The Washington herald., 1908-03-04
NEED PACIFIC BASE
Prince Kalanianaole Favors
Forts at Pearl HarbOr.
KEEP OTHER NATIONS OUT
Delegate TO Congress from Hawaii
Says that United states should
Make Position in Mid-Pacific Inn
pregnabIe, So that No BeIIigerent
Could Use Pearl HnrbOr rs Base.

Prince Kalanlanaole. Delegate 10 the
American Congress, sat yesterday IN his
room, in the House Office building. and
talked about the fortifying of Pearl Har-
Dor. the only port of worth mentioning
between San Francisco and the Orient
Hawaii" said the PRINCIPLES a very
Democratic prince-"is really not so much
in need of these fortihcatlons for herself
as America is in need OF them for herself.
1t has taken long time for the nation
to wake up 10 the fact that Pearl Har-
Dor should be fortified. that we should
have a coaling and naval base there: but
now I hope that Congress will put II
through"
On the wall in front OF the prince hung
a relief map of the island in which Pearl
HarbOr. the Bay OF Honolulu, and the city
OF that name are situated.
The entrance to Pearl Harbor, which
looks like a magnificent stretch OF water.
even when the water is represented by d
little dot OF blue ink on a two-foot map.
is narrow. and would evidently be quite
easy of protection against the attacks
of all the battle ships IN the world
Entrance Is Narrow.
The entrance" said the prince, as
narrow, and the channel is tortuous
There IS already before the House, I I'M
derstand. a bill to widen. deepen. and
strengthen that channel About $4,000 is
to be appropriated by that bill. and the
whole narrow passageway is 10 be
Strengthened, deepened 70 some extent.
and made from 300 TO 400 feet wide. At
present believe the channel is not wide
enough, or too winding. for the use Of a
modern battle ship"
From the nice brown map with IT'S blue
ink spots 10 mark harbors-and there
were only two such marks on II all-Rnd
It's red ink spots. marking government
property. it could be seen easily that the
United States, II Il Is so disposed can
control this harbor by the erection Of two
or three forts.
The channel TO the harbor might repre-
sent the wrist Of a man. the harbor itself
the ramihcations OF his fingers. Just
where the wrist broadens out. however.
and starts imperceptibly 20 part into
fingers, there would be placed under the
proposed law a fort-the government al
ready owns the necessary land. On both
sides Of the wrist also foTtihcations will
be placed-if Congress acts.
The battle ship that would try 10 get
into Pearl Harbor. II the proposed legis-
latiOn becomes Law. Will have cannon in
front OF II, cannon on either side Of Il.
few mines no doubt, under t. and only
the government Of the United States
would know what behind il.
Only One Worth Name
The prince said that Pearl Harbor IS
the only harbor in the whole Hawaiian
group worth the name, and that the other
small bays. Of which there are very few.
could not possibly afford a place for the
erection of a coaling station.
The prince said that Pearl Harbor
should be fortified. not so much perhaps
because II would afford our ships a coaling
station In the mid-PacIfc, but because.
II the island isn't fortified BY the United
States. it will afford in time OF war an
eminently 1T place for the ships OF bel
ligerent nation TO coal on a voyage from
the East 10 our western coast.
II IS understood that the prince con
ferred with President Roosevelt before
he introduced several bills affecting the
strengthening or our position in the Ha-
wailans. and It is believed that the Presl-
dent has expressed himself as heartily in
favor OF the immediate fertilization of
Pearl Harbor as well as other moves nee
essary to fully establish a naval base on
its shores.
The Bates bill. 1t is believed. VIII 20
through at this session. as ii is realized
in most quarters that the time has passed
when the United States can sit and watch
indifferently other nations strengthen
their hold on the Pacific.
Military Reservation.
On the map in the princes room the
ground owned b. the United States is
plainly indicated. In addition to that
which viii be necessary for the forts at
the entrance of the harbor. there is one
stretch extending almost from one edge
OF the island 10 the other-frorn one
mountain range down through the great
valley of the island to the Top Of the other
range.
Even II some enemy were 20 succeed in
an attempt &c land troops az one OF the
small bays on the western side of the
island. they would have TO cross the MILL
tary reservation or the United States 10 |
reach Pearl Harbor, and the coaling sta
ton and naval base.