Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-22
BIG GUNS FOR
Los ANGELES
HARBOR
RECOMMENDED BY WAR
DEPARTMENT EXPERTS
President Transmits to Con-
gress Elaborate Scheme to
Make Southern California
Port lmpregnabIe,


| IBy Morning journal Special Leased Wirel
Washington, Jan. 2l.--The fact tha
there was recently sent to congress b,
President Roosevelt a report by the
general staff of the army which be-
came public today, recommending for
| Itifications for san Pedro harbor, Cali
fornia was made the basis for sug
gestions that such decisions had just
been reached in view or a possibility
of a war with Japan.
| AT the war department this infer
ence was given most explicit denial
There it was said that the general sub
| ject of improving San Pedro harbor
| had been under consideration more
| than two years, beginning before
there was any thought of any dispute
between the United States and Japan.
1t was taken up as a natural military
problem involving the necessary pro-
lection of the southern California
coast from foreign invasion, and with
out reference to any particular enemy.
Formal legislative authorization for
an investigation and report as to the
advisabilty and necessity for coast
Notifications for protection for San
Pedro harbor was taken May 81 last.
President Roosevelt sent to congress
the report of the general staff on the
subject which was accompanied by
estimates of the cost of the sites and
fortiflcations aggregating $3,665.269
for big guns. submarine Mines land
and accessories.
The report shows that the general
at 4.
study of the whole question of the ne
cessity for adequate Notifications at
San Pedro, analyzing in detail the pos
sibilities OF using the place as a naval
base, and the landing of a hostile
army by an enemy and at the same
time pointing out the well nigh i'm
pregnability of an enemy in the Los
Angeles country, once he has taken
possession. AS a purely naval base,
the general staff thinks san Pedro Of
fers to an enemy considerable advan-
tages, its use for this purpose being
With a view to operations against 9TH
er points. and on the Panama canal
The general staff argument assumes
that an enemy IL coming from the
orient and the statement Is made that
so far as location is concerned, San
Pedro would be a good base for an
enemy TO operate against the Amer
lean Pacific coast. The report speaks
OF the Los Angeles country. and, says
the general staff when one thinks of
the great extent of this country. it's
immense wealth; takes into considera-
tion its climate, making il one of the
most attractive dwelling places in the
ri % l..
needed to realize the temptation its
offers to those oriental powers whose
is pressing hard on means
of subsistence"
Under the head of ease of con-
quest" the report says that recent in
discIoses the fact that as
there were no effective naval
opposition an effective oriental navy
could. within a few months of the
time its hostile intentions began to
be strongly suspected (formal decla-
ration of war would no doubt come
a good deal later) land on our Pacific
coast an expedition of an estimated
maximum of about 10000 men, and
such force could be augmented by
the end of two months to "a total OF
possibly 100000. The ease with
which San Pedro harbor, unfortified. |
could be seized and through it the en-
tire Los Angeles country. is apparent. |
From a defensive point of view the |
report points out that the Pacific |
coast country is divided naturally into |
three grand divisions:
While complete, each in itself, for |
defensive purposes, they are as yet |
50 related to one another as to |
-eadily permit of progressive occupa- |
lion by an enemy provided he act |
Iuickly At the same time the board |
points out the ease of retaining pos
session. and the conclusion is reached |
hat sea, mountain and desert COM |
Dipe to make the position of the in
,ader, once he has taken possession |
If the Los Angeles country in force, |
Nell night impregnable."
Reference is had to a report made |
oy what is known as the Taft coast |
icfense board in 1906, and in this
the report says:
THE changed conditions since the !
Taft board report which now render
he fortification OF San Pedro har-
,or imperative, may be summed up as
oliOws:
'First-The developments Of San
Pedro harbor.
-Sccond-The great potential |
trength as an enemy which a certain
'riental power has recently acquired.
"As an additional argument in
ounding out this report it may be
tated that the suggestive effect of
public discussion Of war contingen-
les upon the Pacific coast has un-
Ioubtedly been to provoke interna-
ional antagonisms Of the gravest
hsracter. Adequate Notifications at
ian Pedro would certainly remove
me now conspicuous cs use of that
lind OF agitation. which leads to un-
ortunate discussion of sour foreign
citations and il would thereby pro-
note that appearance of friendliness