. and 1,IOO miles east from
Guam. 1t is almost In Il direct line
between these possessions of the
United States and Is admirably adapt
ed FOR use as n station for Il 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. II is scarcely capable in
Itself of sustaining life, but 1t is eN-
pectcd that cable station can be
maintained without difficulty by the
erection Of a 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
missioncrs at Paris cndcavorcd 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 iu-
habitcd so far us known NJ the present
time, though In the past some guano
gathcrers have temporarily lived ON
the island.
The Bennington Is now ut Honolulu.
and the orders to her will 20 out by
steamer. After hoisting the tiag on
Wake island she viii proceed 10 Guam
and make thc survey of the island.
which was ordered some time ago. She
has already completed u survey OF
Pearl harbor. 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 hnrbor with the ocean
The auxiliary cruiser Yosemite will
be dispatched about January lst from
Norfolk to the Ladrone islands. via
Sucz canal Commander George T.
llc OF the Yosemite will sail under or
dcrs 10 hold his vessel at Guam rs sta
tlon ship. and while there TO he con-
stantly prepared 10 protect the island
Of Guam against any unfricndly incur
sion.
The stragctic value of the YOscmte's
station at Guam is manifest. and is cal
culatcd to prevent any change of SOW
crcignty over the Caroline islands
without the cordial consent of the
United States. especially as Dcwcy's
squadron at Manila will be rather aug
mcnted than reduced in strength in the
course of few weeks.
Another important order which has
been issued provided for loading the
collier Aharcnda nt Norfolk with the
best quality OF rocahontas coal and
for the departure Of that vessel about
January 1si for Samoa. via Straits OF
Magellan, u voyage OF over 10000
nautical miles. The Aharcnda will lie
In the harbor OF Pago-rago. which l.
owned by the United States, doing
duty MS a station ship until the ar
rival there next spring OF the contrac-
tors and material for the coaling cstab-
llshmcnt 10 be erected by this govern
mcnt at a cost Of 100000.
The Aharcnda will he armed and full
ly able 10 give a good accoun, OF her
self II the serenity of the Samoan
group is too severely strained by Ger
man Interference. She will he only q
600 miles from Honolulu. where the
Oregon and the Iowa are To rcndeZ-
vous, and those battlcshlps can join her
at any time with the certainty OF Sc
curing coal for a return voyage from
her bunkcrs. The lack OF coal at Sa-
| moa has hitherto been the chief objec-
ton to sending hieh-powcrcd war yes
sells there 10 protect American inter-
ests.