The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-08-14
LACK Of NAVAL Base
HAHDIclPs AMERICA.
GOLFERS BEING ovERHAULED
AND SENT TO ORIENT
WITH COAL.
Same Difficulty Encountered Nov
That Confronted the Nation
at Beginning Of the
Spanish War.


WASHINGTON. July 2s--The Navy
Department. is preparing for possible
eyentusiities arising out Of the stu
alton in China. One OF the great dit
rcultles which would confront the Unit
Cd states In the event Of naval warfare
in Chinese waters Is lack OF naval
base close to the scene Of operations
Manila is 2 900 miles from Taku, while
some OF the other powers have bases
within striking distance. England has
a base at Wei Hal Wei and eoaling
station at Chetoo: Russia has naval
base a. Port Arthur and Germany ~
Kaiachaio. Besides. in case OF nayaI
xar. tbs ports Of China. which in ordi-
nary times are open for the purchase
O, ali ordinary supplies and stores
would Be closed.
The same difficulty confronted the
department during the Spanish wa,
and so far as coal is concerned tn
same method will have to be pursued
TO supply our war ships a feet of col
Uers will have to be utilized to TAX
out coal for our ships and TO ply back
and forth between our squadrons ana
Manila. And even this plan has its OBJ
stacles. owing to the fact that foreign
countries have gobbled up everything
anaat which could be utilized for ship
ping coal and stores. Germany anc
Japan have even impressed steamers
The result is that at the present time
50 per cent OF our government freight
for the Orient Is now being carried II
foreign bottoms. Consequently prices
have materially advanced. F'reigh'
charges on coal which the Navy De
partment was able 10 ship 10 Manila
Tor 81 a ton now cost 50. and the prize
OF coal itself has materially increased
The department would. therefore. prac-
tically be compelled TO rely upon ii:
own vessels.
As . precautionary measure the CO
Hers purchased during the Spanish wa
which had gone out OF commission ar
being fitted out for service. The wat"i
shin Arethusia which was also pur
chased during the Spanish war, nl
which was procured too late for ser
vice. is also being prepared at th'
League Island yard. Modern war ship
need fresh water for their boilers. an(
the supply OF fresh water is indispensa
bic il they are TO be kept in first-clas'
condition.
The Indiana and Iowa came TO grie
during the Spanish war because the.
were compelled to use salt water IL
their tubular boilers. Owing to tn
lack of naval officers available. the col
llers on the Atlantic coast under or
ders for China are being equipped wit
merchant crews. There are sixteei
ships in the collier feet. Five other
are either in Pacific or Asiatic waters
The Saturn and the Alexander ar
loading at the Norfolk yard and Wi
proceed as soon as possible via III
Suez canal The Caesar is already Ell
route. Admiral Bradford. chief of tn
Bureau OF Equipment. today recon
mended that the Leonidas and Pompey
both at the League Island yard, be fit
ted out at once.
While the United States is immeas
urably better off now in the matter o
coaling stations in the Pacific, OWN:
to the acquisition of the Hawaiian an'
Philippine Islands. the practical diff
ficulty OF carrying on naval operation
on :he north coast OF China in the even
OF war emphasizes the statements mad
10y Admiral Bradford in his last an
nual report, in which he said:
AS matter OF fact. it may be state
without fear OF contradiction. that a
present 1t would be impossible for
Emitted States fleet TO carry on aetiv
operations during a war anywher
about the coast OF Europe. Africa.
large portion of Asia and South AmerI
ca. for want OF coal.