The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-09-07
HAWAII AND CABLES.

The able and exhaustive address
on the necessity of ocean cables on the
Pacific, delivered recently before the
Naval War College at Newport. r l.,
by Captain Squier, has and is still At
tracing wide attention II has shak
en- up the Eastern press to some extent
and will force the subject on the atteu-
ton OF Congress in a manner in which
ii has never heretofore been present
ed The very full synopsis which The
Republican published few days ago
Capt Squier. One Of his main points.
that these sea cables should be wholly
under the control of the United States,
should not be lost sight Of. Gables
are these days as much war necessity
as commercial one, and in addition,
these American cables should be oper-
ated in connection with the alrea iy
extensive land telegraphic systems CT
the country's new possessions.
While Captain Squier's learned pa
per was intended mainly for soldiers
and sailors, viewed from a military and
naval standpoint, it is nevertheless in
teresting and instructive to the layman,
notably the merchant and financier,
and especially so in Honolulu. To be
OF the greatest possible strategic value.
Capt Squier indicates the need of
central cable station in the Hawaiian
Islands. Speaking on this subject he
said:
Geographically situated at the mill
tary and commercial strategic position
of the North Pacific ocean, it will ulti-
mately serve as the distributing center
for ocean communication between the
two hemispheres as well as the various
island groups Of the Pacific"
The Republican believes that in the
not far distant future these words OF
Capt. Squier will be regarded as pro-
| phetic. They presage the unquestioned
destiny of these Islands. They will
become the great distributing centsrs
not only of communication, as Capt.
Squier predicts, but of barter and COM
| merce as well. Honolulu ought TO be-
| come the Singapore Of these Islands,
which means one of the great CONNER
cial cities Of the United States.
| In this direction lies work for the
man who may be sent as delegate TO
Congress for Hawaii. 1t Is such posi-
bilities that ought to gauge the man
who is to be selected for this posi-
tion-a man who can foresee our ies-
tiny and. forseeing it, work intelligent
ly and successfully toward its accom-
plishment Such man will find in
spiration in Capt. SQuier's article
The latter held that cables were al
most as important as ships in certain
crises and his plea for cable equip
ments for fleets was very strong one
He said. in his peroradon:
"The United States will be wise il.
| In the Pacific, where she has such para
mount natural advantages for COM
merce and maritime strength, she pur-
sues a strong. vigorous and even lavish
cable policy. She should he able p. tas
earliest date &c, Eanufacture upon
American soil deep sea cables of the
first class. be able to lay. maintain and
repair them in time of peace or war by
ships flying the American flag, and 20
be prepared to adequately protect them
upon tie high seas and at the landing
places by military and naval force. The
cable is one of the most important
problems of the present hour, unique
in that American commerce. diplomacy
and sea power-in fact. the most ef-
fcient means OF advancing and secur-
ing the benefits Of civilization itself
happily conspire In demanding its early
solution"
These are strong points in favor of
Hawaii and Of our central and strategic
poSitiou