The San Francisco call., 1908-05-07

join in request that you provide ade-
quate fleet for the protection of Pacific
waters"
IDAHO INTERESTED
Congressman Burton L. French of
Idaho: AS one interested in the ut
most measures for the preservation of
the peace of our country I urge your
favorable consideration of the request
of the commercial organizations that
an adequate feet be maintained in the
Pacific"
Congressman julius Kahn: Il join
with Californians in urging you to de-
tain at least half of the Atlantic fleet
on the Pacific coast. Think this ought
to be done until the completion of the
Panama canal, at any rate"
Senator S. II. Piles of Washington: q
am heartily in accord with the move
ment of the commercial bodies of the
Pacific coast in their efforts to keer
portion of the fleet in Pacific waters
The condition of the coast is such. in
my Judgment, as to require better pro-
lection than it now has. I think II
would be great misfortune to the
country If the entire fleet should be
removed from the Pacific. / therefore
urge you to see that fleet of not less
than II warships and eight large
armored cruisers be permanently main
te-iHtQ the 9aclnC coast
Representative Bartlett of Nevada
Il heartily join the commercial organi-
cations of the west in urging your fa-
vorable consideration of their request
that such portion of the fleet as they
indicate be permanently maintained in
Pacific
Senator George S. Nixon of Nevada:
1 join in recommendation of the peo-
pie of the Pacific coast that a greater
10 Of We al -
navy be maintained in the Pacific than
heretofore"
Lieutenant Governor Coon of Wash
ington, in the absence of Governor
Mead, also wrote. stating officially his
views. In part he said:
referring to your letter of April 90
have TO say this state is not unaware
of the fact that the west coast would
constitute the storm center of any
possible attack for many years t.
come Our people are keenly alive to
the fact that while the principal ports
or the Pacific coast are manned by
modern defensive works, there is a
woeful lack of men behind lne guns
and at this writing congress has not
provided sufIiciently for remedying this
vital defect In our great Puget sound
waters the aid of submarine mining
is practically precluded by the depth
81. IN
therefore not only exposed to the at
tack of hostile fleets which might en-
ter in thick weather, but we are also
OF course open to land attack which
might do great damage. To meet this
we have only the state national guard
and while this patriotic body is upon a
most efficient footing and has in its
ranks a large number of men who
have benefited by the training af.
forded by two wars its strength is not
sufficient to cope with any considerable
invasion.
1T is conceded that hostile land
ing and occupation could easily be eff
fected and that before our scattered
strength could be gathered for a SUI
preme effort great damage would re-
suit not only to our commerce and
through the destruction of the bases OF
supplies but to our national prestige
- or these reasons and in order tc
demonstrate the national preparedness
which would discourage any intention
OF foreign peoples in attacking our
shores, as well as its ability to repel
such an attack If made, we believe thai
the national government should from
this timeton keep on this coast naval
fleet of sufficient power to maintain
our reputation as world power to be
respected by all nations
Senator Francis G. Newlands of Ne
yada wired: / join in request of the
commercial organizations of the Pacific
coast that portion of the fleet be per-
manently maintained in Pacific waters.