Proposed Coast Military Highway
For the purpose of strengthening the military defenses of the Pacific Coast, which he asserts are being neglected by the Federal Government, Francis W. Harris, of Renton, has drawn plans for a military highway to extend from Port Townsend south through Aberdeen, Portland, Astoria, San Francisco to San Diego.
"We are told that peace is coming, and it is reasonable to suppose that this is true. However, the dove to-day is marked up on the board as 'twenty-four hours late,'" says Mr. Harris. "When peace and disarmament do arrive, the artillery and battleships will be old waste scrap iron and a loss, and there will be practically no salvage. But every dollar that is spent on this military highway will always be a benefit and as good as the day when it was invested.
"The East and Middle West are amply provided with both railroads and highways, and the comforting knowledge that the Rocky Mountains will keep invaders from the West, according to Mr. Harris. The Pacific Slope has an area of about 320,000 square miles and a population of only 4,000,000, and practically no railroads or highways by which troops could be readily mobilized. It has a coast line of 1,000 miles.
"At the present time a highway along the coast is badly needed to distribute troops rapidly from the nearest railway terminals," continues Mr. Harris, in an analysis of the situation. "Between Portland and San Francisco there is only one railroad, and this could not begin to handle an army bound either north or south.
"The rapid development of motor trucks and automobiles of all kinds will make it possible to move an army of 10,000 men from 150 to 300 miles per day, and advance guard and lightly equipped troops at even greater speeds.
"This road will make it possible to follow on land an attacking or raiding party at sea. A comparatively small force can prevent a landing if on the ground, where an army corps would fail to dislodge them if allowed time to intrench. To-day landings can be made on the coast without opposition at a large number of points.
"True, they would be eventually dislodged and repulsed, but only at a heavy loss to ourselves, both in men and in the small towns destroyed.
"This highway would open up a great country to settlement and development. This would result in large quantities of commissary supplies being right on the ground, thus lessening the burden on the army transports, which are the first things to break down in war time. To-day there is not enough food on the coast to keep a corporal's guard in good fighting trim, and our army would have to carry everything with it on a campaign in this country."
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