The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-09-12

Hafb0f IN order TnaG Jney may De SUD
mitted to Secretary of War Wright by
the 18th of this month.
Will Protect Pacific Coast.
War Department believes that the en-
tire Pacific Coast will be safe from at.
tack by any foreign power, and that
the commerce of this country in the
Pacific could pursue its way practically
undisturbed Part of the scheme or
defense is the establishment of an in
fantry and field artillery post on the
island, with garrison of $4,000 men,
which is considered ample to repet land
ing parties at the two or three possible
landing places not fortified.
While easy of defense, in case o. its
capture, it would be almost impossible
to retake this base, and an enemy hold
ing it could sweep our commerce from.
the Pacific besides threatening the en-
tire 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 ordi
nary attack even now, but eventually
there would be two artillery posts, one
at Queen Emma Point, at the entrance
of Pearl Harbor, and the other at Wal
Lii HannI1.l,4 zach xrifh iv4a
12-inch mortars, two 14ineh guns and
four 12-inch guns, besides a number
of 6-inch and 3-inch guns. There are
being installed now eight mortars, two
12-inch and two 14-inch guns. For
this work Congress appropriated $500,
600 for placements, $264,00 for guns
and carriages, $4,000 for searehlights,
$132, 900 for mine defenses, S181 900 for
mine planters Pearl Harbor and Ho-
nolulu are easy to mine and that work
is to be thoroughly done.
Batteries for Pearl Harbor,
It may be noted that were there no
at Pearl. Harbor, bat
teries would still be needed there for
open to the sea as much as Galveston
does. The harbor proper lies five
miles from the sea, and with the for
under way it will be thor
oughly protected, and, moreover, an
enemy would be unable to see what
vessels, if any, lay there. It is prob
able that no foe would ever undertake
to attack this stronghold from the
sea.
At Waikiki it is proposed to es-
tablish fourcompany artillery post
at 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 at 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, it be-
ing nineteen miles from Honolulu and
nine miles from Pearl Harbor. To al
ow for the garrison considered neces-
sary and for other needs, Congress will
De asked to provide for twentyfour
more regiments.
Naval Base Perfect One.
The naval base will have very ex-
.ensive repair shops, vast coal stores,
huge drydocks, quarters and all appur-
,enances of a naval base. While we
lold it, even a European power could
lot threaten the Pacific Coast without
sending a force so strong as to destroy
he balance in Europe. Military au-
horities declare that there is no neees-
iity so great as the protection of the
Hawaiian Islands, and Congress is con-
identity expected to provide the sinews
# war