The herald., 1898-05-19
COAST Defense VESSEL
NAVAL RESERVE WANTS THE
OLD CoMANCHE
Chamber of Commerce Appeals to the
Navy Department for Harbor
Protection-Excursio

AT the meeting of the board of directors
of the chamber of commerce yesterday
afternoon another memorial to the mill
tary powers that be was presented and
adopted calling attention to the unprotect-
ed condition of the seacoast of Los An
geles county, and asking that one
of the old monitors now at the
Mare Island navy yard be put into shape
and turned over to the naval reserve of this
city to protect San Pedro harbor. The re-
port was submitted by a special commit
tee consisting of w. G. Patterson, II.
Hawgood ad j. D. Hooker, and was as fol-
lows:
1.-THE city Of Los Angeles, its nighbor-
ing inland and seaboard towns, the homes
of peaceful people and the accumulated
products Of their patient industry and COM
mercial enterprise, lie exposed, without
adequate protection against attack by
sea. There is here no disciplined force,
equipped to confront landing. except the
state national guard, weakened by the de-
parture of its best trained men IN patriotic
response to call for volunteers. The bril-
have removed apprehensions of an inva-
of sudden descent of retaliatory or raid
ing expedition remains. Remote as this
danger may be, it is none the less real and
should be recognized and met.
1.-THE withdrawal of troops to occupy the
Philippine Islands and the need of all the
regular army In zones of certain conflict,
combine to render it doubtful If the war de-
partment could respond to our desire for an
assignment of regular troops, but the es-
tablishment here of rendezvous for vol
unteers and a camp Of instruction, where
the raw material freely presenting itself.
could be converted by skilled army officers
into trained soldiers, presents itself as a
possibly feasible method of in part meet.
ing our needs.
I'VE commend the very pertinent sug-
gestion conveyed in q letter from Frank
Van Week, lieutenant commanding the
Los Angeles naval company. His sugges-
ton. which has the merit of ample pre-
cedent in the New England states, is that
the monitor Comanche OF the old navy
for some time used as a training ship for
the San Francisco naval reserve and nov
lying out OF commission at Mare Island
be manned by the local naval company
like her sister ships, the Jason and Naha MT
In the east, and stationed on our immediate
coast.
"This vessel is of 1875 tons, fully armored
eleven inches on turret and six inches on
belt; carries two fffteen-inch guns, which
are capable of great execution to any or
dinary cruiser, and for our purpose is for
tunately shallow draught drawing eleven
feet six inches of water, hence can enter
San Pedro harbor at any stage of water.
Her engines are, of course, slow-six knots
but as she will not be used for the chase
speed is of no account. She can give a
good account of herself and would be proof
against any machine guns and would be q
deadly foe for all privateers and light
cruisers. 1t would appear that SUCH pro-
vision would give ample protection for
the present and afford the means of train
ing men for the future.
Your committee recommends that
copies of this report be forwarded to Gen.
eral Merriam and Admiral Miller, COM
manding the forces on this coast, asking
that they bestow their earnest cons!dera-
ton upon the matter, and forward with
such recommendations as they may deem
best, to their respective departments In
Washington
The report was adopted.
The special committee regarding relief
for farmers and beet raisers reported In an
encouraging vein, and stated as relief be-
came necessary proper provisions could
probably be made
All members of the chamber who intend
going to Bakersfield on the excursion tc
participate in the celebration of the COM
pleton of the Valley road, are requested
to notify the secretary as soon as posi-
BILE. Arrangements have been made with
the Southern Pacific Railroad company for
reduced fare, amounting to $11.6O for the
round trip, including sleeping car, provided
at least fifteen members go. The excursion
will leave here at 1920 on tha evening OF
May 26th and to return here at 1880 a. m.
May 2Sth.