Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-10

chine, while it took Europe two gen.
erations, and our own war department
says it would take us two years TO
create as strong and efficient fight
ing machine in the United States.
1.-THE only way to dislodge the yell
low man from this Pacific coast is by
gaining control Of the Pacific ocean.
Tonight just regard yourself as
holding the Pacific ocean by permis-
sion."
World War Threatens
Then with eloquence which carried
his audience off it's feet and with
fighting gestures" which drove home
every point this congressman from
Alabama painted picture after picture,
showing how America would be
matched against the yellow races of
the earth with the present mistress OF
the seas. The death grapple, the futile
heroism of the American soldlery anu
the inevitable alternative of vassalage
to the yellow race or of determination
of Ne American people, all were de-
scribed wildly.
In contrast to this picture OF war,
with Europe and Asia marshaled
against America, Capt. Hobson painted
the glorious picture of the United
States ceasing her relentless pursuit
of the almighty dollar long enough to
prepare her defenses, building a navy
which would compel world peace and
then like the ideal republic of which
the fathers of this nation dreamed, en-
tightening other races and oppressed
peoples with the light of liberty.
"War is disease-a large navy is the
only preyentive; and an ounce of pre-
vention is worth a pound of cure" was
his striking summing up OF the con-
ditions confronting America today.
The Los Angeles chamber of COM
merce yesterday entertained captain
Hobson, taking him to San Pedro har-
Dor in company with members or the
city harbor commission and the cham
Der of commerce harbor committee.
The party was taken out in the gov
ernent launch by Captain Amos A.
Fries. United States engineer in
charge of the Los Angeles district, who
explained the work being done In San
Pedro harbor by dredging of channels
and turning basin, the party being
shown the government dredger in
actual operation.
From there they were taken to the
government breakwater, all of the de-
tails of which were explained by Cap
tain Fries.
Captain Hobson was landed on the
breakwater and inspected the work be-
ing done there and also inspected the
proposed sites of fortifications. which
are of vital necessity to San Pedro at
the present time.
After luncheon by the chamber of
commerce of San Pedro the party re-
turned to the city and Captain Hob
son was taken for an auto ride through
the principal parts of Los Angeles. In
the evening he will be the guest of
George II. Stewart, president of the
chamber of commerce, leaving for Salt
Lake Sunday morning at 10 o'clock.
Captain Hobson expressed himself as
thoroughly in accord with the desires
of the people to have this splendid har-
Dor, which is absolutely defenseless,
properly fortified.
The party was taken to San Pedro
through the courtesy of the Pacific
Electric Railway company
The party accompanying Captain
Hobson to San Pedro consisted of Cap
tain Fries, United States engineer;
f. w. Braun, representing the city
harbor commission; r. w. Burnham
and H. Hamlin, representing the cham
her of commerce harbor committee; H..
S. Kneedler, representing the Pacific
Electric Railway company; John T..
Gaffy, representing the San Pedro
chamber of commerce.; Messrs. Brock
way and Atwood, representing the
committee on entertainment of the
Spanish-American war veterans. The
party was in charge of II. B. Gurley,
assistant secretary of the chamber of
commerce.