The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-11-30
Bv Ernest G.. Walker.

WASHINGTON, November 15.-Big
things are doing in army and navy
circles now almost every week. re-
organization of both services is grad
ually under way, and new order OF
administration, looking to higher efh-
cheney, is rapidly coming. The latest
move-which is of national and inter
national interest-was the approval by
President Taft Of Pearl Harbor, near
Honolulu, as the chief and practically
the only naval base in the Pacific, and
the virtual abandonment of naval
bases in the Philippines. The station
at Cavite is actually to be abandon
ed. but that at Olongapo, in SubiS
Bay, north of Manila, where the great
floating drydock now is, will be main
tanned as a repair station.
This action will undoubtedly result
in great boom for Pearl Harbor and
for Honolulu. 1t is accepted as ac-
acknowledged that the Philippines are
untenable for purposes of naval de-
tense in time of war and that HOSTILE
ties on sea can be conducted far bet
ter from Pearl Harbor as base, POO
miles from San Francisco, than from
sSubig Bay, which is more than 5000
miles from San Francisco and from
the mainland. 1t will undoubtedly
mean the further enlargement Of the
military and naval establishment of
the Island of Oahu. Before three or
four years have passed there will prob
ably be far more soldiers, including
both infantry and cavalry, stationed in
the vicinity of Honolulu than in the
vicinity of any other city under the
stars and stripes. 1t will also mean
that the most powerful naval station
in the world will be at Pearl Harbor.
Ten Million the Cost.
Those familiar with naval matters
believe that the expenditure for tn,
new naval station will soon aggregate
$10,000,000. The present plans con
template an expenditure of approx.
mately $7,000,000, when-about the
middle of 19l2-the dredging of the
channel to Pearl Harbor at a cost of
=$3,500,000, the construction of a man.
moth drydock at cost of $4,000, 900,
and possibly of an addition thereto to
cost $1,000,000 more, and the erection
of great shops and barracks have been
completed Since the announcement
was made, the concern of navy Off
GERS has been chiefly over the attitude
congress will assume toward this enor-
nous project. The one thing essential
now is the speedy appropriation of nee
essary funds. In other cases, congress
has been prone to delay and to supply
money less speedily than it could well
be expended. This winter money will
be asked for speeding the dredging
of the channel and also for increasing
the drydock 30 that IL will be large
enough 10 accommodate two drend,
thoughts AT the same time, as original.
ly contemplated. Because of the strict
economy that must apparently be ex.
ereised this winter, when the govern.
ment is spending money at the rate
of $5.00O,000 more a month than n
collects, there will be a disposition 10
curtail on Pearl Harbor.
Navy Wins aud Loses.
The navy both wins aud loses In
this decision for the abandonment Of
the Philippines M bnse for wnrlike
operations A joint army and navy
board worked onf the plan IN favor u
Pearl ilaTb0r aud their ToeommendA,
iiop ihe' went - the secretary M he
aayy and 90 the President before Il
became eiesllge, ihe navy has long
been e0niendlne for tho establishment
Of great naval base A. OlongapO
Had DE army hes eanleuied lhaI az
faFlineailons should hp placed ~ IA
BIG Bay Api Taihsf 80 AsnllH Ray
Tbs Army hss beeH AaYlng Ne Ney III
49, eAliW n lhensh lle asll W.