Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-04
EORTIEY The COAST

tators There is scarcely a probability
of armed conflict ensuing over local
sduabble about school attendance In
san Francisco. and no one looks for
armed resistance. no matter what the
outcome of the san Francisco row may
be. Japan is in no condition to fight;
her monetary status is too insecure;
she has not recovered from her last
conflict with Russia and in both men
and funds she is depleted. Least Of
all would she be likely to fight with
the United states, for no nation on
earth would finance her in a war with
us, and without outside assistance she
would be utterly unable to indulge in
one.
But though Japan will not fight us
it is egregious folly for us to go on
unprepared for conflict, as we are now.
The time Will inevitably come when
we will have to fight some Asiatic
power, and we should be prepared for
it, for when il does come that power
is not going to sit back and kindly de-
fer hostlities till we are all in readi-
ness.
The Philippines would undoubtedly
feel the first onslaught from any Ash
attic foe. We are in no condition to
defend them, and probably never will
be- they would fall into the enemy's $
hands at once. And many of us would
say: Good riddance"
Much the same applies to Hawaii; the
islands are without defenses and
would fall with almost no effort.
There is vastly more reason why we
should keep Hawaii, but we are in no
for some time to come. Hawaii, with
our port in the Samoan islands, would
be easy prey for any ambitious Asian
foes.
That brings us to the mainland
coast-California, Oregon and Wash
ington. Undoubtedly an oriental coun-
try would first send her ships toward
this coast in case war broke out. What
preparations have we made for their
reception?
None-absolutely none!
There are, it is true, a few anti
quated defenses of San Francisco har-
Dor, which would likely be the first
port attacked. But they are useless
marksmen and Japan has both. San
Francisco would be wholly at the
mercy of such a foe.
The same applies to Seattle, Portland
and the northwest, and to Los Angeles,
San Pedro and San Diego in the south
west None of them has even the de-
fenses accredited to San Francisco, and
all would be easy prey to. Togo's war
dogs. The entire west coast of the
United States lies open to an invading
army, and a modern navy could make
ruins of any city within range of its
guns, utterly unhampered.
No one thinks for a moment that
Japan is going to war over this school
question; as stated that is out OF
the question, on Japan's part. But
no one can tell when Asatic invasion
on the part of Japan, China or ever
Russia, may not happen. Is it wise
therefore, to leave the entire west en-
trance to America open to such at
tack, without adequate defense? Mil
lions are spent on the east coast,
where attack is so remote as to be a
jest; the west coast, which must in
evitably bear the brunt of the next
armed conflict, is unprotected. Isn't
that the height of folly?
Perhaps present conditions will serve
to call the attention of the war de-
partment and congress to this glaring
inconsistency; nothing else seems to
have done so. If this happens the
japanese row will not have been in
vain. There should be ample fortifi-
cations constructed at San Francisco,
San Pedro, san Diego and the harbors
OF the northwest to protect this coast
against any possible attacks from the
orient, and a full complement of the
navy should be maintained in these
waters at all times.
1t is to be hoped that congress will
see this without the necessity of sew
eral destroyed cities in case of war,
and will act accordingly.