The herald., 1898-04-26
ARMY HEADQUARTERS
FOR
LOS ANGELES
Q NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BY ABBOT KINNEY

| military division of Arizona was in Los
Angeles. This city was selected by the
officials with the knowledge and approval
of General Nelson A. Miles, now comman-
| der of the army. During the period that
Los Angeles remained the army head
quarters for Arizona no question was ever
raised as to it's being a proper and con-
venient location for the direction Of mill
tary affairs in that territory, and Los An
geles still remains a supply or purchasing
center for the troops in Arizona. The
movement that led up to the creation OF
new military department with Denver as
| headquarters grew out Of personal prefer
ences and official ambition, and was sup
ported by political influences in Washing
ton and by the local pride of Denver. 1t
was in no sense a military move, and In
fact ran counter to every principle of mill
tary strategy applicable to the United
States.
Los Angeles was and Is the strategic key
to Arizona. 1t is the one point with ocean
connection upon the two railway high
ways passing through Arizona. Los An
geles is consequently the easiest point from
which troops could be concentrated upon
any place in Arizona. The situation makes
Los Angeles the natural distributing CEN
ter for the commerce of Arizona. 1t Is its
natural market for all purposes.
While it is true that the railroad policy
In fixing freight traffic to Arizona from
Los Angeles far in excess of mileage rates
from eastern cities. and fixing rates on
Arizona mineral, agricultural and timber
products to this city at figures often as
high as the cost of bringing similar pro-
ducts from Minnesota or Illinois, as is now
the case in hay has nullified the natural
commercial advantages of Los Angeles as
related to Arizona, it has not at all
changed the military situation. Los An
geles is the military key to Arizona. This
has never been disputed, but on the con-
trary, is the opinion of all of the army Of
ficers that I have personally heard or seen
in writing upon this subject. From
military point of view, Los Angeles is also
the key to Southern California. 1t is To-
Gated at the point from which all the
main and local railway lines radiate. 1t
is the covering point for all the southern
coast from Point Conception to the Mexi-
lean line, and commands the Mexican bor-
der to Ell Paso. 1t is clear that the mill
tary situation should be recognized and
q headquarters established here to prepare
important section of the Pacific coast alb
solutely without defense. There should
be nucleus of regulars at Los Angeles for
the state national guard to train with, and
to form upon in case of a coast attack.
The valleys and cities of Southern Calf
fornia stand open to approach from hos
tile naval force with coast easily ac-
cessible for landing parties. The richness
Of bn 70 ha ;oht oc;Ix IL,
vite an enterprise against us. Our pro-
lection is now in the cool endurance of our |
enemies vessels. The only way that they
could attack us with coal as contraband
of war is by sending fleet of colliers with
their war vessels. This would involve |
great risk. The one decision accepted and
adhered to, that coal cannot be purchased
by either belligerent in foreign ports, will
put Spain entirely out of the fight. AS
suming this not to be the decision of for
eign governments, we should take the fol- |
lowing precautions:
First-Obtain an agreement mutual |
with Mexico, Central America and Colom-
bia on the south, and Canada on the north
that the ports of these states shall in no
case be used as a base of coal supply by an
enemy of any one of them on the Pacific
coast at least.
Second-No stores of coal to be permitted
1T exposed points on our own coast This
would include every southern landing port.
Third-No coasting collier to be permit.
ed to go to sea with coal while an enemy's
'essel is by any possibility within striking
distance or without convoy.
Fourth-No coal allowed in Hawaiian
Stands unless protected by adequate force
sufficient to destroy the coal or to defend it,
The time has come for our active and pa
riotic public bodies to renew the agitation
or the re-establishment of the military
headquarters of Arizona at Los Angeles
The war with Spain demands 1t.