The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-10-23
A NAVY FOR THE PACIFIC

states fthe middle West-Ohio, Indi-
ana, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan
Wisconsin and Iowa-had nearly 5000
men on boardl the southern states,
nearly 200 men under the flag; Ari-
iona, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska
and Oklahoma, over 400; the western
states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana,
Wyoming and North and South Dakota
about 100; the Pacific Coast states
about 1876. The men of the battleship
fleet, therefore, represent practically
every community in the United States,
and the homogeneous character of the
force shows the character of our peo-
pie, as the spirit exhibited by the blue
jackets is a true index of the spirit
of our population.
We need, and should have, on The
create con
portion of these fine ships and brave
sailors. We need them not so much
for protection against attack as to
create conditions which would prevent
the entertainment of even the idea of
hostility. There can be no better as
surance of peace in our part of the
world than the presence of a great
lighting force in Pacific waters. Our
Asiatic commerce also needs this
strong backing in order to develop
along all lines. 1t is an old saying
hiatt trade follows the flag. Unfor-
tunately the American flag, once the
best known ensign in Asiatic ports, is
borne on the ocean by practically naval
vessels alone, but we shall continue to
hope that there will again be seen an
American merchant marine worthy of
the reputation of that whose sails once
whitened all the oceans of the globe.
We have on the Pacific Coast two
first-class navy yards, one at Bremen
ton, Washington, and one at Mare
Island, California, capable of caring
for as large fleet of fighting ships as
it may be deamed desirable to mann
tai non the Pacific ocean. The facil-
tiles for construction and repair af-
forded by these yards are now excel
lent, but every effort will be made to
increase their efficiency to keep up
with the growing needs of the service
At Mare Islanl, in which California is
especially interested, the navy has a
peculiarly efficient base, whose capa-
city for work will be steadily increased
as tie necessary appropriations abe Sc
CURED. The criticism recently made
as to lack of water in it's approaches /
has been found on examination to be
as last summer there went |
to the yard vessels of greater draft |
than any of our battle-ships, except |
the $4,000 and 26,000-ton monsters. All |
the vessels of the navy now afloat |
could now reach Mare Island. But |
has approved the plan of still
further improving the approaches, and |
at the last session of congress $1O0, 900
was appropriated for that purpose and
in the furtherance of a comprehensive
SCENE for securing and maintaining a
depth of at least thirty feet. BY the
time our great floating fortresses are
n the water Mare Island will be ready
% receive them.
We have also lat California City, on
he bay of San Francisco, coaling
station which is second to none in the
world, where the largest battleship
nay run under the coal pockets and
receive her complement of fuel in the
shortest time and with the least ex-
,enditure ftime and labor. The sta
ion is perfectly protected, is within
'asy reach of any vessel that enters
ian Francisco harbor, and is defended
" the perfect system Of forts and
mines which prohibits the entrance OF
lostile vessels through the Golden
tate. Another coaling station is be-