The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-08-25

not only to America in the Pacific,
but equally to America in America.
The census OF Hawaii shows that the
predominant element in population
Is japanese, for few families CT this
race are recorded between Hilo and
Nthau. 1t is matter Of common
note that the japanese in Hawaii are
veterans OF the Russian war, and the
remainder who have not had expert
ence in the field, have already been
drilled with the coIors. It is under
stood that these japanese are now
without arms, therefore, they must
remain idle soldiers, and will easily
be controlled by. the garrison of reg
ulars now at Honolulu.
Hawaii is so situated that il bot
lies up the whole of the Pacific coast
from the Isthmus to Puget Sound.
If in possession of a hostile power
the canal commerce is threatened,
and California, Oregon and Wash
;ngton lie open TO a series of wearing
attacks delivered from that eonven-
lent base.
From Oahu TO San Fran eisco is a
four days journey at war seed for
battle cruisers. Allowing eight days
for the advance to the point of at
tack and return to base a hostile
feet could carry enough coal to allow
week or even ten days for opera
ton in American waters.
Such attacks could be repeated
indefinitely from this base until the
invading feet has been destroyed. A
naval base is in process of compile
ton at the Pearl Harbor Lochs. near
Honolulu. The commercial harbor at
the latter place is nothing more than
roadstead protected by a coral reef.
1t serves we'll enough for the needs
of vessels of trade, but it is quite UNI
satisfactory in naval requirements.
esta blished in such natural fortress
es as Punchbowl, towering above the
| residences, and Leahi, or Diamond
Head, at the end of Waikiki beach.
The artillery of coast defense type
is considered sufficient to Withstand
such an attack as in the modern
theory Of war would be delivered
from sea.
| Pearl Harbor has every advantage
| that a great naval harbor could re-
quire; it has one disadvantage.
| When the harbor has once been en-
| tered, there is ample room for a
fleet, it has every facility which
might be needed for the creation of
dockyard and repair station. The
obstacle to it's use has been the ex-
istence of a coral barrier across the
entrance, which has blocked the pas
sage of vessels of any but the shall
| lowest draugl1t, although there is
| deep water Within the lochs. Con-
struction at this important point has
been in progress ever since the an
nexation; just what is the present
condition at the reef, whether it has
been blasted out TO admit the entry
! Of vessels of the first type, is known
/ only to the general board of the
navy. The building of the repair
shops has not been prosecuted with
vigor, but after dozen years OF
work it may be reasonably be ex-
pected that the reef has been dis
posed of. Hawaii has value for
something more than its service as
an outpost to cover the Pacific coast
Of the mainland Supported from
the navy yards at Mare Island and
Bremerton, it is the secondary base
from which the American feet viii
address itself to whatever task may
await it in the Pacific.
i Guam and Midway. though com
ing into American ownership Through
different means, have the same sort
Of Importance. The former certain.
~, the latter probably, must be held
in order to insure the safety and
even the action of the Pacific cable
Midway, a low group of sandy islets
is fndefensible It's harbor is nc
more than cove accessible only tc
schooners of the highest navigablt
draught. Its value lies in the fac
that it affords speck of land or
which to equip in utter loneliness
relay station where messages may b.
REINFORCED over the long stretch o
ocean between Honolulu and Guam
There is reason to believe that Mid
way might be sacrificed without stop
ping the use of the cable.
It is far otherwise with Guam
That place is essential to submarine
communication. Honolulu could no
reach Luzon without at least one re
! lay, and it is not known that Mfdwa,
has the power to communicate wifi