296 



The National Geographic Magazine 



*£ 



C/? °ssroads of TVAt ^ 



enemy, it is doubtful whether we could 

 control the canal for a day, while the en- 

 tire coast line of the Pacific states and the 

 bays and harbors of our rapidly growing 

 Alaska would be in constant expecta- 

 tion of a hostile descent. For the de- 

 fense of our Pacific coast and its com- 

 merce, therefore, the Hawaiian Islands 

 are vital, and this fact is recognized, I 

 think, by every one who has given the 

 matter careful attention. 



In addition to the strategic relation to 

 the Pacific coast of the United States, 



which Hawaii possesses, it has a similar 

 relation to our island possessions further 

 west — Guam and the Philippines. Hawaii 

 and Guam are the ocean stations of the 

 American cable between the United 

 States and our possessions on the 

 coast of Asia, and as such are of vast 

 importance in any scheme of defense of 

 the Philippines or of the Pacific states. 

 This line is of the greatest use to our 

 commerce, and its safety can be assured 

 only through means of defending its 

 island stations against hostile attack. 



