Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-03-30
rs JAPAN A MENACE
no THE lsACIFIc COAST


------
Much has been written concernins
the rising power Of Japan and her
commercial ascendency on the Paci-
fic coast.
| spent over half year there and
travelled from Bellingham on the
north Of Puget Sound to San Diego
near the southern line. ] think 4
had a chance to see some Of the real
conditions. spent over three years
OF my life in the army and have
studied every campaign Of the civil
war and believe have some idea Of
military affairs. What astonishesI
me is the fact that the government
Of the United States and our states
men do not seem to comprehend
conditions as they are. The defense
lessness Of the whole coast is so evil
dent that It ought to awaken US to
activity If we intend to defend our
national territory. Because we have
had a wonderful history in all the
wars in which we have been engaged
is really no ground that we should
presume that the future will be as
the past. for conditions have vastly
changed and there now menaces our
western coast. an enemy such as we
have never had before.
First let us look at our defenses,
commence at the extreme southern
line, San Diego. California. Here
is a beautiful harbor and a city OF
forty thousand people. The en-
trance to the harbor is defended BY
TT. Rosecrans. 1t certainly Is well
located to stop any boat coming up
| to the city. 1t is built on the east
side of Point Iona, the hill rising
behind several hundred feet.
1t is no defense from an attack
on the city by infantry for landing
could be made north of Poiht Iona
and the city attacked with the Fort
absolutely useless, ana the city help
LESS. Ten thousand troops we'll
handled could capture the city with
ease.
One railroad only running to Los
Angeles passes through hills that
could be fortified and held against
vastly superior forces.
Pass on to the vicinity of Los An
geles, $4,000 people. about 100
miles north. San Pedro is the har-
Dor and the shipping is here for all
trade that comes to the city from
the ocean. The cities Of Long
Beach, Redmond, and others along
the coast have wharves extending
out in to the ocean for more than
| rs miles. Along this coast tronps
/ could be landed without trouble and
could march against Los Angeles ov'
er a flat country hard to defend. and
where now they would meet with nc
resistance.
j Los Angeles captured, the smaller
cities of the great San Bernadino
valley would naturally fall into the
hands of the enemy. The valley Il
rich and would support a number Of
troops. The valley is entered by
| two passes, one used and controlled
Iby the Southern Pacific. These
passes once in the possession of the
enemy, would give them entire CON
troll of the valley, and all OF South,
ern California. A small body Of
troops can hold these passes against
Item times their number.
Let us go north toward San Fran
cisco. This harbor is defended and
Icould be mined so that no hostile
ship could get into the Golden Gate
but nothing in the world prevents
1.-THE landing of troops few miles to
the south Of the city and few thous-
and troops could take San Francisco
without a struggle. The Sacremen-
to valley from the north is entered
by a few mountain passes which seiz-
ed and held by the enemy would pre-
vent any assistance from the east
! All Of this country is rich in spoils
that an army could appropriate and
live upon.
Let US go on north, but THIS is not
really necessary only to show our de-
fenseless condition, for 1t the sacre'
r .snto valley and all the cities below
Sacramento, San Francisco, Los An
gelcs and all the small cities that
must fall with the large ones were
lin the enemies hands and the noun
tain passes held. II would cost much
Itimo, treasure ana blood to recover
them. Once in the hands Of the en-
envy, communication with the east
would be cut off and in so days the
people would be starving and appeal
ling 10 the government to rescue them