South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-28

In the neld, nave already been drilled
with the cOlOrs. 1t is understood that
these Japanese are now without arms,
therefore they must remain idle sol
diers. and will easily be controlled by
the garrison of regulars now at Homo
lulu.
Bottles Up Pacific.
Hawaii is so situ9 ~ that il bottles
up the whole of the ,'acih coast from
the isthmus to Puget sound. If in
possession of a hostile power the canal
commerce is threatened, and Califor-
MIA, Oregon and Washington lie open
TO a series of wearing attacks deliv-
cred from that convenient base. From
Oahu to San Francisco it is a four
days journey at war speed for battle
cruisers. Allowing eight days for the
advance TO the point Of attack and re-
turn 10 base a hostile fleet could carry
enough coal to allow a week or even
ten days for operation in American
waters
Such attacks could be repeated in
definitely from this base until the in
vading fleet has been destroyed A
naval base is in process of completion
at the Pearl harbor lochs, near Homo
lulu. The commercial harbOr at the
latter place is nothing more than a
roadstead protected by a coral reef
1t serves veil enough for the needs Of
vessels OF trade. but it is quite unsat-
isfGctOry in naval requirements. The
Gown is protected by batteries estab-
lished in such natural fOrtresses as
Punchbowl, towering above the resi-
dences and Leahi or Diamond Head.
at the end of Waikiki beach. The
artillery of coast defense type is con-
sidered sufficient 10 Withstand such an
attack as in the modern theory of
war would be delivered from sea.
Pearl HarbOr Has Advantage
Pearl harbOr has every advantage
that a great harbOr could require; it
has one disadvantage When the har-
Dor has once been entered, there is
ample room for a f1eeC, - has every
facility which might be needed for the
creation of a dockyard ard repair sta
ton The obstacle TO lis use has been
the existence of coral barrier across
the entrance. which has blocked the
passage of vessels Of any hut the shall
lowest draught. although there is deep
water within the lochs. Construction
at this important point has been in
progress ever since the annexation;
just what is the present condition at
the reef, whether il 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
q dozen years of work il may reason
ably be expected that the reef has
, been disposed 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 Brem-
erton, IL is the secondary base from
which the American fleet will address
itself TO whatever task may await ii
in the Pacific.
Guam and Midway. though coming
into American ownership by different
means. have the same sort OF import
ance. The former certainly, the lat
ter probably. must be held in order 10
insure the safety and even the action
OF the Pacific cable Midway. a low
group OF sandy islets. is indefensible.
Its harbor is no more than a cove ac-
cessible only 10 schooners OF the light
est navigable draught. Its value lies
in the fact that il affords a speck OF
land on which 10 equip in utter lone
illness a relay station where messages
may DE REINFORCED over the long
stretch OF ocean between Honolulu and
Guam. There is reason 10 believe that
Midway might be sacrificed without
stopping the use OF the cable
IL is far otherwise with Guam. That
place is essential TO submarine COM
muniCatiOn. Honolulu could not reach
Luzon without at least one relay and
IL is not known that Midway has the
power 60 communicate with Manila III
Guam were cut out. No improvements
have yet been made 10 the Guam har-
Dor at San Juan dApra- IL will ac-
comm tate AT R-ost two vessels OF the
army transport type the anchorage