Jere Krischel at 01:21, 15 January 2006

2006-01-15T01:21:34Z

Jere Krischel at 04:46, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T04:46:13Z

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792 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Mr. JEWELL. Tes; I should think so.
The CHAIRMAN. I suppose you would consider that the commercial
affairs of the world would be benefited by having in Hawaii a strong
and just government?
Mr. JEWELL. I should say so; yes, beyond question.
The OnAiRMAN. It would give confidence to capital to embark in
trade, I suppose.
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And increase the exports and imports of the different
countries!
Mr. JEWELL. I think so.
The CHAIRMAN. DO you know any place in any of the seas of the
world where greater advantage can be bestowed upon the commerce of
the world than could be obtained by the possession of the Sandwich
Islands by a great maritime power, one that had the resources to preserve
order and facilitate commerce?
Mr. JEWELL. NO; I do not know any more important point; no
place that occurs to me at this particular moment.
The CHAIRMAN. Would you say that in a military sense the possession
of Gibralter would be any more controlling or any more important
to British interests in the Mediterranean than the possession of
Hawaii would be to American interests in the Pacific Ocean?
Mr. JEWELL. I consider that Gibralter is an extremely important
point for the English to hold, because it is one of a chain of forts
which they hold and which connects the Suez Canal with the Atlantic
Ocean, and perhaps it would be of greater importance to England to
retain possession of Gibralter than that the United States should have
possession of the Sandwich Islands.
Mr. CHAIRMAN. Because Gibralter is one of a chain of fortifications
held by England?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes; fortified posts.
The CHAIRMAN. Which protect England's access to and outlet from
the Suez Canal?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose that there were a canal under American
protection through Nicaraugua of equal capacity with, or greater capacity
than, the Suez Canal, as a fortified port or place in a chain connecting
Hawaii in the center of the Pacific Ocean with our possessions
in the United States, the mouth of the Mississippi Eiver, and the various
bays and harbors that we have here and the fortifications at Key
West, would you then consider that Gibralter is more important to the
British people than the possession of Hawaii would be to the American
people?
Mr. JEWELL. It is hard to make a comparison of that kind; but if
the Nicaragua Canal should be put through I consider that the possession
of the Sandwich Islands by the United States would be absolutely
essential.
The CHAIRMAN. And for the reasons that we have been just adverting
to?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes. I think it would be absolutely essential that the
United States should take possession of those islands if the Nicaragua
Canal is to be built.
The CHAIRMAN. You consider that the two propositions, the building
of the Nicaragua Canal and occupation of Hawaii, either by including
it in our territory or getting advantages there to enable us to have a
naval station at that place, would be of the greatest importance?
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 793
Mr. JEWELL. Oh, yes. I say it would be absolutely essential to
retain that control of the canal which we are bound to have.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you been to Honolulu more than once?
Mr. JEWELL. No; only once.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you make any examination of Pearl Harbor?
Mr. JEWELL. NO ; I did not.
The CHAIRMAN. 1 will ask you in regard to the Bay of Honolulu, and
get you, first, to describe its area and in what way it is protected from
the inflow of the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Mr. JEWELL. It would be impossible for me to give any idea of the
area from memory, because I do not recollect. I only know that the
harbor is inclosed within a coral reef, with the exception of the entrance
to the harbor of Honolulu. It is entirely closed by the coral
reef.
The CHAIRMAN. HOW does it compare in area, according to your
present recollection, with the harbor at Boston?
Mr. JEWELL. I should say it is more contracted than the harbor of
Boston.
The CHAIRMAN. IS it more contracted than the harbor of New York?
Mr. JEWELL. Oh, yes.
The CHAIRMAN. YOU consider New York Harbor, up East Eiver and
North Eiver, out to sea?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes. My impression is that Honolulu is not an extensive
harbor; perhaps it is a mile and a half long and a few hundred
yards wide. It has been twenty years since I was there.
The CHAIRMAN. On the land side it is surrounded, I believe, by
elevations of land?
Mr. JEWELL. Oh, yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Considerable elevations?
Mr. JEWELL. Quite high mountains along about the interior of the
island.
The CHAIRMAN. Down about the coast?
Mr. JEWELL. Within a short distance of the city.
The CHAIRMAN. Where heavy guns could be mounted to protect the
harbor?
Mr. JEWELL. Yes; Honolulu could be very easily fortified.
The CHAIRMAN. Take the best class of guns that we now have and
mount them upon the best elevations, how far out would you say would
be the radius of the defense that those guns would afford?
Mr. JEWELL. You know the range of modern guns is very much
greater than that at which any action would probably be fought. I
am quite sure that batteries could be arranged to keep any foreign
fleet from approaching Honolulu within 5 miles. But I have no
doubt if guns were numerous enough they could keep them away still
further.
The CHAIRMAN. That would be really a sufficient protection against
the attack of a foreign fleet?
Mr. JEWELL. I think so.
The CHAIRMAN. The fleet might destroy the town, but could not take
possession lying out there?
Mr. JEWELL. They could not take possession; I am not entirely certain
that they could destroy the town, except by chance shots.
The CHAIRMAN. Such fortifications as occur to you as being possible
on those elevations around Honolulu Bay and around the city of Honolulu
would be sufficient ro assist in protecting a fleet that might be in
the harbor!

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Jere Krischel at 01:21, 15 January 2006

Jere Krischel at 04:46, 12 December 2005