Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-09-11
CALL FOR BIDS
Continued from Page 81

works there, In addition to $780,
900 to begin the dredging of Pearl
Harbor. preliminary to the creation
there of one Of the greatest naval
depots lin the world. The various
bureaus of the War Department are
now hard at work on plans and esti-
mates for the further defense of
Pearl Harbor in order that they may
be submitted to Secretary OF War
Wright by the 18th of this month.
Will Protect Pacific Coast
With the defenses completed, the
War Department believes that the
entire Pacific Coast will be safe from
attack by any foreign Power, and
that the commerce of this country In
the Pacific could pursue Its way prac.
tlcally undisturbed. Part of the
scheme of defense is the establish
ment of an infantry and field artil-
lery post on the Island. with garri.
son of $1,000 men, which is consid-
cred ample to repel landing parties
at the two or three possible landing
places not fortified. ..E.
While easy of defense. In case OF
its capture, 1t would be almost i'm
possible to retake this base, and an
enemy holding II could sweep our
commerce from the Pacific. besides
threatening the entire Pacific Coast
OF the United States.
Pearl Harbor lies about ten miles
from Honolulu. and the scheme OF de.
Tense must include both. They are
not without defense against any or
binary attack even now. but event.
ually there would be two artillery
posts, one ut Queen Emma point, nj
the entrance OF Pearl Harbor. and
the other at Waikiki. near Honolulu
each with sixteen 12-inch mortars
two 14-inch guns and four 12-inch
guns, besides number OF 6-inch and
3-inch guns. There are being in.
stalled now eight mortars, two ~.
inch and two 14-inch guns. For this
work Congress appropriated 100000
for placements, $264,00O for guns
and carriage, $4,000 for search.
lights, $4,000 for mine defenses
$4,000 for mine planters. Pear
Harbor and Honolulu are easy tC
mine and that work is to be thor.
oughly done.
Batteries for Pearl Harbor
II may be noted that were there
no improvements at Pearl Harbor
batteries would still be needed there
for the protection of Honolulu
which lies open to the sea as much
as Galveston does. The harbor prop,
err lies five miles from the sea. and
with the Notifications under way Il
will be thoroughly protected, and
moreover. an enemy would be unable
to see what vessels. II any, lay there
1t Is probable that no foe would ever
undertake to attack this stronghold
from the sea.
At Waikiki It is proposed to estab'
fish four-company artillery post al
once, at an estimated cost of about
100000. The Government already
owns eleven acres there. and thirty
acres additional are being negotiated
for. The other post will be ut Queen
Emma point, and will be Of similar
size. In the center of Oahu Island
the Government owns $4,000 acres
In an ideal location for large
post, II being nineteen miles from
Honolulu and nine miles from Pear
Harbor. 70 allow for the garrison
considered necessary and for other
needs. Congress will be asked to pro-
vide for twenty-four more regiments
Naval Base a Perfect One
The naval base will have very eX'
tensive repair shops, vast coal stores
huge dry docks, quarters and all ap'
purtenances of a naval base. While
we hold 1t. even a European Power
could not threaten the Pacific Coast
without sending force so strong AZ
to destroy the balance in Europe. Mil
'itary authorities declare that there
Is no necessity so great as the pro
lection of the Hawaiian Islands, ant
Congress is confidently expected t.
provide the sinews of war.