Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-28
FREED Wants FACTS WAR DOGS IN HOUSE
But Baying Fails to Disturb
Democratic Economists:
ITEM FOR $4,000 KILLED
Appeals of Moore and Holland for
Fertilization Of Chesapeake
Bay Are Futile.

The dogs of war were let loose in the
House of Representatives yesterday. by
Representatives Holland Of Virginia and
Moore of Pennsylvania, but their baying
didn't disturb the democratic economists
under the leadership of Representatives
Fitzgerald Of New Jersey and Sherley of
Kentucky, who knocked out on a point of
order an amendment carrying 1900 for
the construction Of Notifications at Cape
Henry, at the entrance of Chesapeake
bay.
Mr. Holland, in offering the amendment.
denied the owners of the land on which 1t
was proposed to build the coast defenses
were trying to ''hold up" the government
He also denied the great coast line of the
United States was 'overfortified.'
"A statement of this sort" he said, sis
several distinguished government officials
and also is contrary to the express
recommendation Of all the army and
navy experts who have from time to
time been appointed to make proper in
yestigations and report what seacoast de-
lenses are actually needed.
Gives Access to Capital.
THE mouth Of the Chesapeake bay,
once entered, would give an enemy easy
access to the National Capital. No well
informed naval officer doubts that. under
cover of darkness or during hazy or
misty weather, the ships of a foreign
nation can easily pass Cape Henry, safe
from the craftsmanship of our splendid
gunners at Fortress Monroe, more than
twelve miles away.
''And once past Cape Henry these ships
can steam up Chesapeake bay without
this entrance. as it is now unfortified. q
hostile fleet, should 1t gain control at
sea, can establish, without coming under
the fire of single gun, base on Its
shores says the report of the national
coast defense board.
IF Gen. Crozier is right in his conclu-
sion that Washington can be thus cap
tured within a. month by foreign power
or combination of powers, then 1t also
follows that the cities Of Baltimore and
Philadelphia, as we'll as Annapolis and
the Naval Academy located at that point,
can as easily be captured.
1T also follows that the cities of Nor
folk and Portsmouth, Newport News and
Richmond. along with the well equipped
government naval station at Portsmouth.
the extensive shipbuiIding plant at New
port News and the great coal piers on
Hampton roads. representing millions Of
dollars in value, also can be taken by q
foreign foe. No other point on our great
coast line presents such opportunity for
capture by an enemy and the destruction
of vast property interests.
Commercial Importance a Factor.
Representative ]. Hampton Moore Of
Pennsylvania supported the Holland
amendment.
we are not gwen" he said, "to con-
sidering as carefully as we might the
commercial importance of this part Of the
Atlantic seaboard. l presume, IL the sta
tistics could be brought into the House
at this time. they would show that the
commerce passing. around about Capes
Henry and Charles. and running up as far
as Cape HenlOpen would exceed perhaps
ten times the volume of commerce it is
anticipated will pass through the Panama
canal the first year Of it's operation
Norfolk and vicinity are constantly in
creasing as export and import points.
The country is developing in that
direction. and its inland waterways
are constantly adding new business
But the Chesapeake bay approaches
are not only to Hampton roads and
Norfolk and vicinity, but they extend
on up to Baltimore and through canals
That now exist. and which we hope
some day will be improved, to Phila-
delphia and New York. and ultimately
to Boston. And by the same token
they extend south, and provision,
understand. will shortly be made by
this Congress for the Improvement of
which will lead on into the North
Carolina sounds and out into the At
iantic ocean below Cape Hatteras
There ought to be a better system of
defenses at the mouth Of the Chesa-
peake bay than. we have today. 1t is
the entire Atlantic coast.
Narragansett bay Is frequently spoken
OF as point at which we may some day
mobilize the naval forces Of the country
on the Atlantic seaboard. 1t is a we'll
protected bay. but there is no finer body
Of water in the United States nor a body
of water which is now attracting more at
tention on the part of naval men and COM
mercial men than Chesapeake bay 1t is
a more exposed bay than any along the
Atlantic TOAST for stretch Of fully 1SOO
miles, and it seems to me that we ought
to look little bit into the future with re-
gard to the protection of so important q
point along our seabOard.'
Moore and sherley Clash.
Mr. Moore became involved in an arsu-
ment with Representative Sherley, in
charge of the Notifications bill, as to the
efficiency of Fort Monroe in protecting
Hampton roads.
DO you Think" inquired Representa-
tive Helm Of Kentucky, that a modern
dreadnOught could pass Fort Monroe and
get to Norfolk without discovery" n
i think one could, IN the dark, and in
the fog and under certain circumstances .
Mr.. Moore replied.
Mr.. Sherley contended that the House
should not be swept off its feet by "the
talk We have every year of a danger of
Washington being sacked and burned by
foreign foe, landed on the shores Of
Virginia and marching from there to the
capital. Why. II this fright keeps on
and it has extended now to Philadelphia.
which is rather notable for its timidity-
the Lord knows what will happen"
Mr.. Fitzgerald then made point Of
order against the appropriation and it
was knocked out. The Notifications bill
was passed as 1t came from the commit
tee without amendment