Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-02-02
OAHU DEFENSES
VERY IMPORTANT,
SAYS gen. WOOD
CONTINUED from page one)

the measure would give congressional
approval of the transfer Of foTty-flTe
field artillery pieces to the insular
possession. The guns have been sent
to the Philippines, and the Hawaiian
islands during the past year by the
department without waiting for auth
ority from congress. The bill would
appropriate s5.175.2 200 in all
This is a decrease of about 1920
coo under last years appropriations.
The Hawaiian island project is the
only new one proposed in the bill, and
it was included at the solicitation of
Secretary Garrison and the general
sta offices.
Major-geueral Wood. chief of staff,
told the appropriations subcommittee
that Notifications of the islands was
an urgent necessity in order that the
naval base might be defended and
maintained as a protection to the Pa
cific coast and Che Panama canal. He
and Secretary Garrison outlined the
war departments plan to the commit
tee.
Island Fortifcatiousr Urgent.
The Hawaiian islands" General
Wood said. ARE really in the center of
all the Pacific trade routes, and who
ever holds them will exercise very
great influence, if not control, in time
of war on the Pacific trade. 1t was
also one of the important, if not the
most important. element in the de-
Tense of the Pacific coast The i'm.
portance ofkholding these islands Sc,
curely fortified as naval base is of
the greatest in considering the ques-
ton of the defense of our own coast
and the Panama canal, because any
enemy from the west OF us desiring to
attack either the Pacific coast or the
Panama canal has got to leave these
islands in his rear in order to do so,
and I doubt If any well-considered
hostile expedition would venture to as
ksume such a risk. 1t would also
mean that in case, of any disaster on
| our coast the enemy would have be-
tween him andshis own ports strong
ly defended rendezvous for our fleet,
from which he would be liable to at
tack. In other words, the holding of
this strong place as a fortified naval
base would necessitate in all proba-
bility operations looking to its reduc-
tion and occupation prior to extensive
operations against the American coast
or the Panama canal region"
General Wood presented a state
ment of the garrison, which the de-
partment plans to place in the works
on the island of Oahu, near the city
of Honolulu. IT called for Is, SOS men
and sos officers.
Panama Canal Defenses.
When Representative Sherley asked
if the Panama canal defense prompted
these plans. the general said:
"The Panama canal has been a
strong additional reason for doing
this. but the defense of the Pacific
coast is also reason; think, the
! fundamental reason. If we do not hold
securely these islands, capable of sus-
tanning a population of 100000 per-
sons. and if they should fall into the
hands of strong naval power, there
by placing that power in a position
where it would have practically undis-
puted control of most of the trade
| routes, he would be so near as to
greatly Jeopardize our trade and would
virtually put him in a position of pot
ency right off our coast on islands
sufficiently fertile and large to main
tain his force and to give him spIen-
did harbor as place for supply and
refuge for his fleet"
The committee included in the bill
limitation providing that not more
than 10 per cent or any appropriation
included in the bill shall be used to
purchase from private manufacturers
articles which can be manufactured in
| the government arsenaIs when the
contract prices exceed the government
costs of manufacture
The policy OF practically complete
arsenal manufacture of mobile artil-
Iery ammunition, in place of divided
arsenal manufacture and purchase"
said Representative Sherley's report,
means an ultimate saving Of So ,OOO,-
| coo to the government"