The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1909-01-22
PRESIDENT SENDS TO CONGRESS
REPORT MADE BY GENERAL
STAFF OF ARMY
Estimates Cost Of Work at Three and
Half Million Dollars Step to Be
Taken Because Of Strategic Value
Of San Pedro for Oriental Enemy
Work on Report Begun Before Jap
Trouble.

Washington. D. G., Jan. 21.-Tne
fact that there was recently sent to
congress by President Roosevelt "a
report by the general staff OF the
army which became public today re-
commencing fortifications for San.
Pedro Harbor, California, was made
the basis for suggestions that such
decisions had just been reached in
view of the possibilities of trouble
with Japan.
At the war department this infer
ence was given a most explicit de-
nial. There it was said that the gem
eral subject of the improvement of
San Pedro Harbor had been under
consideration more than two year be-
ginning before there was any thought
of a dispute between the United
States and Japan. It was taken up
as natural military problem involv-
ing the necessary protection of the
southern, California coast, and with
out respect to any particular enemy.
Formal legislative authorization for
an investigation and report as to the
advisability and necessity for sea
coast fortiications for protection of
San Pedro Harbor was taken May 27
last. Subsequent to this action Pres
ident Roosevelt sent to congress the
report Of the general staff on the
subjec which was accompanied by
estimates of the cost Of the site and
Notifications aggregating $3,665,-
269.
The report shows the general staff
made a most comprehensive investi-
cation Of the whole question of the
necessity for adequate Notifications
at San Pedro. The report indicates
the belief that the immediate forti-
fication of the harbor is desirable, IL
for no other reason at least as a
provision of local indurance.
AS a purely naval base the gen
eral staff thinks that San Pedro Of
fers to an enemy considerable advan-
tages, it's use for this purpose being
with a view to operations against
other points or the Panama Canal.
The general staff's argument In
this connection assumes that an enc
my is coming from the Orient, and
the statement is made that so far as
location is concerned San Pedro
would be good base for an enemy
I to operate against our Pacific coast.
The report speaks of the Los Angeles
coast, and says the general staff:
When one thinks Of the great ex-
tent of this country, its immense
wealth, takes into consideration its
climate, making it one of the most
! desirable dwelling places in the
world, no effort Of Imagination is
NEEDED to realize the temptation 1t
offers to those Oriental powers whose
population is pressing hard on the
means Of subsistence.
Under the head Of Ease of Con-
quest" the report says that 'recent
study discloses the fact that assum-
ling there were no effective naval OPP
/ position, a certain Oriental power
could within a month Of the time
Its hostile intentions began to be ev-
. en- strongly suspected Ca formal de-
claration Of war would no doubt
come a good deal later) land on our
Pacific coast an expedition Of an es-
stimated maximum of about 100, ,000
men and that such force could be aug
I mented, by the end of two months
more, to a total of possibly S0o,-
4 1000"