The Washington times., 1908-03-05
STRENGTHEN HAWAII
TO PROTECT COAST
Establishment of Naval
Base at Pearl Harbor
Is Urged.
House Naval Affairs Com
mittee Fears for Suprem-
acy in Pacific.

In the judgment of your committee.
the new developments on the Pacific
and among the nations that border its
shores make il imperAuve that strong
operating base be established for our
navy at Pearl Harbor without turtSer
delay"
The equipment Of Pearl Hartor is a
matter of national prudence and not of
extravaganza. II affords the nation s
least expensive way of defending our
Pacific coast, and il viii constitute one
of the strongest factors in the proven
ton Of war with any power in the far
East"
Every consideration whether OF ma
tional honor or policy, demands that
Pearl Harbor be made impregnable and
equipped as a naval base Immediately
These are not excerpts from Fourth
OF July speech, but are calculated and
well-studied statements Of the House
Committee on Naval Affairs in their re-
port 10 the House in favor Of the bill 10
establish a naval station at Pearl Har-
Dor. Hawaii They express the rea-
sons that have led many members Of
Congress to entertain the feeling that
this country must look 10 the building
up Of its strongholds in Pacific waters.
Would Give Enemy a Base.
Especially pronounced has been the
feeling that Pearl HarbOr must be
made impregnable for the reason that
if 1t should fan into the hands Of an
enemy. that enemy would have base
whence II could strike the Pacific coast
with ease. The members OF Congress
from California. oregon and Washing
ton. who believe trouble may Yet come
with Japan. are much impressed with
the importance Of terrifying Pearl Har-
Dor. and there is no doubt TINS feel
ing is shared in the army and navy
and by the administration.
The report OF the Naval Affairs Com
mittee was made By Representative
Bates of Pennsylvania II points out
that the Hawaiian Islands aHord the
only possible location for a strong
naval base in the central Bdcluc Tor
more than 1900 miles from the western
coast OF the United States. It says
Pearl HarbOr IS beyond question one OF
the best if not the best, natural mar
bors in the world. II has a depth of
ever sixty feet and an area Of nearly
ten square miles and IS capable or hOat-
ing the combined navies Of the world
Ships at Anchor Hidden.
II is not only landIocked, but, by rea-
son of the topography Of the surround
ing ground. ships lying in the Aa'DoF
are ont of view OF the open sea. 1T
is the only practicable site for a naval
base in the Pacific ocean. and is tile
recognized key TO naval supremacy in
those waters" is the language Of the
report.
s.The War Department has acquired
annie sites for fortifications at the
channel entrance and the first battery
is now under construction. A magpih-
CERT site for q naval station, consist
inc of over COO acres of land mas Deen
purchased by the Federal Cove nment
ana a thirty-fOot channel has been
5rfdged through the channel bar"
The committee says the main purpose
of fortifcatiou Of Pearl Harbor is not
rhe protection of Hawaii but that 1t
is TO form a buffer defense Tor our
entire Pacific coast and to make pos
sihle our naval supremacy on the Pa
cfnc." II adds that the fortihcatlOr
of this defensive outpost rs not COM
UarubIe in its importance with the same
problem in the Philippines, the maNlTfs
of Pearl HarbOr impTegnable being CT
much the greater moment