The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-08-01
HAS IT WE'LL IN HAND
COLONEL FITCHS BOARD OF
STRATEGY.
May Not Outwit the Japs But Has
Gilbert and Sullivan Beaten To a
Standstill.

1t is the unanimous opinion along the
water front that Colonel Thomas Fitch
one of the promoters of the Marcus ISL
and Guano company has the situation
well in hand" that is, the situation at
Honolulu. The condition of the situa-
Tran at Marcus Island is at present un-
known but according to last advices the
japanese are probably standing pat
waiting for the arrival of Captain Rose
mrs expedition. There is a ques lion
whether Captain Rosehill has even GOT
ten his hands on the situation. much
less have the situation as well in hand
have.
1t is thought a fortunate thing that
the schooner Julia E. Whalen iiG not
SAIL from this port about a year ago,
loaded as he was to the Plimsoll mark
with the combined weight of a dozen
Mausers, ammunition and documents
from the American State Department
and the Japanese consul, or she might
have been held up as a filibusterer,
bound to smuggle munitions to the
struggling Beers.
The mission of peace backed by the
presence of various Mauser rifles, is of
far different character and in fact,
1t may be destined to be enrolled among
the numerous pioneer trips of the sea
which blaze the trail of civilization.
According to the statements of Cap
tain Rosehill just before the schooner
left this port however, ne was not PLAN
ming to execute any attack on the Jap
anese who were thought to be in pos
session of Marcus Island. In fact, ac-
cording to the first plans, he was direct
ed 10 simply try to land and if the
Japanese refused to permit him to do so
he was to make his way to Manila or
some port in the Orient and secure the
assistance of an American warship
which was to be asked to put him in
possession of the island. Subsequently
this order was changed and he was di-
rected to return to Honolulu instead Of
going to the Orient, as it was thought
that the negotiations for the presence
of the warship, could be conducted
much easier from Honolulu than by
Captain Rosehill in a strange port and
1t was expected the cable would be here
by the time he got back.
According to the statement of Col
onel Fitch however, the Marcus Island
Company appears to have a special
board of strategy. According to state
ments attributed to Colonel Fitch,
Rosehill received secret" orders
to try and land and If refused tc ap-
parenrly sail away but return in the
night and, under cover of darkness,
land on another side of the island, plant
the American flag and hold it until
it was torn down by force of numbers
Gilbert and Sullivan could hardly
have devised a better plot for one Of
their comic operas, unless perhaps,
they might have hit on the plan of
smuggling Rosehll and his men INTO
monster sake tub and floating it inshore
and, when the Japs broke open the tub
thinking to enjoy their national booze"
to spring out and capture the entire
crowd. The only objection to this coup
de Gilbert and Sullivan, would be the
disposition of the sake before the keg
was emptied. The sailors would prob
ably want to drink it and once they
had, the impOssibility of two articles OF
matter occupying the same space at
the same time, would confront the lead
er of the expedition.
Conservative people who talked with
Captain Rosehill and heard his state
ments about not intending to shoot any
japanese or get into any trouble with
them, are inclined to think that as soon
as he is satisfied he cannot land peace
ably on the island, he will return
promptly to Honolulu and not attempt
the comic opera coup of the Marcus ISL
land board of strategy.
Appropos of the Board of Strategy's
plan of hOodwinkng the Japs by sail
ing away ana lanulnS on the Other side
of the island with the Mauser rifles and
the American flag, Captain Rosehill
says in his affidavit to the State De-
partment:
'Deponent says that said island is diff
ficult of approach, being surrounded by
coral reefs with no inlet through which
any vessel of even small size could
pass; that for seven and one-half
months of the year. to wit: between the
18th day of September and the first day
of May, it is practically unapproach-
able for only about five and One-half
the period aforesaid make a high and
dangerous surf and effectually prevent
any anchorage near the reef.
"Deponent says that the said island
is about five miles in length by about
two miles in width and that there is
anchorage ground only on the west
ward side of said island, which anchor
age, on account of the winds, is avail
able for only about five and One-half
months in the year, to wit; from the
first day of May to the 18th of Septem-
ber"