Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-03
BRIGADE MAY
LOCATE HERE
PLANS TO ESTABLISH POST IN
LOS ANGELES
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BACK
OF PROJECT
Governments Troops Would Become
Accimatized Before They Reach
Tropical Climate of the
Far East

According to public sentiment, as
voiced by the Los Angeles chamber of
commerce and other influential bodies
of citizens, the government may take
steps toward locating a brigade post
near Los Angeles.
ut would be we'll to start agitation
along the lines of acclimation of the
troops" said Frank Virgins, secretary
of the Los Angeles chamber of COM
merce yesterday, speaking on this sub
ject. THAT is, the troops might be
quartered in large barracks at Los An
geles on their way to the Philippines.
Thus they would become accustomed
to semi-tropical climate before going
to the tropical cline of the islands. We
could arouse public sentiment along
that line to provide quarters for large
numbers of troops. In the near future
there may be need of something of that
sort and it would be we'll to look after
the location of quarters for the men,
and SO on, while the question is in the
peoples minds"
United States Senator Frank P. Flint,
brother of Motley H. Flint, the Los
Angeles postmaster, and William G.
Mendenhal1, director of the Los An
geles chamber of commerce, both of
whom are now In Washington, d. c.,
have been comforting about the matter
Although it is not likely as their in
vestigations proved, that the govern
ment will locate large body of troops
in Los Angeles permanently, yet the
idea Of troops staying here en- route to
the Philippines from the east has been
received with great deal of en-
thusiasm by the public in general.
Many Suggestions Made
Secretary of War Taft suggested a
year ago that the Pacific coast be pro-
tected, and Monterey has obtained a
detention or drilling camp. San Fran
cisco has troops, while Portland, Ore,
also has some Notifications.
Maj. William G. Ham, the member
of the government board for planning
defenses and Notifications who was in
Los Angeles recently, was the host of
Capt. William S. Graves of the TWEEN
tieth United States cavalry, in charge
OF the local recruiting office for the
army. Maj. Ham expressed his sur
prise to Capt. Graves at city the size
of Los Angeles being so unprotected.
Col. John H. Horton chairman of the
military committee of the chamber of
commerce, said his committee would
make a report on the standing and con-
dition of Los Angeles county, which
would be presented to the secretary of
war, requesting a sufficient appropria-
ton for defense of this section, If
necessary. He said that Maj. Ham
gave the chamber of commerce an in
teresting report on his visit here re-
Gently. declaring that Los Angeles, San
Francisco and San Diego all needed
defenses.
Griffith park has been suggested as
site for quarters for troops, 1t being
thought by some that Los Angeles city
was empowered to turn this tract over
to the federal government by special
arrangement.
Postmaster Motley H. Flint suggested
that Los Angeles follow the example
of Portland. That city arranged for a
worlds fair by having each citizen give
81 and up, method, he said, which
might be followed by Los Angeles in
making ready for the reception OF
troops.