The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-12-09
OF THE
PACIFIC
GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA
HAS POSITIVE VIEWS ON MILITARY IMPORTANCE
OF HAWAIIAN ISLANDS-CONSIDER THEM DOMI-
NANT STRATEGICAL FACTOR OF PACIFIC

General Macarthur commander of
the Department of California who is in
Honolulu on a tour of inspection of
the general strategical situation of the
islands, has very positive views on the
necessity of adequately protecting and
holding these islands from possible
capture by any foreign force.
Since his arrival from California,
General Macarthur has been occupied
with visiting the various places of i'm
portance about the island of Oahu, and
acquainting himself with the general
condition of the island and the weak
nesses and strength of the island from
a strategical standpoint. Last week
he visited Pearl Harbor and also drove
around the island, besides visiting
other places on Oahu. Yesterday he
was at Round Top and on Friday he
intends to make trip around the Ma
kapu Point side of the island by way
of Wamanalo Plantation. He will
stop over night at the Waimanalo plan
tation and take horses the following
day and round the point meeting the
army conveyances on the Koko Head
side. After making this trip, Gen
eral Macarthur will have made the
complete circuit of this island.
Next week he proposes to go into
camp for three or four days at the
Waianae-uka military reservation. A
detachment of troops from Camp Nc
Kinley will go into camp with General
Macarthur! This encampment will be
made for the purpose of determining
the military possibilities of that reser-
vation., In view of General MacAr-
thurs statements regarding the policy
of defence for this island, this encamp-
ment will be of much Importance. 1t
/ Al D.. - al, ,,rr
on tho selection of the final military re-
hservation for it will enable him to de-
termine the situation and practicability
of the reservation from strategical
standpoint with regard to the defence
of the island.
| General Macarthur has decided that
| it will not be necessary for him to visit
any of the other islands. He considers
| that the strategical conditions of Oahu
are sucn as to made 1t the key to the
entire group. The two harbors on this
island. Honolulu and Pearl Harbor,
render this island the most Important
from military standpoint and there
are practically no other harbors on
the other islands for which the gov
ernment need give itself any imme-
diate concern. He intends therefore
to continue his inspection of this ISL
and and to return to San Francisco on
the S. S. Siberia December 21.
1T believe with Captain Mahan the
Naval writer" said General Macarthur
this morning that the Hawaiian ISL
ands are the dominant strategical fac
tor of the Pacific There can be but one
opinion regarding the necessity OF
fortifying and holding this island. The
two harbors that are on this islanc
naturally make Oahu the important
island of the group and the one will
which the situation can be controlled
Pearl Harbor where it Is proposed tC
construct a Navy Yard should be made
impregnable but 1t will not be neces
sary to fortify the entire island so a
to prevent possible enemies landini
forces. The Heuer Board which wa
here and examined the question o