| Show 1 I IX I f e The rho ot or the trie th American r 0 ships to the tile has been satisfactorily explained by the tho f I II I out the tho lit weal V alc as Ill will 11 its liS s the points ont or ot our no navy V The TIIT President T r dent lelit in In Ills his message m to Congress add added addi const coast i ed eil another I explanation Our 1 lino Is on the Pacific Just an as much as ason 9 of oC Cali California C 1 I on the tho Atlantic The Interests o S I fornia Oregon end and Washington nr us ii i ii i emphatically the Iho ot dC the thO 4 whole Union UH Ul tho fo or ot Maine talI and New Nel York Y rk ot of Louisiana mill oxa j The fleet should now and then I be to tho the Pacific Just ns at atI t ts i s I other times It IL should bo be kept In the tho At Atlantic t lantic Until the Isthmian canal canalis can at atIs is lB built I earnestly hope that the battle c fleet will bo tIC shifted between the oceans every eVer year yel l o or two BUI Dut this tha naval Is la not It 1 seems nil all thera Id Ia II IatO to t explain ex Further military II I activity Is reported which If IC considered In connection v with th tho the long cruise ap appears pears significant 1 According to the Portland Oregonian x tho the of ot the three 0 toast coast state stales Washington and California have hao 11 e been summoned n tl by b the tho War Department to go o to Washington p D C for Cor a 1 conference at the tho earliest I possible date dato on the subject of oC coast const defense The principal topic of ot con coo consideration coni at itt the tile conference it Is III ex ox explained i will bo that hot ot of training vol volunteer voli volunteer if i i coast artillery reserves to man manI I 1 I Oregon Washington and II nIl California fortifications The ThC Th subject of perfect perfecting i I 1 ing lil the Infantry regiments ot o the three o oln in ln coast co ost defense operations op r tlona Will likewise bo be taken up It Is presumed that the tile meeting will result In assign assignment ment moot o ol of national gUard troops to coast coant artillery work anti and that the th three ad ml will return with the tho th task tusk ahead of oC recruiting now new coast companies for Cor this llis service I Of oc O course Uncle Uncia Sam SI has u a I perfect right to strengthen hU hi coast toast defense In whatever manner ho he deems best und and no foreign power Jower can consistently ask any questions nil us to the tho meaning of such precautionary measures but will be llo naked asked all the same More money IB 18 b demanded now for mili military tory tary purposes than over OCI before In spite SimiLe of Japans I protestations of peace and aini 1 friendship The demand for tor or immedi immediate ate guns gun and am mines on tho time ll NI O coast tho the very vury 01 highest endorsement and the tho President is interested In putting the tho cities and harbors of oC the in a ae state e oto of ot thorough defense Questions S will necessarily n be he asked as to the necessity o such precautions The Tho Ih truth of ot time tho u matter l Is III that thai as near as th human wisdom can see this country Is In no danger langer dan er from any allY Eu 1 power poSer Our Atlantic coast can safely be J leSt left l Ct exposed OX posed It U there Is IB any serious tho the menace me naco Is IB from f Asia The fhe center of or political gravity Is shifting and the government Is la Wise Wisely ly I 3 taking cognizance c of oC that fact The TM Pacific Is coinIng coming into prominence But Dut no offense Is la Intended to any Pa cine chic power If U there theto is any danger In Inthe tho the situation U It is train from the recklessness of or a portion of ot the American press that li al with questions of at International Importance nce without knowledge and without tact |
