The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-05-24
HONOLULU AS AN OUTPOST
DISCUSSED BY AN EXPERT IN
WASHINGTON MILITARY JOURNAL

y
and repair point, whenever the Navy
needs it. Therefore Honolulu is de.
pendent on its shore defenses.
Several batteries of large guns
have already been mounted, guarding
the entrances to Pearl Harbor and
Honolulu. The ability of such guns
to resist attack, when they are prop
erly manned and supplied with am
munition, has been successfully
demonstrated. Honolulu may be con-
sidered safe from naval attack when
the present plans are completed
Honolulu can, however, be attacked
from the land side The island of
Oahu, on which Honolulu is situated,
is about forty-five miles long and thir-
ty miles wide with a shore line of
over 10 miles. Approximately forty
miles of the shore line is to be pro-
tected by the Notifications near
Honolulu. Military men recognize
that under the guns of naval convoy
troops from transports can success
fully land on Oahu. The lighterage of
such force would be cared for by
seventy gasoline sea-going sampans
now used in Hawaii by Japanese fish
ermen.
Assuming that a force can disem.
bark on Oahu, the decision as to
whether Honolulu and Pearl Harbor
shall fall rests with our preparation
for land defense. So far as available
to the public, the land defense meas
ures are as follows:
Defensive measures taken by the
Government:
1. Engineer Corps is preparing an
excellent map of Oahu.
2. A plan for defense.
8. A proposed permanent garrison
as follows: Two regiments of In
fantry, 1000 men; one regiment of
Cavalry, 800 men; eight companies OF
Coast Artillery, 500 men; one compa-
ny of Engineers, $50 men; one COM
pany of Signal Corps, 100 men; de-
tachment of Hospital Corps, so men;
present garrison of Marines, 400 men;
National Guard, 600 men. Total, all
forces, $500 men.
4. Fortifications on the land side,
none.
Sources of information:
Common talk in Honolulu.
Presumption.
Army and Navy Register, December
"a, 1910. (This garrison is merely
proposed; it has not yet been or
dered) See Navy lists. Latest re-
port. Observation.
Whether or not these measures are
adequate depends on the nature of
the lines to be held, viewed in the
light of the experience in other SINH
lar cases. To select the lines from
the maps now available to the pub
lie would be waste of time. But as
Stunning that the line is not less than
two miles from Pearl Harbor, Homo
lulu, or Diamond Head, the length of
west of Pearl Harbor Is thirty miles.
line from east of Diamond Head to
A large part of this line is reasonably
protected by a difficult mountainous
North of Pearl Harbor is a
wide valley which extends to the
north coast of Oahu, the most proba-
de landing point for an enemy. West
If Pearl Harbor the country is open
extending to the approach from the
vest coast. Whatever line is chosen
or the protection of this extensive
ront, it is reasonable to assume that
here will be over eight miles of front
where the enemy must be actively OPP
'osed. Reasoning from past expert
nee it Is folly to assume the naval
'ase as secure with anything less
han permanent fertilization of the
and front, with proper armament,
nd at least 10000 troops. Extensive
tudy Of the conditions will be neces-
airy to determine whether so few can
ccomplish the desired result In the
all of 1909, it was persistently ru.
lorede that the War Department in.
ended to place a garrison of 10000
len at Honolulu or abandon its de-
ense. This was so plausible to Eng
sh thought that the Statesman's
ear Book. London. carries the pro-
osed garrison of Honolulu at $4,000
nen. That rumo rfell through some
ime ago and no such intention can
% unearthed at present.
In this connection the fate of Port
Arthur should be borne in mind.
There the Russians had land front
# only thirteen miles, were we'll
ortifed, and had a garrison of So.