The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-06-12
MORE ADEQUATE
OF
FLORIDA COAST
NORTH FLORIDA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE URGES THAT TIME
LY ATTENTION BE GIVEN THIS
SUBJECT.

Tallahassee. June ti-( Special The
North Florida Chamber OF Commerce
whose headquarters are at Talls hassee,
have directed the following letter to
all the commercial bodies of the state
Tallahassee. June s. 1918.
TO the Chambers of Commerce or Flor
ida:
The North Florida Chamber OF Com
merce has made request OF His Ex-
eeilency, Hon. Sidney j. Cats. Cow
ernor of Florida, to please request the
United States Government to give the
Cuff Coast of Florida some protection,
by armed cruisers or vessels to patrol
the Gulf: and also, to recommend the
building of fortifications at the Port OF
St Andrews, Bay County, as suggested
and recommended in Senate Memorial
No 1, of the Florida Legislature of
1917.
Florida will be the first line of de-
fense' for inland states, if submarines
or other foreign craft come into these
waters. We. therefore, earnestly urge
you to supplement the request of this
organization without delay, and co.
operate with us in getting adequate
protection for the entire coast of
Florida. We will ask for the locating
of at least six balloon and seaplane
stations on the coasts of Florida. ap-
preparation for which is provided for
in the bill before Congress
This service to our state will be ap-
predicted by all the people,. and we viii
thank you very much for prompt as
sistance in this important matter.
Please consider this personal matter.
Very truly
NORTH FLORIDA CHAMBER OF COM
MERGE,
BY F. r. S. Phillips.
Secretary.
The North Florida Chamber Of Com
merce has also asked the cooperation
of the State Council of Defense in this
matter, and as body 1t is bending
every possible effort to secure coast
protection for Florida. that now seems
so necessary. The officers of the or
gaaization are, Hon. j. D. Smith. Mari
anna, president; Hon c. B. Dunn. Of
Ghfpley, treasurer; and F. r. 6. phil
lips, or Tallahassee, secretary.
Mariana. June 11-(S pecial) The
question of coast defense for the Flor
Ida gulf coast has been receiving con-
siderable attention and creating re-
neWed interest recently since the sub
marine activities in American waters
began. The fact that West F1orid.
mas several deep water ports, notably
Pensacola, st. Andrews, Apaiachfcola
and Port St. Joe, none of which with
the exception of Pensacola are pro
tecsed, the North Florida Chamber of
Commerce. through its officers, is try
Ing TO bring sufficient pressure on the
naval authorities to get some action
taken looking toward an adequate de-
fense of this much exposed shore line.
The following letters will indicate
how far the matter has gone:
Letter to Governor.
Gov. Sidney j. Cats, Tallahassee. Fla.
Dear Sir: AS president Of the North
Florida Chamber of Commerce. / have
been requested to call your attention
to senate memorial No. l. acts of 1917,
page 324. copy of which I am en-
closing in this letter. in regard to the
protection of the gulf coast along the
Gulf of Mexico in the state of Florida
The present danger that is surround
ing the gulf cities and the danger
thrown around the shipping from these
Places by submarines seems to have
found its way to our mediate shores.