The San Francisco call., 1910-07-03
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fesses to be deeply alarmed
about the defenseless condition
of the Pacific coast. He has
visions OF the proud invader
: & . trampling on our rights, liber-
: ties and corns and making OF
t~~..4.x%....~t this fair and spacious California
an Asatic satrapy In an elaborate address pur-
porting to have been delivered recently the floor
of the house he sounded the alarm with plentiful
tropes and figures and wide flung imagery. This
broad expansc of silver that might be supposed
to guard our inziolate shores was:
Itern-"The ocean zone of world struggle
Itern-eThe pivot OF the worlds commercial
and political activities.
AN OCEAN OF PARTS
So the Pacific ocean in its time plays many
parts Besides being pivot and zone it IS like
wise on occasion highway and an arena, many
sided ocean, God wot.
Mr. McLachlan makes the politically unfortu-
nate admission that our elaborate and costly system
OF coast fortifcanon is Of little practical value
Quoting from his speech;
Standing at the sea front OF great cities
these defenses invite attack that otherwise could
not occur Undefended from the their fall
is inevitable even if small parties of the enemy
can land elsewhere and reach their unopposcd
The great guns installed can fire only toward
the sea
Within their range landing operations of mpor-
tance are admittedly impossible. But they
fixed in place. They have part in any plan
Of defense beyond their range The capture OF
any ono OF the guns installed to defend seacosst
city might make city, its harbor and IFS other
defenses untenablc.
For complete protection in this way guns would
have to be installed along every foot OF the coast
where landing is possible.
With our length of coast line this is impos
sble Nothing has been conceived beyond the
protection of the important harbors But
there nnumerable smaller harbors, even long
stretches of open beach, along the length of
coasts where landing by aggressive and prac-
ced enemy IS only possible, but attended by
lew difficulties.
For invading army pass the Golden gate
and land in San Francisco is doubtless impossible,
but for it to land at Monterey in Bodega bay or
Bolinas bay and TO take San Francisco from the
rear IS not only feasible for any power possessing
the ships and the men, but presents no difficulties
PORK AND POLITICS
All this is elementary knowledge about which
there is no dispute. but we shall doubtless find
Mr. McLachan camoring for appropriations to buy
land and. build Notifications at San Pedro and by
and by. in due course OF politics, Wilmington,
Santa Monica. Balona slough Newport bay, Santa
Barbara and the whole water front of southern
California will be asking in for similar favors
Indeed. think myself that Bolinas and Halfnoon
bays have been wickedly overlooked. There are
no thirteen inch rifles keeping watch and ward over
the pebble beach at Pescadero
FUTILE FORTIFICATIONS
Having demonstrated the vulnerable condition
of the coast Mr.. McLachan piles up figures Of the
armed force which he declares Japan-the hated
foe-mgllt land on our shores with none to oppose
but handful of militia
Let it be admitted then that coast fortifica-
tons are of slight value as defenses It is, as Mr.
McLachlan points out, contrary to the laws and
practice of modern warfare to lombard an unde
tended city. The fortifcations therefore are
chiefly invitation to attack, which on foggy
coast might be a serious matter were a hostile
feet in possession OF the seas. So the congressman
already sees Japan in easy possession of Los Angc
les like this:
The capture OF Los Angeles would mean pos
session OF all southern California
This great community, built by the best of
brain and Drawn that the nation possesses has
with magnificent civic courage completed the
unfinished work OF benehcent nature.
The arid reaches of decade ago now fash
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