The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-11
UNITED STATES MAY WAR
WITH GERMANYSOOM
Statement that Was Attributed to
Major General Macarthur
at Honolulu.
REPORT BY COL. JONES
Which, the General Asserts. Incor-
rectly Represents What He
Meant to Say.

HONOLULU, Dec. 10-Much interest has
been aroused here by a report of Col.
Jones. of the Hawaii military, to Governor
Carter of the Territory of Hawaii, in which
Col. Jones. in commenting on the strategic
Importance of the Hawaiian Islands and the
need Of strong defenses, quoted Maj. Gen.
Macarthur. L. S. A, predicting
in the immediate future between the United
States and Germany, and that the principal
scene of the fighting would be in the Pa
cifc ocean, with the Hawaiian Islands as
objective point. Maj. Gen. Macarthur,
who is still in Honolulu, having been here
the past two weeks studying the military
situation Of the territory, stated TO a re-
porter of the Associated Press to-day that
the report of Colonel Jones does not cor
rectly represent his views in any particular
and utterly misrepresents them in some.
Colonel Jones said his report to Governor
Carter was based solely upon social con-
versations he had with Maj. Gen. MacAr-
thur, and that he only reported his ex-
pressions in substance with a view of inn
pressing Governor Carter with the need of
Strengthening the isloated islands from a
military standpoint. Colonel Jones SAID he
took notes of his conversation with Gen.
eral Macarthur, and that his report was
made from his memory The converse
ton occurred during a social call which
he and Colonel Soper, of the National
Guard. made on General Macarthur. Colonel
Jones was very much surprised that his re-
port to Governor Carter was made public
A few days ago General Macarthur was
quoted as saying that the main feature of
the defenses of the territory is the pro-
Of fIo
Dor. and that the occupation of the other
Islands is not an important matter from a
military standpoint, while Pearl Harbor is
maintained as strong defensive position.
Colonel Jones's report quotes General Mac
Arthur as saying that the Pan-Germanic doc
trine, which is being spread throughout the
world, is being fostered and propagated by
the imperial government in every possible
way. 1t is strong and getting stronger
wherever German people settle, even among
Germans who have been citizens of the
United States for years. In connection there
with one fact cannot be overlooked to wit:
There were few Germans in the American
army during the war with Spain, so few, in
deed, that the presence of a German was
noted as being rare occurrence. The thea
ter of operations is changing gradually into
the Pacific. The German people are null
tiplying very rapidly and emigratinS in
large numbers, the tide of emigration being
directed by the German government toward
South America. The manufactured products
OXerDalanCe their
consumption, that a market has to be
ordered for the surplus. The known policy
of the Emperor is to acquire colonies which
will provide markets for such overproduc-
ton and places to which the tide of en-
igration shall be directed for Strengthening
the fatherland.
Throughout all South American coun-
tries the Germans are advancing in COM
mercial power and prestige. The conclu-
sion seems Inevitable that the interests
of Germany in South America where to-
Il 10
straining Of the Monroe doctrine and In all
probability a contest between that power
and the United States in the near future
in which event no one can now forecast the
attitude of England and other European
powers. Therefore, it is the duty of the
federal government to make itself as strong
as possible so as to be able to care for itself
in any emergency. No nation or number
of nations will be in position to make
an attack on the Pacific coast without first
capturing these islands,"
Gov. George X. Carter, of Hawaii, said
to-day: THE publication of Colonel Jones s
report was not authorized by me, but it
occurred through a misunderstanding At
my request Colonel Jones had written out
memorandum of his conversation with
General Macarthur two days after it took
place, for the purpose of preserving General
MacArthurs views regarding the National
Guard and Colonies Soper and Jones had
sought to enlist General MacArthur's aid
in getting back from the federal govern
ment the military barracks site near the
capital. which was taken during the Span
ish war 1t is now wanted by the Territory
for an armory L had interview with
General Macarthur yesterday In which
General Macarthur referred to the stategfc
Importance of the Hawaiian Islands in the
event of war, but he did not specifically
mention any nation. He gave gratifying
support to our efforts to improve the Ha-
waian militia. He said in substance that
Hawai- was the dominant strategic feature
of the Pacific"