The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-09-25
" u r. q e e FFTRE%@eE,
Army and
Navy News
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The following story in the Army and
Navy Journal confirms the Advertiser s
story published the day following the
visit of the Congressional party to
Pearl Harbor:
Gen. Arthur Murray, Chief of Coast
Artillery, on his way home from the
fhlilpplnes, made careful study of
the defensive problems involved in
holding the Hawaiian Islands as
naval base. While the southern coast
llne OF Oahu at the present stage of
development is well fortified, the north
SIDE OF the island offers an ideal OPEN
ing for an offensive landing, with ev-
cry chance Of success for any consid-
cradle body of troops. Between Ka-
ena Point and Kahuku, distance of
sixteen miles, there is marveiously
hne shelving beach, where a landing
could be made very easily. The prin-
cipal town, Waialua, is situated mid
way between kaene Point and Kahu-
ku, and is the terminus of the Oahu
hallway, which rises gradually up
through broad, gently sloping valley
leading southwark a distance of twenty
miles to Honolulu. At present there are
no defensive works on the north coast
of the island, and if there were, with
out the support of mobile forces, they
would hardly be adequate to deal with
any considerable landing force protect
ed by a few battleships., The water
running out to the north increases grad
1l,y air ~; 20 ID
then dips off suddenly to 40. There is
ample anchorage for navy of any size
in ordinary weather. and if in case
of war the United States should be
forced to hold the island, it would take
5000 or 5000 men with rapid firing guns
and field artillery to make any sort of
successful defense. 1t is not unlike,
ly that several mortar batteries viii
be placed along this coast within the
coming year.
North Pole AS Military Station.
It is with regret that l see by the
newspapers that DR.. Cook has found
the North Pole; this means that there
will be military station located at
the Pole, to be garrisoned by the Coast
Artillery, as has always been the case
when new territory has been acquired
Witness the sending of Co. NJ, 3rd Ar
| tillery, Captain Freyes, to California,
via Cape Horn. in 1S47, and of two com
panies of the 1st Artillery to Oregon,
via Cape Horn and the Sandwich Is
lands, in 1S49-a short trip Of about
six months; and of the I'd Artillery to
Alaska in 1867.
The Pole possesses many good feat
ures for an Army station: First, it is
| inaccessible; second, it would be a dis
agreeable station; third, fuel, forage
and light are scarce; fourth, con-
| tractors would fatten on their trans
| portation contracts; fifth, it would be
| a good station to send officers to who
are persona non grata at the War De-
partment.-S. in Army and Navy
| Journal.
More Infantry for Hawaii
More infantry for Oahu IS posts is
the recommendation made a few weeks
ago by an army board dealing with
local military affairs. 1t is presumed
this has reference to increasing the
force at Fort Shafter so that it will
become a regimental post. A site for
the erection Of more buildings has been
chosen on the rise of grounds Wal
kiki Of the present structures.
Fleet Due Today.
The second division Of the Pacific
feet is expected to return this morn
ing from the Maalaea Bay tests, and
| the first division with Admiral Sebree,
a little later. All the vessels may be
locked before 5 p. m. Coal is on the
docks for the bunkers of the entire fleet
save the Colorado which has already
coaled. The crews may be paid off
today.
Former Minister to Hawaii.
Gen. Edward M. McCook, veteran
of the Civil War, Ex-Governor Of Col
OradO and former Minister of the Uni