Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-16
HAWAII may
RECRUIT AN
ARMY BRANCH
Organization of Battalion for
Regular Army Now Being
Considered
SIMILAR TO PORTO
RIcAN INFANTRY
Give HaWaiianS the Chance to
Help Defend Hawaii is
Sentiment

The most important military move
relative to Hawaii since the announce
ment OF the large permanent garri
son contemplated in the report OF the
general staff on the reorganization o.
the land forces of the United States
some two years ago, may be expected
in the near future. This Is that Ha
waiians take an active part in the de
Tense OF their native land, not as q
part OF the organized militia, but al
an integral part of the United States
army, in an organization similar tc
the Porto Rican regiment of infantry
and the Philippine scouts. The re
cruiting of Hawaiian troops, for ser
vice within the territory only, is com
ing up for serious consideration
among the army higher, ups and II
/ is not unlikely that Congress will be
asked 10 pass an act for the creation
q such an organization.
The plan which is being consider.
ed at department headquarters calls
Tor a battalion OF Hawaiian infantry,
TO be stationed either at one of the
existing army posts, or at some new
post on eastern or windward Oahu
The men will enlist for the regular
period, and viii receive the same pay,
allowances. etc. that the other regu-
lar troops serving on Oahu receive.
The battalion, according to the tenta.
tive plan, viii be commanded by a
line captain OF the regular establish
ment, with temporary rank of major,
the same plan In force in the Philip
zine scouts. The company officers
will be selected from local material,
and viii be permanently attached to
the battalion. -a,iss.-. Il s.,.S - &
There Is some doubt as to whether
fun battalion strength could be Sc
cured using only pure Hawaiians, and
there Is chance that one or two
companies may be recruited from
ether nationalities The quick re-
sponses made by the Chinese -Ameri-
cans OF Honolulu. when given a
chance to enlist in the national guard,
has led to the suggestion that a cen-
pany Of rlative-born Chinese might be
recruited for regular service here.
up to the present time this plan
for a Hawaiian organization similar
to the Porto Rican regiment of infan-
try aL,l Philippine scouts, has not
heen seriously considered" said Mai.
A. S. Conklin, chief OF staff. THE dc.
partment has given its efforts only to
the establishment OF a fun regiment
of national guard, and the efficiency
of that regiment A battalion of Ha-
waiian troops, however, might prove
a valuable addition to the defenses of
Oahu, il such an organization could
be recruited. OF course it would take
an act of Congress TO create it, but
that should not be out of the ques-
ton" 81
That the regular army is bent on
increasing the efficiency of the Ma.
tional Guard of Hawaii, aLI making
1t an important part of 0ahu's defen,
rive scheme, is made even more ap-
parent by another scheme that is be-
ing considered at department head.
quarters. This is to detail sergeant.
instructors of the regular army for
every company Of the national guard.
This would require IL sergeants in
addition to Sergeant Roberts, now on
militia duty. II is probable that one
sergeant could look after the interests
Of the two companies on Maui, how.
ever, which would bring the detail
down to 10. This matter is being in.