The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-01-14
MAY NOT SEE MARUS
FOR A LONG TIME

Probably the most significant evil
dence of the almost certainty of war be-
tween Russia and Japan was announced
this morning i'm the cable dispatches.
This was the news that the Japanese
government had reqmsitioned the San
Francisco fleet of the Togo Kisen Kali
sha line as government transports. The
Hongkong Maru, America Maru and
Nippon Maru are to be taken as trans
ports by the Japanese. Aside from in
dicating that Japan is about ready to
begin the attack on Russia this news
is of especial interest to Honolulu peo-
pie as it means that thee viii probably
be a material curtailment of the mail
service to and from the Coast and the
Orient
What makes the reQusiton of the
three vessels significant and Indicative
of the proximity of war is the fact that
unless conditions had not reached the
stage where practically nothing could
prevent war, the japanese government
would hardly cause such a serious blow
to fall on one of the most prosperous
of its merchant marine lines. The Togo
Kisen Kaisha's San Francisco line is
one of the most profitable as well as one
of the most efficient of the japanese
merchant marine and it can well be re-
garded with pride. Did not the exigen-
Cies of war demand the immediate use
Of the vessels of that line it is certain
that the service would not be entirely
disturbed. Japan is evidently deter
mined upon prompt and immediate ac-
ton, however, and as war dominates
all other conditions, so the merchant
marine will have to be sacrificed.
At the present timS every one of the
three vessels is at sea. The Hongkong
Maru is the closest in touch to Japan
and will in all probability be in Maya
saki today. She is due at that place
tomorrow from Shanghai, but in ali
probability will be in Nagasali today.
1t is now thought that she will not sail
from Yokohama January 20 bound for
Honolulu and San Francisco, as the
japanese government will in all prob
ability hold her in that country and at
once set to work converting her into
a transport or auxiliary cruiser.
The Nippon Maru is likely to be the
second vessel seized by the Japs. She
left Honolulu January 6, bound for Yo-
kohama She is due in Yokohama Jan
uary Is and is likely to arrive the day
previous, Sunday. The America Maru
is now between here and San Francis
co. She left Honolulu last Sunday and
win arrive in San Francisco tomorrow
light. 1t is not improbable that she
will be ordered to sail direct from San
Francisco for Yokohama, cutting out
Honolulu entirely. The vessel is due to
sail from San Francisco January % anG
Is due in Honolulu the afternoon Of
January 81 but the probabilities are
that she will not come here at all.
H. Hackfeld & Company, the local
agents of the Togo Kisen Kaisha, have
received no official advices regarding
the requisition of the three boats ana
50 far as they know the vessels are ex-
pected on schedule sime In case the
vessels should be withdrawn other
steamers may be chartered to replace
them on this run.
There is moreover the chance that at
least one Of them may be captured by
the Russian warships The Hongkong
Maru is evidently out of their reach
and the Nippon will in all probability
reach Yokohama without trouble, but
there Is danger that the America may
/ be caught. She win have ample room
/ however i'm which to dodge about The
/ chances are that she will reach Yoko-
hama safely and in time to do good SER
vice for the Japanese government.