Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1908 — DEFENSELESS PACIFIC COAST. [ARTICLE]

DEFENSELESS PACIFIC COAST.

On® Cruiser on® Toggf Night CouW '’Destroy Seattle and Tacoma. The departure of the fleet of sixteen battleships for its long cruise has at least served the- purpose l of drawing attention to the lamentably weak and unprotected condition of out Pacific coast, writes s Washington correspondent. From Lower California to the Canadian boundary we ihave absolutely no protection against invasion, save at Sap Francisco. Representative Humphrey, of the State of Washington, made it plain to President Roosevelt recently that a secowFelas* cruiser on a foggy night could steam into Puget Sound and shell Seattle and Tacoma off the face of the earth without receiving a shot In reply. . , The President was so impressed that lie asked Mr. Humphrey to prepare a report, in conjunction with his Pacific coast colleagues, as to what defenses and coast protection were necessary and desirable. San Diego and San Pedro in California are equally as unprotected as the Washington cities, and are wholly at the mercy of any enemy which may approach from the sea. It would not cost much, however, to.give San Diego reasonable protection and to prepare there a rendezvous for a Pacific fleet. It is estimated that $150,000 expended In dredging out the approach would furnish San Diego with a splendid harbor, easily defended by land fortifications and by battleships, the latter of which would he Instantly available for service anywhere along the coast. Just what the great Atlantic fleet will do when it reaches our Pacific coast Is a question not definitely settled. Mexico has granted us permission to make use of Magdalena bay for target practice, but it is claimed by experts that the ships will he in no condition for anything except to go into drydock for a complete overhauling. For this the Pacific coast Is absolutely unprepared. There is not a drydock or a navy yard commensurate for the task It would be called upon'to meet. The Mare Island navy yard at San Francisco Is absolutely Inadequate. There is doubt expressed by those who ought to know, having had experiences in the commissary end of the navy, that the provisioning of the fleet, when it arrived in the Pacific, may turn out to be as poorly prepared for as are the other functions.