The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-02

ping could not be drawn upon in time
of war because of the neutrality laws.
so that under present conditions the
quick first blow, SO very and increas-
ingly important, cannot be struck at
ALL Incidentally the staff criticises
with the greatest freedom the condi-
tions under which the first little Amer
lean army was transported to Santi-
ago to begin the Spanish American
war.
SIZE OF SHIP NEEDED.
The reply of the War Department
has been prepared by a special commit
tee of the general staff and is trans
mitted to Secretary Taft by Lieuten-
ant General Chaffee, chief of staff
This report stated that two sizes of
merchant steamships are desirable for
transport service, ships of $500 tons and
$500 tons gross register and vessels of
medium dimensions. The speed which
both the Navy and War Departments
have determined upon as desirable for
troops transports is sustained sea
rate of twelve knots. Steamships OF
$500 and $500 tons are preferred because
lit is conceded to be indispensable to
the best results that each ship shall
carry a tactical unit of troops with its
complete equipment and supplies
The report declares that no such fleet
as would be needed for an oversee
expedition could be furnished out Of
the present resources of the American
merchant marine
1.-THE official list" it points out, "of
mo Mt
seven sea-going ships of 1000 gross
tons and upward, with an aggregate
tonnage of 900 This includes the
very fast Atlantic liners, which would
doubtless be required for the navy for
scouts, and also some very large ships,
which would not be generally service
able. OF these ships, eight are sub
stantially of the smaller and nine of
the larger size described. Others vary
in size and proportion to such an ex-
tent as to make it unsafe to adopt fac
tors smaller than four gross tons per
man and ten per animal in gauging
their capacity.
QUICK BLOW IMPERATIVE
In short. to strike the quick blow of
a force corresponding to our perma-
nent military establishment would re-
quire paractically all the shipping of
suitable character in Atlantic waters
and more than the entire tonnage in
Pacific waters.
The report frankly criticises the San
tiago expedition of 1898. Every Ameri
can vessel that could be obtained in
the Atlantic ports during the twenty
days following the declare tion Of VIZ
was chartered-a fleet of thrity-six
vessels. averaging 25JU tons. only 80
of them over 1000 tons. THE official
records afford ample evidence that the
safe arrival was due to the good for
tune of continued fine weather it
says. "A severe storm encountered
would have scattered the fleet, prob
ably with great loss of life, and would
have defeated the object of the expedi-
ton
REPORT GOES TO SENATE.
There is nothing except the success
full arrival to justify its departure. No
cooking could be done on board ship
except to make coffee. Sanitary ar
engagements were crude and insufficient
OF centilation there was practically
none. These statements apply in full
force only to the ships fitted oul for
the Cuban expedition. This feet of
shins could not have embarked, under
reasonable oversee transport condi-
tons. a force of more than 5000 or
II. COO men. and when so embarked the
expedition could have been dispatched
on n long voyage only at great jeop-
artiv Of the welfare of the men and OF
the success of the enterprise"
This report will be presented to the
Senate tomorrow by Senator Calm
ger. who will inform the War Depart
rnnt that ships of the size and speed
described as most desirable for trans
ports are also ships of the size and
speed required for several Of the most
important mail lines provided for IL t7H
bill Of the Merchant Marine Commls-
sion. which stipulates tina sh+0s 20
caiving s1,hvertfous from the Govern
nent shall be held at the disposal OF
the Government in time Of war.