The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-09-10
COLONEL CHURCH On HIS
RECENT VISIT To HAWAII
Military Force inadequate and Not Well Housed
-.-PearI Harbor..- Populations Condition
OF the Nationa! Guard.

ton to attack our Pacific harbors. Even
with great circle sailing Japanese men
of-war, for example, would have to
steam this distance to reach San Fran
cisco or Seattle and nearly $500 miles
separates Yokohama from the Panama
Canal. In round figures the Hawai-
ians are 2100 miles from san Fran
cisco, 2300 from Seattle and 4200 from
Panama. With efficient scouting and
wireless telegraphy a naval force rem
deZvousing at Pearl Harbor would be
able to obtain information of fleet
coming from the East before it was
at a disadvantage.
But all of this presupposes a proper
defense of the islands and for this no
preparation has been made thus far
We have dredged an entrance through
the coral reef to Pearl Harbor, but
that is all. Our naval officers at EIo-
nolulu are entitled to the greatest
credit for what they have accomplish
ed, and are accomplishing under very
discouraging circumstances. Captain
Henry w. Lyon, the commandant of
the station, is constantly called upon
for work that does not belong to his
position, as his only assistant, Lieut..
Comdr. Albert P. Niblack, has numer-
Jus OCCUpdtlOiiS, dIy one OI WHICH
would furnish ordinary employment for
the time of a Navy officer. AS he COM
mands the Iroquois he is frequently
obliged to leave his station with that |
vessel for necessary visit to the |
Midway Islands, which are in his juris- |
dictiOn, or to help some vessel in dis
tress. If he did not have an unusual |
lust for work he could never accom- |
plish what he has to do. The Con- |
gresham visiting Honolulu must cer- !
tainly have discovered how necessary |
it is to increase the number of our |
Navy officers.
Conditions in the Hawa iian Islands |
are far from satisfactory, and, under |
possible circumstances, they might |
prove very disquieting. OF the popula- /
tion, 154,001, according to the census of |
1900, nearly one-half. 61,1 Ill are Japan
ese. Many of these are old soldiers and
most of them have natural belliger-
ency which has not been decreased by \
recent events. How clannish they are
and how ready to act together, was
shown in a recent case. The overseer
on sugar plantation struck Japan
ese workman; instantly the entire body
of Japanese laborers on the plantation |
quilted their work and refused to re- |
sumo it until the offending overseer
was discharged. The 1915 Chinese in |
the islands and the 54141 natives, ac-
cording to the census of 1900, are peace
ably disposed the 12,749 whites are of
various nationalities, and not all are
sympathetic with American aims and
The most troublesome popu-
lation just as present is reported to be
the little body of Porto Ricans of recent |
Formerly there was an efficient body
of substantial citizens organized at Ho-
nolulu into what on several occasions
proved to be a most efficient military
force. For these has been substituted
mixed force of 600 militiamen, princi-
pany native Hawaiians. Their COM
officer, Colonel Jones, who has
come East to attend the rife meet at |
Seagirt thinks that the natives can be
made into good soldiers, but all do not
share his opinion and certainly the |
'ecord of the natives for dashing cour-
ige is not of the best. The native is {
very peaceably disposed citizen until |
he sees blood and then all his fighting |
Instincts are aroused. Such as it is, :
he militia force does not meet with
he favor of the authorities and the
erritorial legislature having refused to
make any appropriation for it, it is al {
resent dependent upon the money rails i
d by a subscription among residents ,
vho appreciate the Importance of main
aiming local military organization in
ome form. The officers of our army
tationed at Honolulu have done what 9
hey could to encourage the militia. and y
,olonel Jones expresses the highest ap-
,reciation of their uniform courtesy g
nd kindness. | a