The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-09-12
COLONEL CHURCH ON HIS
RECENT VISIT To- HAWAII

, cisco, 2300 from Seattle and 4200-from
Panama. With efficient scouting ana
wireless telegraphy naval force rem
dezvousing at Pearl Harbor would be
able to obtain information of fleet
, coming from the East before 1t was
half way across the ocean and take II
at 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 Ho-
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..
Condr. Albert P. Niblack, has numer-
GUS occupations, any one of which
would furnish ordinary employment for
the time of Navy officer. AS he COM
mands the Iroquois he is frequently
obliged to leave his station with that
vessel for a 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 Hawaiian 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, 81, Ill are Japan
ese. Many Of these are old soldiers and
most of them have a 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 a Japan
ese workman; instantly the entire body
of japanese laborers on the plantation
quilted their work and refused to re-
sumo 1t until the offending overseer
was discharged. The 25.767 Chinese In
the islands and the 54,141 natives, ac-
cording to the census of 1900. are peace
ably disposed; the 1919 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
importation.
Formerly there was an efficient body
of substantial citizens organized at Ho-
nolulu into what on several occasions
proved to be most efficient military
force. For these has been substituted a
mixed force of 600 militiamen, princi-
pally native Hawaiians. Their COM
manding officer, Colonel Jones, who has
come East to attend the rifle meet at
Seagirt, thinks that the natives can be
made into good soldiers, but all do not
share his opinion and certainly the
record of the natives for dashing cour-
age is not of the best. The native is
a very peaceably disposed citizen until
he sees blood and then all his fighting
instincts are aroused. Such as it is,
the militia force does not meet with
the favor of the authorities and the
territorial legislature having refused to
make any appropriation for it, it is at
present dependent upon the money rails
ed by subscription among residents
who appreciate the Importance of main
tanning local military organization in
some form. The officers of our army
stationed at Honolulu have done what /
they could to encourage the militia, and
Colonel Jones expresses the highest ap-
probation of their uniform courtesy
and kindness