The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-02-28

faient; there must be an operating
base for war vessels as well as coast
defenses, and the latter are useless
without the former.
Hawaii should be defended for its
own protection; but / repeat that it IS
far more important for the offensive
and defensive plans Of the nation as a
whole
MI Hobson ] would like to remark
in connection with the suggestion made
by the Prince that | ventured in adj
vance to see Admiral Dewey and 9TH
ers that have studied that question,
including General Bell The Admiral
recommends Captain Pillsbury as the
man to represent the General Board
and General Bell himself said he would
hold himself in readiness to appear
before you if you desired his presence
on that question. He said he could
be reached over the telephone today il
you wanted him.
During the hearing the following
remarks by Secretary Mcclellan and
questioning took place:
If the Hawaiian Islands arc con-
trolled-and when l say controlled"
mean effectually occupied-by the
American Navy as an operating base,
they can defensively set out the line Of
attack 1000 miles from the coast. Some
of the California members have often
| spoken of that point to me, that Ha-
wall practically forms a buffer of de-
| Tense against any enemy on the Pa
cific. There is your outpost, 1000 miles
out there, past which the enemy dare
not go. Operating from Hawaii-which
| is, of course, connected by cable with
| this country-scouting cruisers, even
with the present efficiency of wireless
telegraphy, could be in constant COM
munication with Honolulu and through
that with the mainland, for the direc-
ton of operations, for many hundred
miles Your army transports today,
gentlemen, operating past there to the
! Philippines, have communicated for
500 miles, in the present efficiency or
wireless telegraphy. SO you see that
| it would only require a few vessels to
keep touch between them and maintain
communication back and forth
Mr.. Butler. How would you protect
the navy-yard there from an invasion
by land?
Mr.. Mcclellan. You would protect it
by soldiers.
Mr.. Butler, We would have to keep
a large army there. would we not?
Mr.. Mcclellan. / think there is a
better way than that, Mr.. Butler. |
want to say, gentlemen, since this
question has been raised, that it seems
to me that the Navy Department ought
! to furnish submarine boats for the Ha-
waiians islands and torpedo boats for
the coast defense. ! do not believe
there is any place where there is more
proper natural location for that sort
of boats to prevent landings Of troopa
and arms by an enemy.
Mr. Thomas. A defense of Hawaii
must Of necessity be a naval defense,
must it not?
Mr. Mcclellan. 1t must be a naval
defense And / think, gentlemen, that
while you are waiting for the develop
ment Of your dry dock, which will
take three or four years there ought to
be provision made for submarines and
torpedo boats for the coast defense OF
Hawaii.
What is the situation today gentle
men? An oriental nation, or any other
nation, for that matter-particula
an oriental nation-could come thero
today with one battleship, and in one
half day could take possession Of the
Hawaiians islands by landing troops
and arms. / am not going into the
question Of whether they are going
to do it, ! am simply stating, gentle
men, the fact that they could do it if
they chose,
Mr. Dawson We Qre practice "
defenceless?
Mr.. Mcclellan, There is not a gun
mounted in the Hawaiian Islands-not
one.
The Chairman. Now tell us about
the channel there What about the
depth of water going up?
Mr. Mcclellan. If you will let me
refer to this larger map
Mr. Bates That is the most won
derful thing in the whole group of