The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-03-29
Admiral cowles Talks on Re-
quirements Of Existing
Situation.
ANSWERS BRITISH SEAMAN
The Fleet Could Not Stop Japan
GobbIing China if She
Wants To.

That our feet at present in oriental
waters could not "stop the increase of
the sphere of influence of Japan in
China" was the statement of Admiral
Cowles last night, when asked to COM
ment upon an interview with Sir
Cyprian Bridge, of the British navy
dealing with the weakness Of America
in the far East cit would be good
thing to have more ships in the Orient
at present" added Admiral Cowles, but
1t will need more than fleets to keep
Japan from doing pretty much what
she wants in Korea and China. You
see it is land proposition. Japan can
shoot troops over into Korea in night
and then-well it will be too late for
fleet to do much more than look on
In his criticism of the three armored
cruisers hurried from Hawaii to the
Philippines the other day, which he said
would little affect the naval equation
in the far East, Admiral Bridge, it was
pointed out last night, did not exhibit
any great knowledge of the powers of
those ships.
All three are potential battleships,
being surpassed in effectiveness in the
Orient only by the dreadnoughts of
japan. 1t has frequently been pointed
out that Japan stands more in fear of
this class of ship than of any other in
the United States Navy. The Colorado,
the South Dakota and the California are
sisterships of $4,000 tons, 500 feet in
length and SO feet beam. Their armor
is seven inches on the sides and twelve
inches on the turrets. They have a
speed of twenty.three knots.
Heavily Armed.
Each one is armed with four eight
inch, four six-inch and eighteen three
inch guns, the latter two classes being
high powered, long range. rapid fire
rifles. With its present fleet added to
ships now on their way, the United
States naval force in the Orient is
twice as strong as that of any nation
except japan.
"There has been no question for
many weeks about the cruisers which
were here going back to the Coast, /"
proceeded Admiral Cowles. "They
were to stay here for long time or
90 to the far East, and they went to
the Orient when it was thought that
the situation there was becoming acute.
Even with these three cruisers out there
we are not fixed very well, and / have
heard nothing about the Maryland
Raleigh, Pennsylvania, st. Louis and
Oregon being ordered to the Orient
The Oregon is of course ready to get
away at any time, but the Raleigh will
not be ready to put to sea for several
weeks yet"
"What would be the condition with
the larger cruisers from the Atlantic
coming around to the Pacific as report
ed in The Advertiser, some days ago, u
was asked.
More Ships Coming
"With those additional ships in the
Orient we would have more ships there
than any power except JAPAN replied
the admiral "I have thought for some
time that such a feet would have to be
brought around to the Pacific, and when
l read the news in the paper short
time ago it did not surprise me any
1t will take six weeks to prepare the
cruisers for the trip, which they would
make through Magellan Strait. il
would take them two months more tt
make the Journey round. They would
come to Honolulu probably rather thar
to the Pacific coast, for they would bt
here.o
Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, formel
director of naval intelligence in thu
British admiralty, in discussing thu
dispatch of the cruisers Colorado, Cali
fornia and South Dakota to the Philip
pines indicated his belief that a nava
clash in far eastern waters was no
out of the question. He thought thu
United States should be certain OF III
naval strength before becoming in
volved, says Coast dispatch.
ftI have no knowledge of the lates
international situation in China, aa'
don't know whether the statement tha'
Japan and Russia are going to partition
China is true. Personally / shouit
think that the possibility of their do
ing so very remote said Sir Cyprian
III am quite certain that the dispatcl
of American cruisers to the PHILIPPINES
in itself would not have much effect
Such squadron would make very littl
difference in the balance of nava
power unless there is a big American
feet already in the Pacific, and be
lieve there is not.
"Of course, if there is going to b.
4 trouble, it is not unnatural that tn,
United States government should wisl
to protect the property and lives O
American citizens. A squadron o.
American cruisers, however, could NO
prevent any partition of China, and
think that the expressed opinion ant
attitude of the United States govern
ment would have much more effect
-S%-a---