Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-22
MILITARY BOARD
VIEWS DEFENSES
OBSERVES COAST PROTECTION
FOR LOS ANGELES
EXTENT OF FoRTlFlcATloNs DE.
PENps ON VALUES
Recommendations VIII Be Prepared
and Sent to Washington Within
Ten Days for Approval of
War Department

Guided by Capt. Amos A. Fries and
Assistant Engineer d. e. Hughes, and
ided by detailed plans and specifica-
tions, showing the location of the big
guns, mortars and batteries, thor
ough inspection of the land at Point
Firmin, where it Is proposed to es-
tablish defenses for Los Angeles, was
made yesterday afternoon by the
United States military board, composed
Of Col. John Lundeen of the coast ar
tillery corps, Lieut.. Col. j. G. Bellinger
of the quartermaster' department, and
Maj. C. II. McKinstry of the board
of engineers.
Delayed by the train wreck at OK
nard, the military board did not arrive
in Los Angeles until noon, but, tmmedi-
ately, the party was met by Capt.
Fries and Mr.. Hughes and conducted
on the 1856 o'clock car on the Pacific
Electric to San Pedro. Two big tour
ing cars had been provided by the San
Pedro chamber of commerce and Pres
ident A. p. Ferl, Secretary w. f. Bick-
enbach, Edward II. Bautzer and e. d.
Seward Joined the party.
Visits U. S. Reserve
The first point visited was the gov
ernment reserve, comprising forty
| acres of land, which extend across Pa
cific avenue at Twenty-fourth street,
and, commanding the outer harbor,
reaches out into tide water.
The autos were taken to the railroad
track on the edge of the 100-foot bluff
and the army men and engineers, with
their plans, made a careful observa-
ton of the situation.
The next point visited was the bluff
at the foot of Fortieth street, overlook
ing the outer curve in the breakwater.
The party then went beyond the light
house to an elevation commanding the
approach to San Pedro on the west and
south, looking down toward the light
house and beyond Whites Point to
Point Vincent.
Although no information was given,
it evidently is the intention of the
board to recommend, in submitting its
plans and recommendations to the sec
retary of war, that the batteries of
heavy, disappearing guns be loaded
near the edge of the bluff, at convent
ent points from the government reser-
walton on the north and east, to the
elevation mentioned and beyond the
lighthouse toward Whites point.
For the big mortars a site Is contem-
plated near the western terminus of
TWenty-fourth street, in Peck'S Grand
View tract No. 2, down a little can
yon on the 100-acre tract owned by
Roman d. Sepulveda. There, concealed
behind the hills, the mortarS could
hurl the deadly shells which would
play havoc with an approaching fleet.
The members of the board drew apart
from the San Pedro men and walked
over the proposed site, as pointed out
by Mr.. Hughes.
Whites point is believed to be the
proposed location for powerful search
lights and range-finding apparatus for
the mortarS.
Extent of Plans
Relative to the extent of the fortifi-
cations to be made, Capt. Fries said II
largely depended on the cost of the
land to be purchased. If big prices are
demanded, the plans will have to be
modified and the number of guns and
mortars reduced. If the land owners
are reasonable in their valuations and
come to terms, an extensive plan will
be recommended.
The party returned to San Pedro In
time for the $40 o'clock car for this
city. No attention was given to the
sites for the rifle range, naval reserve,
barracks or other ground which will
! necessary for the establishment of
an army post.
Capt. Fries said, before boarding the
car at San Pedro, that the plans and
recommendations were now ready for
the approval of this board and as soon
as they have inspected them and pre-
pared their recommendations, they Will
be forwarded to the secretary of war.
probably within ten days. Upon the
approval of the war department. con-
gress will be in a position to make the
necessary appropriation for the estab-
lishment of the proposed defense.