The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-11-29
Administrations Big Project Ex-
cites Great Interest in
the East.
IMPORTANCE IS RECOGNIZED
Americas Safety From Attacks
Depends Upon Possession
of Hawaii.

The New York Evening Sun of No
vember Il gives much of its frontpage
| space to story from Washington on
the decision of the administration to
make Pearl Harbor America s greatest
naval base. The story is illustrated
with a cut of the famous Crossroads
of the Pacific map prepared by H.
P Wood OF the promotion committee,
a picture of Pearl Harbor, and a map
of Pearl Harbor showing the sites of
the naval station and biggun batter
les. Much of the story is devoted to
a history of the movement to make
Pearl Harbor base, from the time
the Hawaiian monarchy gave the Unit
ed States the right to use the harbor
for coaling station, up to the pres
ent time, when the congressional APP
preparations are being devoted to de-
veloping the base, all of which is in
teresting. The Suns story follows:
The decision announced at the navy
department following a conference be-
tween President Taft and Secretary
Never will make Pearl Harbor, Ha
wall. the chief Pacific naval base of
the United States. The strategic i'm
portance of Pearl Harbor has long
been recognized by naval officers of all
nations, and even to the layman a
glance at map of the Pacific is suffi-
cient to show the reasons for this wide
spread opinion. One of the finest nat
ural harbors in the world, situated
200 miles southwest from San Fran
cisco, it commands the great CONNER
cial highways of the Pacific that lead
to the western American ports and so
the Panama Canal. The Importance of
this stronghold in the event of war
with any Pacific naval power can
scarcely be overestimated.
Long ago, in 1898, before Japan s
startling leap into high position
among the world powers, Capt. A. T.
Mahan, probably the foremost author
lty on naval strategy, in discussing the
strategic position of the Hawaiian is
lands, said:
''To anyone viewing map that
shows the full extent of the Pacific
two circumstances will be strikingly
and Immediately apparent. He will
see at a glance that the Sandwich Is
lands stand by themselves in a state
of comparative isolation, amid vast
| expanse of sea, and, again, that they
| form the center of a large circle whose
| radius is approximately the distance
| from Honolulu to San Francisco. This
| is substantially the same distance as
| from Honolulu to the Gilbert, Mar
shall, Samoan and Society islands, all
| under European control except Samoa,
in which we have part influence.
"To have a central position such as
this and to be alone, having no rival
| and admitting no rival are conditions
| that at once fix the attention of the
strategist But to this striking com
bination is to be added the remarkable
relations borne to the great CONNER
cial routes traversing this vast ex-
panse.
Too much stress can not be laid
| upon the Immense disadvantage 10 us
of any maritime enemy having a coal
ing station well within 2400 miles. as
this is. of every point of our coastline
from Puget Sound to Mexico. Were
there many Others available we might
find it difficult to exclude from ALL
There is, however, but the one. Shut
out from the Hawaiian Islands as a
coal base. an enemy Is thrown back
for supplies of fuel to distances of
$500 or 1000 miles, or between 1000
| and 5000 going and coming-an i'm
pediment TO sustained maritime opera
tions well nigh prohibitive. 1t is rare
" that so important a factor in the
attack or defense of a coastline-of a
sea frcntier-is concentrated in sin
gle position.
1t is small wonder. then. that after
long discussion Of this subject the Joint
army and navy board recommended
| thar Pearl Harbor be made as nearly
| as possible an impre enable stronghold.
There Will he a small naval repair sta
ton at Subig Bay. in the Philippines,
| and the work Of fortifying CoFregidoT
Island viii be completed by the army.
| but the Hawaiian base will be the
strategic center Of our Pacific naval
defense.
As long ago as last year the commit
tee on naval affairs Of the house of
representatives. in advocating an ap-
preparation for Pacific naval base,
said in its report TO the house:
SIN the Judgment of your committee
| the new developments on the Pacific and
| among the nations that border on its
shores make it imperative that strong
| operating base be established for our
navy at Pearl Harbor without further
delay. 4 naval base at Pearl HarboF
is not designed primarily for the pro
lection of Hawaii. Its main purpose
| is to form a buffer of defense for our
entire Pacific Coast and to make pos
| sible cur naval supremacy upon the Pa
! cific An enemy in the possession of
I Hawaii could harass and threaten our