Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1912-05-23
Mr.. WESTERVELT
TALKS OF HAWAII

WELLINGTON. N. r., May I. -
America has settled down permanent.
ly at Hawaii, fortifying Pearl Harbor
until II has become another Gibraltar.
Has II an eye to the Japanese, or is II
concerned only with trade routes?
These interesting points we're discuss
ed today by Rev. w. ID. Westervelt, a
prominent resident Of Honolulu, who
has almost completed a long holiday
In New Zealand.
Quite surprising was his account of
the military forces now at Honolulu
They include between two and three
thousand United States infantry, while
there is a cavalry camp containing the
crack United States regiment, the
Fifth. Then there Is another large
camp of 600 to 800 marines. As for
Notifications, Mr.. Westervelt explain.
ed that the United States Government
has spent several millions on that
class Of defence and the equipment OF
the forts with modern guns and an i'm.
mense mortar battery.
Diamond Head, which Overlooks
the whole harbor, is tunneled through
and through, like another Gibraltar"
says the Honolulu visitor, "and II can
be regarded as absolutely impregna.
BILE. notice attempts in New Zealand
to get up japanese scare. We have
the japanese as servants in Hawaii
about 10000 OF them. Surprising a
Japanese feet anchored outside our
harbor. the first thing we would do
would be to put the servants under
supervision, while. as for the feet,
with our Notifications. we would not
have the least fear. New Zealand,
with its insular position. is practically
safe. for the reason that II Is difficult
to bring enough drilled soldiery with
feet to accomplish anything. They
cant touch you here, with your men
of fine physique, and nearly every
man gunner"
! why is America so concerned
about the Pacifc?"
well, it's not case Of more coun.
try, for we could not get It unless a
volcano sent bit more up for us,
continued Mr.. Westervelt. I'VE are
| In Hawaii because there the United
States is at the crossroads of the Pa.
cific. All the main steam lines touch
there. and when the Panama Canal Is
opened, its importance will become
more obvious to the world AT large
: There was strong party against an,
nexation once, but the feeling is gen.
eral now in America that, while we
don't want more country than is
bounded by the two oceans, we don't
want a foreign Power to settle down
on an island 80 close to our doors"
Mr.. Westervelt was asked If there
Is any prospect of the coastwise ship
ping regulations being suspended In
regard to Hawaii, 80 that this serious
/ bar to New Zealand shipping trade
with that group and with the United
States could be removed. lie answer
cd that the feeling against the regua
] tions Is very strong In Honolulu. Pub
lie meetings have been held in pro
test, and petitions signed by most in
| fuential residents have gone to the
United States Congress, praying fol
! their removal THE question has Sc
cured consideration in Congress-" con
tinued Mr.. Westervelt. land we have
been able to impress some of the Con
gressmen personally with the unfair
ness and Inconvenience OF the present
position. Parties of Legislators have
been invited annually to Honolulu
and many of them have paid return
visits. Sometimes It has happened
that the American steamer has been
TOO full. and they have had to wait for
the next. although there were British
or Japanese liners sailing to the same
port, but not allowed to carry passen
gers to or from Hawaii"
Mr.. and Mrs. Westervelt left Wei
lington today for Auckland, whence
they go to Australia for month.