The Cordova daily times., 1922-01-26
HAWAII AFRAID TO HAVEFORTS
 TORN DOWN


 resentatives of the world powers gathered at President Harding's 1 Washington Conference to discuss limitation of naval armaments, the people of Hawaii, which, by virtue of it's position in the middle of the Pa cific, is generally considered the strategic key to the entire situation in those waters, await with some anxiety the effect of the conference, and particularly of the formation of the proposed quadruple entente, upon her military and naval defenses. l For, whatever the outcome of the Washington conference, the cold, hard fact remains that out of an esti- mated total population of 260,000 the Territory of Hawaii has less than 3O,O0O whites all told, while of the remaining 23o,ooo 114,ooo are Jap anese
 Four coast-defense fortresses com mand the great semi-circular bay, on the shores of which stands Honolulu, and of which Pearl Harbor is an arm.
 At Schofield Barracks, located upon the high plateau over which in vading troops landed upon the north ern side of the island of Oahu would have to pass, are stationed some 12,- | 900 troops of all arms, skeleton ized division which could be put into the field, fully equipped, almost at moments notice.
 At Pearl Harbor, the greatest naval base in Pacific waters are stationed submarines, mine layers, destropers and seaplanes
 WHITES SENSE MENACE
 And when the American citizen of Hawaii looks about him and sees a superfluity of brown faces-and re- calls that 114000-the sight of the Stars and Stripes floating over the coast defenses and the sight of the men in khaki, who are always on the streets of Honolulu, is nightly reas- surfing.
 The relations existing between the Americans and the Japanese of Ha- Waii have been, for the most part, open and cordial. Educated Japanese and members of the Japanese busi- ness community appear constantly at tn banquet table and at important gatherings and Americans, and racial problems are discussed with the utmost frankness, untinged with acrimony or bitterness
 And yet, on the other hand, there is always that 114,000.
 Regardless of race or color, IA, 1000 aliens of one nationality in terri tory the total population of which is only 260,00O. become potential menace; menace which is present even though the governments of the two nations be in friendliest accord
 SOLDIERS MEAN SAFETY
 And because of this fact alone even were all possibility eliminated of a hostile battle fleet nosing up over the southern horizon some day, the citizens of Hawaii would bitterly l oppose the "scrapping" of any of her defence Notifications, or the with drawal of any of her troops. They constitute, in effect, the sole guar antee which the Americans of Hawaii have against racial uprisings of an entirely local character, having noth- ing to do with international relations They are the sole guarantee of the safety of American homes and fami- lies in our farthest territorial out post.
 Press comment on the proposed quadruple entente has been for the most part friendly throughout the islands, but markedly reserved. Pub- lie opinion thus expressed appears to be favorable to- the general plan, but skeptical with regard to placing Japan third among the world powers, as the proposed 5-5-3 naval ration would appear to do. Transactions of comments from the Japanese press have not been made public. And again we have it-while Ha- waii has 11400O Japanese she wants her forts and her fighting forces as they stand.