The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-11-30

military branches and the subject has
been much discussed in congress. But
The coast defenses of Manila are now
well on toward completion, and large
sums of money have been spent TO,
placing the most modern defense guns
on Corregidor Island and other is
lands near Manila. This work will go
on without interruption, and Manila
will have as complete and powerful
Notifications as the government can
construct.
The theory of that is that the Philip
pine Islands can not be defended from
invasion by hostile army. There are
several points along the Pacific ocean
side of the island of LuZon where
transports could land an army. The
idea of prominent army officers, how
ever, is that it would be necessary TO
defend Manila and that such defense,
with the troops the war department
will likely keep there, is entirely prac-
ticable. SO while an enemy might
make a landing upon Luzon, he could
not easily take Manila the capital and
chief city of the archipelago. And
while he might be trying to capture
the city or to besiege it, the navy could
come over the Pacific from Pearl Har-
Dor annihilate the enemy's navy on
the sea and cut off his army on the
Island.
Would Send 10000 Here.
The plan undoubtedly looks to an
ultimate increase in the number of
troops to be stationed at Honolulu. 1t
| is known that General Bell, the chief
of staff, would have 10000 soldiers sta
toned at Honolulu and vicinity within
| three months if he could have his way.
The climate there is healthful, the loca-
tions for barracks ideal, and the point
| is strategic one in the command of
the Pacific. But the army is not yet
large enough to warrant the detail of
so large portion of it to one city.
The war department, however, is con-
stantly working out plans for an in
crease of the fighting force there. 1t
now includes about 1900 cavalry, about
500 infantry and 500 marines. That is
a larger force than it would have been
thought possible to put there few
years ago, except in case of threatened
war. The general staff is alive to the
possibilities of great cavalry post at
Leilehua barracks, where there are now
only temporary buildings. There is no
more ideal spot in all the world for
a great cavalry post. Before many
years there will be considerable force
of coast artillery at Honolulu and Pearl
Harbor to operate the enormous coast
defenses, which are now rapidly pro
ceeding to completion. Congress has
already appropriated a good portion OF
the money needed for installing the
necessary guns at Honolulu and at Pear
Harbor. There are big batteries at Ho
nolulu, which could now be fred, in
Guiding eight mortars back of DIAMOND
Head. Both the Army and the Navy
will be urging congress for money this
winter to enlarge the facilities fol
their respective forces upon the island
of Oahu and in the natural order OF
things will obtain considerable sums fol
that purpose. The program now clearly
is to make that a great Gibraltar OF
defense, not only for the protection OF
the Philippines but also for the pro
lection of the mainland. For as Ions
as Hawaii remains intact, it will bt
practically impossible that any enemy.
ships should operate against the main
land from the farther side of the Pa
cific. When the Panama Canal is open
ed in four or five years from now tn,
Importance of having Hawaii impreg
Dable will be augmented.
No Big Fleet Yet.
1t is naturally suggested that thu
, new step means the maintenance of &
big feet of warships in the Pacific
but that probably is not to be expected
for the present. The navy department
is keeping a formidable fleet of armor
ed cruisers in the Pacific and as tn,
new ships are completed some of tn,
older battleships may be transferre,
there or placed in reserve at Honolulu
1t is to be borne in mind, however, tha
once the Panama Canal is finished tn.
Atlantic battlefield, when it is at Guam
tanamo or at target practice in tn,
West Indies every winter, can rendez
vous almost as easily at Pearl HarboI
as at New York, or Provincetown, OF
Hampton Roads. The difference in dis
, lance from the West Indies, as be
tween Provincetown and Honolulu will
be immaterial as mileage for steamships
is concerned. 1t would mean only ;
day or two more of steaming.
SO all things considered the decision
to make Pearl Harbor the only nava
base in the Pacific is exceedingly i'm
portant in the future plans for both tn.
army and the navy and assures tina
place becoming, perhaps, the most i'm
portant in military operations on eithe,