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

Islands-that channel, 60 to so feet
deep.
Mr.. Hobson. 1t is a wonderful thing,
one Of the marvels of nature
Mr.. Mcclellan. You will recall this
Mr. Chairman, from your trip in the
harbor-that when you came in here
think, however, that we went down
on the train, did we not, and ben
came back by boat?
The Chairman. No; ] went right
down through the channel
Mr.. Mcclellan. You recall, Of course,
that it is a tortuOus channel?
The Chairman. Yes.
Mr.. Mcclellan. OF course under the
physical features Of Pearl HarbOr, gem
tlemen, you have an absolutely land
locked harbor, the channel of which is
susceptible of being mined so as to en-
tirely prevent any enemy from ever en-
tering the harbor. That part is per-
fectly simple. But of course you
want defenses to keep the enemys YES
sells away. You have already dredged
this channel bar. l would like to say
that there is no question whatever of
depth of the channel; it runs as deep
as 100 feet.
Mr. Bates. How many vessels could
be deplOyed up in there with safety, IN
your judgment?
Mr.. Mcclellan. Do you mean in
that particular loch?
Mr.. Bates. Up in Pearl Harbor.
| Mr.. Mcclellan. Pearl harbOr lochs
will accommodate the whole Amer1-
can and British navies, combined,
without any crowding whatever, and
without dredging.
Mr. Bates. At the present depth?
Mr. Mcclellan. Yes.
Mr. Hobson. You could put all the
navies of the world in there?
Mr.. Bates. You could put them all
in there? That is what l wanted to
bring out.
Mr.. Mcclellan. Yes; without any
dredging at all The dredging you
will do is simply for your channel ap-
proach. And | want to call your at
tention to the remarkable natural for
nation here for the dry dock. This
| Gndicating) has always been under
stood to be the probable site of the dry
dock There is a blight making in here
! between coral walls, composed OF soft
matter which can almost all be dredged
out, | understand, with a location on
either side for machine shops or what
ever apparatus Of that sort you may
want to put in.
Mr., Butler. Let me ask you-I never
was there, but l would like to have it
in my own mind-there is no protec-
ton whatever to the Hawaiian Islands.
This government has afforded no pro-
J lection whatever in the way of defense
. to the islands?
Mr.. Mcclellan 1t has only started
| in that direction by acquiring some
sites for Notifications.
Mr.. Butler. / know; but the sites
will not defend anything?
Mr.. Butler No; they will not
Mr.. Olcout Is the Army moving
along with the Notifications now?
Mr.. Mcclellan. ! was just going to
say that the army is in advance Of the
navy. They have appropirated-I can
not give you the exact figures at this
moment, but they have some emplace-
ments already finished They have
not mounted any guns yet, but they
have some emplacements already
| finished
Mr. BSuIer. Have appropriations
been made for the guns?
Mr.. Mcclellan. Some appropriations
have been made for the guns; and the
Secretary Of War, | understand. is
urging this year very strongly that
they provide for the entie plan of de-
Tense outlined by the Taft board re-
port
Mr. Roberts About where are those
| emplacements in the Islands-at the
/ entrance to Pearl HarbOr?
Mr., Mcclellan, Part at the entrance
to Pearl Harbor; part at the entrance
to Honolulu channel; part of them
here at Pearl Harbor; one mortar bat
terry here at Salt Lake; one rifle bat
tey here at Salt Lake; and a mortar
| battery here back Of Diamond Head
so as to command particularly the area
out in front