Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-11-18
HAWAII FIGURES
IN EARLY PLANS
FOR new navy
National Defense Will Be Main
Subject Before Coming
Congress Session
NAVAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
OF HOUSE GETTING BUSY
Members Called to Washington
for Advance Work Starting
November 20
BY c. s. ALBERT


Especial Star Bulletin SOrrespOnoeheeD
WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. 6.-Na-
tional defense will continue to be the
most important subject pending be-
fore congress The upbuilding Of the
navy, ard the betterment of the army,
will receive the earnest attention OF
legislators regardless of party A dis
position is manifested on all sides to
go farther in the future than in the
past. H..
This was the one decisive outcome
seen before the battle OF ballots
opened. II became self-eyident that
the people of the country desired ade-
quate protection on land and sea. This
fact was emphasized to candidates
without reference to political affilia-
tons. The ne. result will be notice
able in the army and navy. bills pre-
pared and passed at the coming short
session.
The people of the. Middle West and
all the territory adjacent to, the Paci-
fic coast will insist on having an eff
ficient fleet, ready for action without
awaiting the passage of naval vessels
through the Panama canal in period OF
necessity.
Protection on Pacific H.:
1t seems assured that the navy will
be iscreeyed Hi4s z tse slu1Aber ef fisitt=
ing ships in the Pacific ocean Is of
such numbers ind character as to Off
set those of any antagonist seeking
to wage warfare. This long has been
the dream of Pacific coast senators
and representatives. Its realization ap-
pears within sight. The California
delegation, with others from Slope
States, served notice during the re-
cent campaign that in upbuilding the
navy full protection must be afforded
the Pacific coast. There is an appar-
ent determination to heed this warn
ing.
AS consequence of sentiment de-
yeloped during the campaign 1t al
ready seems assured that the naval
bill of next winter will far surpasS
that passed at the last session, which
was in itself recordbreaker. More
than 500, 100000 will be added to the
aggregate, bringing the total allow
ance for the navy up to near the
half billion dollar mark This result
is admitted by statesmen generally
Naval Affairs Committee Busy
In order to have abundant time for
figuring out the necessary additions to
the water end Of the national defense
program the naval affairs committee
of the house will convene here on No
vembef 20. Its members at once will
begin the work of planning such addi-
tons as will make the fighting force
on sea sufficient, taking into account
the Pacific coast and Hawaii. The
plan when completed doubtless will
includ; the stationing of several first
class Earships in Honolulu harbor.
The outlook for the navy never was
bettersthan in the closing days of the
recent campaign The people of the
| interid appeared to take a deeper IN
terestsin the matter than those ad-
jacentto the Atlantic seaboard. Sena-
tor Works of California turned loose
powerful broadside urging better
protection for the Pacific coast 9th
er seiators AMI representatives from
tina. section joined hin. The outcome
| was he adoption of a general under
standing that ample provision should
| be mtde in future naval bills for the
Pacifk coast. ~.