Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-20
Virginia Real Estate Men Are
Blamed by High Army
Officers.
SHERLEY WOULD CONDEMN
CAPITAL DEFENSE SITES
Fortifcations Chairman Threatens to
Let Question of Big Guns at
Capes Rest Awhile.

Virginia real estate operators are
blamed by several army officers at the
heads of important bureaus for placing
a serious obstacle in the way of proper
fortifcations to protect Washington from
an attack by sea. The complaints of the
officers have reached the House of Rep
resentatives. where members of the forti-
fications subcommittee of the appropria-
tions committee are expressing their in
tention that the United States shall not
be "held up by spectators. At the same
time, the view of army officers who. for
years have advocated fort at Cape
Henry, is that there is more danger to
the capital from the grasping. mercenary
qualities of some of the folks In Vir-
ginia than there Is from an enemy's guns.
Everything is ready to build an invin-
chile fort at Cape Henry for the sole
purpose of making Washington and Balti-
more and the Chesapeake bay free from
sea attack At least $1,000 is ready for
an appropriation. When Gen. Wood. chief
of staff, appeared before the subcommit-
tee the last time he said to Representative
Sherley of Kentucky, chairman:
ION the Atlantic coast the most i'm
portant thing to be done is to fortify
the entrance to Chesapeake bay"
The Proposed Armament.
He went on to explain that his idea
would be to place there a battery of four
14-inch guns, eight 12-inch mortars and
four 6-inch rifles. He said the Chesa-
peake bay probably would be the greatest
naval rendezvous in war time: and that
the Chesapeake bay was "a gateway to
the vitals Of the country. and both the
that we should make a serious effort to
close this entrance effectually.'
fort at the entrance of the bay las
long been the plan of army men At first.
before the range of big guns had been
stretched to cover as many miles OF sea
sition to place forts at Cape Henry and
at Cape Charles, just across the bay,
so that an enemy's fleet would be whib-
sawed between the two. Then came the
plan to build an artificial island in the
middle of the bay with guns sweeping
the horizon In all directions Nothing
came Of that plan, and now the army
has come right down to what ts con-
sidered the best plan Of all. to have one
crackerjack fort at Cape Henry, with
Charles IL necessary.
Representative Sherley, chairman Of the
fortifcations subcommittee. Is serious in
his objection to the real estate dealers
blockade to the Cape Henry fort He told
Star reporter yesterday that IL he had
his way the government would condemn
the necessary land, and II the condemna-
ton jury stuck the government the
matter would be allowed to rest awhile
and the natural tendencies toward high
prices for Cape Henry sand dunes would
simmer for period.
Area Includes About 800 Acres.
The area sought to be purchased in
cludes about 300 acres. The last avail
able figures in the fortifications subcom-
mittee show that about 1900, 900 would
be involved in the building and equipment
Of the fort. This includes the construc-
tion Of emplacements, 81, 10000: search
lights. $1O2, 600: mine construction So, 600;
fire control. 100000: mines. $40. 900, etc.
While the real estate problems are be-
ing agitated. the old argument between
large guns and smaller guns is being
heard in regard to the proposed fort
Representative Sherley is for 16-inch guns.
the biggest made, for the fort, but some
of the army men are for 14-inch guns.
Gen. Weaver. chief of coast artillery, has
spoken for 16-inch guns at the fort One
of these enormous guns is being mounted
at Panama now.
10000 yards and at that enormous dis
tance will 9erforate twelve inches Of
Krupp armOr. the heaviest now carried.
The 12-inch gun previously considered will
perforate fourteen inches of armor at
6. 800 yards with the long projectile now
used
The champions of the big 16-inch gun
say that one advantage Is found in the
large charge of explosive material it car
ries. This weighs about 40 pounds and
would teara battleship to pieces.