Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-02-17
ARMY engineer
CHIEF OPPOSES
MILITARY ROAD
Charles r. Forbes Thinks Com
ment Was Made Before Gen.
erals Talked to Committee

That war department authorities do
not favor the bill which provides for
the establishment of military road
around the island OF Oahu. and that
the chief OF engineers objects TO the
bill, is the statement made in the
Army and Navy Register of February
8. The Register says:
1.-The war department authorities do
not look with complacency or approval
upon the bill CT. X. 3I05l which makes
appropriation for military highway
around the island OF Oahu. The chief
OF engineers of the army has made a
report on the subject. One feature OF
the bill assigns the work TO the de-
partment Of public works OF the terri
tory of Hawaii, to which objection is
made, the war department believing
that IL the construction is primarily
for military purposes the preliminary
surveys should be made by the mill
tary authorities and the actual work
should be done by the proper agencies
OF the army. The chief of engineers
adds:
Comment Ct Chief.
81 know Oh no recommendation
from military authorities now on the
mentioned, and, taking the absence OF
such recommendation in connection
with the wording Of the bill. II would
appear to me that the bill is an at
tempt to transfer from the territory
OF Hawaii TO the federal government
not only the cost of constructing new
roads, desired in reality primarily for
territorial purposes, but also the cost
OF maintenance Of some of the exist
ing roads constructed by the territoiy
for its own purposes and without any
consideration for the military needs.
Undoubtedly this military road
question has been commented ON by
the engineering department before
either General Carter or other mill
tary heads had a chance to appear for
t.. says Superintendent Charles r.
Forbes OF the public works depart
ment.
Macomb and Carter Favor II.
General Carter and General Ma
comb were both known to be in IA
vor Of II. and Delegate j. K Kalani-
anaole was to request them to appear
at hearing to voice their feelings in
the matter"
As TO the comments made by the
chief of engineers, Forbes says that
the territory offered to do survey
work and to give over such territorial
property as the road went through in
the hope of being OF assistance in its
establishment.
Any road on the islands would be
a military road he says. in case the
military department chose to use it. |
l.gr kL<, al
TO be done under the direction of the |
secretary of war and the construction
TO be of such material as might be
found best fitted for il on the island.
st was to be for the use OF the gen.
eral public free of tolls, and under |
territorial cont ] except when in; use
for military pai oses.
Forbes says he believes that II
George M. Nc ellan was instructed |
from here to get to work on the bill at |
once satisfactory explanation could
be made to the chief of engineers, |
who seems opposed to the measure.
Difference of Opinion.
Between army officers on Oahu |
there is a wide difference of opinion
as to the strategic value for the de-
tense OF the island of military road
following the coast line, and while the
question is being discussed and con-
sidered, the attitude which this de-
partment will take remains unsettled. |
Under present circumstances Gen.
erai John p. Wiser, commanding the |
Hawaiian Department, does not care
TO make any statement bearing on the |
possibility OF building : military road
or of the report whisli this depart