Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-07

The Panama canal-the severance,
of two great continents and the
union of two mighty oceans whose
shores mark the worlds greatest
empires-will soon be a reality
American history will Justly claim
this work as the greatest engineer
ing achievement of modern times, to
endure for all ages. Although built
primarily for the national defense, in
the years to come it may be high
way of universal peace, through
which an international commerce
will be developed, binding the ma,
lions of the East and the West to.
gether in a strength of commercial
amity hitherto impossible and un,
known. tt. E
II has been said that the Pacific
ocean, with it's shores and islands,
will be the future theater of the
worlds greatest commercial activity
The possibilities of awakened China,
the growing world power of Japan,
the vast undeyeloped resources OF
Western America, in conjunction with
the opening of the great waterway,
certainly point to an ocean commerce
Of colossal proportions in compari.
son with the present day traffic.
Four thousand six hundred miles
waiian islands. the Crossroads cfthe
Pacific" and Americas greatest flu.
ture naval base. These islands are
unique in their location with relation
to ocean routes, In their climatic and
scenic attractions and in. their ma
Ierial resources, considering limited
area and population. The opening of
the canal is therefore matter of the
keenest interest to every one in Ha
wall who has feeling of patriotic
pride in great national achievements
who reliezes the important part these
islands will play in the national de-
tense, and who looks forward to the
great commercial and material bene-
fits which will accrue to the Terri
tory under vastly improved transpor-
tation facilities. by
importance to Navy.
:. The Importance of the island of
Oahu as great fortified naval base
will be greatly increased by the open
ing of the canal, Admiral Cowles,
commandant, naval station. Hawaii,
sums up the situation as follows:
The Importance of Honolulu as a
naval base has been so well recog
nized by those in authority, as is
shown bye the liberal appropriations
which have been made by Congress
for the development of this station,
that it is not necessary to say any
more on the subject except in so far
as the strategic position of Honolulu
Is affected by the opening of the Pa
mama Canal.
Its situation will then be not far
from the line of communication .be-
tween the canal and China and Ja-
pan. One of our fleets coming out
from the Atlantic through the canal
for operations in the Pacific would
probably make its first stop here for
final preparations. The stock of coal,
ammunition and supplies of all kinds
would therefore be kept at the max
imum, as, whether going or return
ing, the fleet would naturally make
this station its principal resort for
replenishing or for repair 1t would
also furnish a rendezvous for COM
merce destroyers and submarines 1t
also offers great opportunities as a
rendezvous for reinforcement to the
personnel of a fleet engaged in Chi
nese waters; that is,4 a rendezvous
most secure and convenient. 1t may
also be noted that with strong de-
fensive batteries a fleet or its COM
pOnent parts could not be well con-
fined in port, as opportunities for It's
escape from q blockading fleet would
be excellent. The same conditions
would offer it as a fine field for OPP
erations of submarines and destroy.
ers against hostile fleet In fact
almost in the proportion as the open
ing of the canal would increase the
efficiency of the fleet it would in
crease the Importance of Honolulu as
a naval base"
The temperature and healthful eli,
mate of the islands and their free.
dom from typhoons and tropical
storms in general adds not only to
the safety of the fleet, but to the
comfort and welfare of the thousands
of men who will be stationed there,
in both the naval and military
branches of the service. II"
Hawaii now exports annually $46,,
600, 600 worth of products to the main
land of the United States. about
three-fifths of which goes to the At
lantic seaboard. Practically all Of
this freight is now transported by
steamer to Sanila Cruz, Mex, thence
by rail across the isthmus of .Tehuan.
tepec, and then again by steamer TO
destination. While this route is a.
great improvement over the long and
voyage around Cape Horn,
or the expensive route overland, the
large amount Of storage and rehand-
ling across Mexico will be eliminated
when the all-water route is opened
through the canal. This will mean
quicker delivery, less waste, more
steamer lines and consequently lower
rates of freight
Hawaii is absolutely dependent up