Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-09
HARBOR OF PAGO PAGO
Our Control of It is Almost an Absolute
Necessity
A Naval Station Of Great Strategic
Value for the Future Protection
of Our Commerce.
Rear Admiral Farauhar, in the Independent.

Rear Admiral Farquhar. in the Independent.
In obtaining full possession Of the fine
harbor of Pago-Pago in the treaty with
Germany and England, the United States
secures u naval station Of great strategic
value for the future protection and de-
velopment of our growing Pacific commerce.
The need of this harbor in the Samoan
group was keenly appreciated years ago by
naval officers stationed on the Pacific coast:
but, II 1t was considered of special value
five or ten years ago. its Importance since
the Spanish-American war has more than
doubled and triplad. The control of 1t may
almost be looked upon as necessity. II
lies in the direct route Of our future COM
merce between San Francisco and the far
east and 1t will therefore prove of an ad-
vantage that any one can appreciate who
studies it's location in the Pacific in connec-
ton with our new possessions there
The Island of Tutuila is of little value to
US or any other country except for naval
purposes. 1t would hardly be worth nego-
tiating for If it were not for its strategic
value In forming link in the chain OF
islands extending from the far east to San
Francisco now oWred and controlled by the
United States. As a convenient place for
our merchantmen, as well as war vessels.
to put in under stress of weather or for any
other reason. the harbor of Pago,Pago is
prominently a great boon to this coun-
try. 1t is practically of no commercial
value other than this. for Its products will
never form any considerable item of COM
merce. There are a few cocoanuts and
other tropical fruit raised on the island,
and the natives can raise these easily ana
find sufficient food for their needs. The
harbor offers exceptional opportunities for
shelter to vessels. During the great hurri-
cane of a decade ago when SO many lives
and good vessels were lost L was in COM
mand of the Trenton. The ierceness Of
that hurricane illustrates what terrific
h4 70 cns Nfoer In q
quarter Of the globe IL not anchored in
some good harbor. We were not in Pago-
Page at the time of the storm, and the
wind and waves easily drove the ships upon
the beach, where they were wrecked.
These hurricanes are liable to do untold
damage to ships in the southern Pacific at
any time during the season for them, and
we could not adequately protect them with
out some good. safe harbor. Pago-Pago
harbor is shaped like a boot. and Is per-
fectly protected on all sides. The water is
deep enough to accommodate heavy
draught vessels, and 1t has all the natural
surroundings necessary to form a protected
roadstead for modern war vessels. As 4
coaling and repair station for the navy 1t
could be made second to Zone In the Pacific.
1t could easily be fortified and made a
strong, imprsgnable harbor.
There is no other safe harbor in Samoa
that offers The same advantages as Pago-
Page, but possibly one could be built at
great expense of time, labor and money.
With the natural advantages offered In
Pago-Pago it would seem, however. that
the requirement of this was gain for the
United States thai we might well be salts
fled with. The harbor of Apia is notOri-
ously insecure and so are the other places
on the islands which pass for harbors. The
beauty and picturesqueness of the Samoan
Islands will probably be sufficient to attract
many Americans tc them to live, and the
naval officers who may be stationed there
in the future will find climate of unsur-
passing attractiveness. Pago-Pago is a
small place. and the island on which it is
located about the smallest of the group, but
1t has the natural situation to make its
growth rapid and effective. If the Pacific
cable to the Philippines is laid, further
connecting link with Pago-Pago will be
made to make 1t of more Importance to
this country.