The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-09-03
HONOLULU is
NOW HEADQUARTERS
oContlnued from PAge Onel.

squadron would remain in Honolulu
for fourteen days and that $50 men
from each vessel would be allowed
ashore at a time, so that there will be,
each day, 600 men ashore from the four
vessels. The West Virginia may not
give liberty to her men until she has
coaled, but the other boats are grant
ing shore-leave today.
The squadron spent the summer at
Chefoo," said Lieutenant Tompkins,
target practicing. We have finished
our practice with the big guns and /
do not think we will have any small
arms practice here for the reason that
we want the men to have shore-liberty
and do not want to take up the time
they should be ashore with drills.
From Chefoo we ran down to Manila
and thence to Yokohama and so here.
Coming over we kept well together,
maneuvering as we proceeded. There
were heavy seas a portion of the time,
but these vessels do not mind that
While here the vessels will remain at
the wharves; there will be no more
maneuvering until we take our depart
ure, then we will proceed to San Fran
cisco, maneuvering.
do l think we will return to Homo
lulu when the Atlantic and Pacific
fleets combine? Why, you should know
as much about that here as we do.
This is the most important station in
the Pacific and when the evOlutiOns of
the combined fleets begin l do not see
how Honolulu can escape seeing a
great deal of the big ships. We can't
go anywhere without taking in Homo
lulu. Oh, Wen be back"
AS the Big Four lie at the wharves
they are in the following order: U. s.
S. Pennsylvania at Naval wharf No. 3,
opposite the Naval station; U. S. s.
West Virginia, flagship, at Naval
wharf No. 1, at the foot OF Richards
street; U. S. S. Colorado, Waikiki side
of new Alakea street wharf, and U. s.
S. Maryland on the Eva side OF the
latter wharf
The cruisers Colorado and Maryland
are the first big vessels to dock at the
new government wharf at the foot of
Alakea street and they are well ac-
commodated there. The wharf and APP
proaches have not been completed, as
to details, and the men Of the warships
have to watch their feet when on the
planks
The vessels present a busy scene, the
busiest ever seen in the harbOr in a
Naval way, lined up with their noses
inshore. Today the Naval station and
wharves and the Alakea street wharf
were alive with the activity that comes
with big fighting boats. The calling Of
bugles, the piping Of the boatswains
\ the tread of marines drilling on tn,
wharves, the clatter of gun-butts Of
the asphalt and timber, the orders o
officers-of-tne-deck, the clank OF irol
, tubs emptying ashes, the music o
the ships bells, each different ton
: and the hundred other noises, big an
little, of great battle-machines fl
. peaceful occupation, sounded new t
Honolulu ears and sounded well. rher
!. was much to see and the crowd G
l. Corners and goers was incessant an
interested; they all wanted to look an
TO admire and thrill at the thought {
what these great armored cruiser
meant. They craned their neckB to tn
I topmasts, the tiny port-pennants, II
wireless apparatus from mast to mas
the fighting tops and the big searcl
lights aloft and they rubbered at me
Y painting masts and tunnels and swim
/, ing in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to put da
y of paint here and there. They ma
veled at the ease with which gre
eight-inch and six-inch guns, cOmpTi
n ing the main batteries of the cruiser
t. were handled by their crews. Tht
al remarked on the youth OF the majOri
lie of the men and they wondered at Il
a, magnificent discipline observed az
le the simple movement Of seemingly 4
o. tricate gear large and small.
The commanders of the squadron
r called on the Admiral aboard his fla
ar ship; orders were signalled from Il
~ West Virginia to her sisters and wi
waggers practiced for the fun Of
j. paymasters wrestled with the be-
is bread, fruit and vegetable problem
n men straddled guns to slick them /
u and keep away the rust; decks we
IS sodaed and brightwork was rubbe
- boats were lowered and hoisted
N electric hosts; cranes swung back al
of forth and marines drilled on the bro
he afterdecks. Launches dotted the sli
It. and men on scaffolds painted ship.
st Following are the vessels Of the p
ne cifie feet and their present location
1t Rear Admiral James H. Dayton Col
Us mander-in-Chief
FIRST SQUADRON
First Division.
West Virginia, Captain John b. NJ