Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-19
WARNING FROM HAWAII
Meaning Of Togo's Recent
Great Victory.
RULE OF THE PACIFIC
JAPAN BECOMES THE DOMINANT
NAVAL POWER.
Defenseless Condition of the Islands
Recent Labor Strikes - Volcanic
Activity-County Government.
Spec al Correspondence of The Star.

Spec al Correspondence OF The Star.
HONOLULU, June 6, 1905.
It is now only one week since the cable
brought US the news of the astounding
and overwhelming naval victory of Togo
over the Russian fleet. We have yet to
| read the comments thereon of your main
land journals. Such tremendous histori-
cal event must elicit much and continued
comment, as it must carry momentous
political consequences. Some of these
consequences are liable very materially
to affect our position here in Hawaii.
prominent result is to elevate Japan to
the position of the dominant naval power
in the Pacific ocean, which is the very
position that the United States has count
ed upon holding. By means of the cap
| tured Russian ships added to her navy,
Japan has become extremely strong In
guns and ships, as she was already pow
erful in naval discipline and skill Were
naval conflict this year to occur be-
tween Japan and America 1T would be
nearly impossible for the latter SO to re-
inforce her fleets in the Pacific as not to
be at a ruinous disadvantage. This IS
most serious and alarming fact for Ha-
wall.
By means of our annexation our little is
land country has become invested with the
important office of being the fronting strong
hold of American power in this ocean, 1t Is
| by means of this stronghold, Adequately ana
easily fortified, that America proposes to
| hold and defend the North Pacific, and to
protect her growing commerce radiating
| from and oentering at this crossing point OF
| chief steamer routes. But as things now
| are, your military occupation of HAWAII Is
merely nominal. You have made no fortln-
cation VIVA tever. There is nothing to pre-
| vent any rival to whom it may become an
object from selling and permanently occu-
rHyinc Hay nd wi 1
supreme position in the Pacific
Cannot See the Future.
At present the relations between America
and Japan most cordial. There is rea-
son to trust that they may continue so.
But who can forcsee even the near future!
Already has risen above the horizon
menace of coming dissension between the
two empires, in the pronounced popular
hostility that has arisen on the Pacihc
coast to the immigration of Japanese. 1t
| is vehemently demanded, under the leader
ship of so influential a journal as the San
| Francisco Chronicle that all Japanese sub
| jects be placed under the same ignominous
| terms of exclusion as those to which China
men are now subjected. China, with all
| her indecision and lack of force is strong
| ly resenting the great fndignities to which
| her people have been subjected and is de-
| handing their removal. 1t is, therefore,
| entirely certain that Japan, in her pride of
! victory, will not, for a moment, permit any
dlScOurteOuS treatment OF her people, al
| though she may allow material limitations
| to be placed upon her laborers entering
| the United States, in return for equivalent
| limitations against Americans in Japan.
Hawaii Defenseless.
In general, 1t may be surmised that causes
| of serious discussion scarcely be es-
| capped between two great nations SO dissim-
liar as Japan and American are to each
other In their civilization. their social ideals
| and their domestic life. 1t is impossible
not to gravely apprehend that such dissen-
sions may at any time rise to a critical
stage. And then, in what a dangerous posi-
ton is poor little Hawaii! Stationed out
here in the ocean, 2 100 miles away from
help. a picket guard to hold the position
against all foes, she has not fort, nor
gun, and hardly a warship on the station.
Aand over against us proudly towers the
! winner of the greatest naval battle of
| century, if not the greatest of all ages. 1t
| certainly is not easy to repress dolorous
| fears of what may come in the near future
In view of JapanS sudden emergence into
| a menacing domination of the Pacific, the
| first measure IF Importance for America is
| to fortify Honolulu and Pearl Harbor as
| rapidly as possible. The plans are suppOS-
| ed to be complete, but no appropriation ex-
| lists for carrying them out. An able enemy
| capable of crossing 1900 miles of ocean
would find no obstacle whatever to occupy
! ing this island and Selling its splendid
| vacant harbor. Japan would find here 3d.
| 600 of her own subjects ready volunteers
| for military service on the spot. The 1900
miles voyage of the Baltic fleet proves how
| easily a large naval force can cross the
| ocean; and their numerous accompanying
| transports proves how readily large mil
| itary force could accompany them. How
| secretly and suddenly all TINS could be ac-
| complished Japan's resistless. stealthy
| movements in her present war have shown
| One feels that too much haste cannot be
| made in adequately fortifying this island.
Large Naval Force Necessary.
| OF course complete domination of this
| side Of the Pacific cannot be accomplished
| as long as America has to send her own
| fleets around Cape Horn. Only the compile
| ton of the Panama canal, uniting the At
| lantic and Pacific can give an effective Sc
! curity 1t will therefore be necessary to
maintain permanently a large naval force
| on our Pacific coast and at Hawaii, inVolV-
| ing much increase in the present American
| navy. Otherwise the only alternative must
| be the assiduous cultivation of japanese
| friendship, even to the extent of not
pleasant degree of subservience. But such
| are the necessities of the imperial position
| to which American inevitably aspires. You
cannot afford to let your grip on Hawaii
| be imper1led. You must make that grip
completely solid
Deepening the Harbor.
Active operations are now commencing
on the part Of the federal government in
! deepening the harbor Of Honolulu to the
depth of thirty-four feet. SO as to accom-
modate the largest ships. Repeatedly the
large new liners, the Mongolia and the
Manchuria. have been obliged to discharge
| their freight on the outside of the harbor
| during the year past. Another equally i'm
| portant harbor improvement is now be-
| ginning active progress by the territorial
| government from loan funds. That Is the
| excavating on the main water front Of
three immense slips, TOO feet by 100 feet
| each, to the depth of thirty-four feet at
low tide. Our tides here rise and fall only
| four feet For this work an immense new
! dredger is nearly completed, larger than
! any other west OF Chicago. The upper six