Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-16

wv Hawaii in state of great excitement
v what appeared to be unexplainable
mystery. On the sugar plantations the employees
talked it over and discussed the advsabity of in
forming the United States government; in the
mountain passes the men armed themselves with
rifles and in the cities especially around the for
tifications, guards were stationed. And the cause
of all this nervous activity a country school
teacher, who chose TO spend her vacation touring
the islands armed with a camera and notebook
Such conduct in Hawaii at this time could have
but one meaning. The young woman must be
German spy. She was, of course, going about col
lecting information for the Germans, photograph
ing Notifications and worst of all, spreading an
thrax germs, the last being the popular German
atrocity in Hawaii. Hence when the school teache.
returned to her village, with a notebook full of
notes and several rolls of films she was at once
taken into custody by a national guardsman and
her possessions carefully examined. To the great
disappointment of the authorities the pictures
all of unimportant things such sunsets, volca-
noes and people-not one view of fertilization
bridge or training camp.
This is only of many recent instances in
which the fevered Hawaiian imagination has Gre
ated situation, and then been keenly disap-
pointed. No one can be mysterious in Hawaii
these days and not be suspected. Although about
far away from the war it is possible to get
the islands are. nevertheless, extremely patriotic
attaching great Importance to their part in the
conflict.
As soon as the United States declared war on
Germany, the Hawaiian national guard, acting on
orders received from the department, began
to mobilize Following the policy in vogue in the
states, married men and those having dependents
were discharged from the organization and new
members recruited TO take their places. There
much talk among the young Hawaans con-
corning what they were going to do when they
met the Germans Then it suddenly ceased: the
recruiting fell off, and the talk changed to ways
of obtaining exemptions. Word had been received
from the department that the Hawaiian guard
would not be drafted into the federal service.
This was keen disappointment Instead OF
being sent to France themselves, the men learned
that they were to increase their number for home
defense and thus relieve the troops of the United
States regular army. In this, however, they are
more than performing their duty. If fortress
remains unprotected or German spy undecided
it is not the fault of the Hawaiian national guard
Such patriotism is all the more striking when
you realize that Hawaii like America, is a melting
pot of many different races. Chinese, Japanese
Portuguese Filipinos and Porto Ricans make up
the larger part Of its population while the pure
Hawaiians now only a small percentage In
the national guard there Is company made up
Of Hawaiians, Portuguese, Filipinos and Japanese;
another company is constituted wholly of Japa-
nese, and still another contains only Filipinos
The guard numbers 400 members. Be-
fore the United States declared it was divided
up into various companies which policed the
islands. Now it is consolidated into two regi-
ments which are receiving the camp train
ing that American soldiers receiving in the
United States Officers training camps for the
purpose of turning civilians into officers have also
been established, every effort being made to pre-
pare Hawaii to defend itself.
Although Hawaii is presumably far from being
a vital factor in the present war, it is this
trys most strategic possession in the Pacific ocean,
and is therefore, vital enough in the national de-
Tense policy. Concerning this phase of the mat
ter, Mr. William R. Castle, Jr. in his book
Hawaii says: while the Philippines remain an
American possession Hawaii always be the
most important station the immensely long
line of communication between the coast and Ma
Mia. Even should the Philippines be ultimately
abandoned Hawaii must constitute, not an out
post of American civilization, difficult to defend,
but rather first line of defense and invalu-
able aid in any offensive naval demonstration. 1t
demands great intelligence to perceive the adj
vantages of a friendly supply station, either
peace or in war; part way across an ocean 5000
miles wide
This fact, of course was clearly demonstrated
during the Spanish-American war, which led to the
annexation of the islands Prior to 1898, Hawaii
led a turbulent existence, decimated by frequent
wars exploited by Adventures and badly reled by
inefficient monarchs. The first Hawaiians
some of the fittest of the Polynesian race, who
survived journey the Pacific ocean in
noes and set up their abodes three of the islands
This Journey is supposed by historians to have
taken place about 500 A. D. For long period
there we're repeated voyages back and forth be-
tween Samoa and the island, then, far
be traced by the ancient folk songs and legends.
they ceased. Hawaii became a nation in ITSELF