The Washington herald., 1908-03-03

Pearl Harbcr. the very key 10 1.-The
crossroads Of the Pacific where Homo
lulu sits smiling in the semi-tropic sun
light. VIII H. be left longer unprotected
by tie american government, II the
House Committee on Naval Affairs can
induce Congress to come around to its
way OF thinking
II is known that President Roosevelt
and other high officials OF the govern
ment have been interested IN having suit
able fortihcations. which might protect
this great harbor Of The mid-Paclfc,
erected as soon as possible
Several days age Representative Bates,
Of Pennsylvania, after a conference al
the White House, introduced a bin ask
ing Congress 20 appropriate 100000 with
$4,000 OF that amount Immediately avail
able, for The fertilization OF Pearl Har-
Dor.
Orders Bill Reported.
Yesterday the committee ordered the
bin 70 be favorably reported 20 the
House. and, In addition to such action,
agreed upon a report. which IS cOuched
in language which shows that the COM
mittee believes that there is strong need
Of immediate action.
in the Judgment OF the committee. y
says the report. the new developments
on the Pacific and among the nations
that border its shores. make II imperative
that a strong operating base be estah-
lished Cor our navy at Pearl HarboE
without further delay.
AN enemy IA possession Of Hawaii
could harass and threaten our entire
Western coast; on the other hand. with
our own feet operating from well
equipped base at Pearl Harbor. no feet
from the Orient would find A. practicable
10 threaten our coast, because OF the
stronghold left in the rear, and the pro-
hihitive distance from their cOaling base.
"A naval base in Pearl Harbor Is not
designed primarily for the protection OF
Hawaii: its main purpose is TO form a
buffer Of defense for our entire Pacific
Coast and 10 make possible our su-
premacy on the Pacific"
The fact that the esnnittee immediate
~ after considering the report on the
bin ordered 1.-THE bill-favorably report
ed 20 the House is taken 20 mean that
there Is need % fortifyins the mid
Pacific harbor as soon as possible.
Ii, Only Good Site.
Pearl Harbor. according 10 the report
/ Is the only practicable site Tor a naval
base in the Pacific Ocean. and Is the
recognized key TO the naval supremacy OF
4 the whole vast Western sea. The equip
ment Of this harbor, therefore. is alb
solutely necessary 10 the successful Oper-
alton OF American fleets. whether they
may be acting extensively or defensive
! ly
After detailing the reasons why such
| Notifications in Pearl Harbor should be
made By this government. and made as
soon as possible. the report concludes
as follows. Every consideration % ne
tional honor or policy demands that Pear
[ Harb0r be made inpregnahle and
equipped as naval base immediately.
Pearl HarbOr. on the shores Of which
sits Honolulu, the only .arge city OF The
Hawaiian group. IS one OF the great hag-
bOTs II the world. and is practically al
/ present without a guard Of any sort. The
harbOr Itself Is ten miles square and tht
water has an average depth OF abOu
sixty feet
All about the harbor and back Of tbs
( city Of Honolulu lie the mountains, 50
that all view Of ships lying within IN,
I harbor is shut of from those at sea The
/ elevation OF the mountains abou- tht
/ city and its harbor is so great that Their,
/ is no chance even for mortars 70 b,
( enectual over them, nor would thei
/ steepness permit the hauling OF moderI
cannon 70 the SUBMITS.
President Tyler. In lSlI, first gave notice
/ to the world that the American govern
ment was looking after Hawaii and
! recognized thereby that in these island.
were the natural outposts and defenses o.
the nation from invasion over the blue
\ Pacific
In all the sixty-Odd years the United
/ States has realized the necessity of keep.
| ing control OF the Hawaiian Islands, there
has been no adequate fortihcations eve'
/ placed about Honolulu Harbor the one
useful harbor in the group.
/ With the sailing OF the fleet about the
/ Horn and the doubt as TO where it maS
/ be going. the country evidently has awak-
I ened 10 the fact that the islands must
be fortified now or possibly never.