Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-14
NEED OF COAST DEFENSE

NLLD VT OOnOl DEIEN0L
With an absolutely defenseless coast
from Santa Barbara to San Diego.
Southern California presents an open
door to any ship OF war from any
where that might desire to come in and
take possession.
It is almost criminal negligence on
the part Of congress and the execu-
tive departments at Washington to
permit such a condition to continue,
and the Los Angeles chamber Of COM
merce properly memorializes the ma
tional government to proceed at once
to construct such fortifcations along
this coast as may, in large measure,
afford protection to the great and
growing commerce of the Pacific.
Los Angeles has petitloned congress
on more than one previous occasion to
take some cognizance of our defenseless
condition, but the answer has always
been an additional appropriation for
Squedunk harbor, Maine, or POGO
snatchit, Massachusetts,. This time the
movement has been inaugurated at a
period when the diplomatic disturb
ances are toward the orient, in direc-
ton from whence the ever-present dam
gers may be seen and appreciated, and
no reason now exists why something
should not be speedily accomplished.
Here is the government harbor at
San Pedro. upon which millions of fed
eral money has been and will be ex-
pended next door to 1t are Whining
ton and Long Beach, while on the west
ern side are Santa Monica and Ocean
Park, all as helpless in the presence Of
a foreign naval foe as would be Prairie
City, Ill. Here are daily arriving and
departing the vast commerce of South
ern California; ships of all nations load
ing and unloading, and all unprotected
The Los Angeles chamber of COM
merce rlghtfully prays that fortifca-
tions be established at Dead Mans
island, just off San Pedro, and disap-
pearing guns be placed at Santa Mon
lea. What we also require is a naval
station, but the immediate need is for
fortifications.
And it seems rather anomalous that
California, with a solid Republican
delegation in congress, has been un-
able, up to the present time, to secure
that recognition from congress which
this great coast demands. CALIFORNIA;
position, however should be strength
ened when Victor H. Metcalf shall be-
come secretary of the navy. Mr.. Met
calf surely understands and appre-
ciates the California situation. He GER
tainly knows the defenseless condition
of his state and particularly that por-
ton of it lying south of the Golden
Gate.
With California's own representative
at the head of the navy department, |
with Southern Californian in the SEN
ate and with a solid Republican delega-
ton in congress, there will be no rea-
son-except a conflict of local preju-
dices-why the splendid harbors of the
south coast do not receive early atten-
ton at the hands of congress. The
wonderful progress and development Of
this section demands action. The fact
that the interests OF the United states
government and of the people are con-
stanly imperiled until action is taken,
and the fact that national disgrace may
follow any further neglect, warrant
the hope that the southern coast may
shortly be fortified and placed in an
honorable and safe position.
But the subject will not be agitated |
of itself. 1t will require united effort,
and to that end the chambers of COM
merce from Santa Barbara to San
Diego should send to Washington early
in January representative committees
who will be authorized and empowered |
to present the facts of the situation
to the California delegation first, then
to Secretary Metcalf, and then to the |
proper committees of congress.