New-York tribune., 1916-02-26
Coast Folk Say lO-Mile
Strip Has Been Bought
for Submarine Centre.
SITE COMMANDS
NEW YORK HARBOR
Value for Aero Fleet Head
quarters Seen in Nearness to
Metropolis and Philadelphia.

Toms River, N. j., Feb. 25.-Rumors
that submarine and torpedo boat bases
are t. be established by the govern
ment in Barnegat Pay to defend the
New Jersey coast have become ire
pressible since a mysterious agent has
acquired an option on the Aumach
property. This is the strip Of beach
land on which the rdmored defensive
works were 70 be erected.
The vice president Of one Of the To-
cal banks is sponsor for the news. lie
says a Federal engineer has informed
him that the United States has al
ready purchased the property with tho
intention Of enlarging Barnegat Inlet,
dredging d channel from there to the
Island Beach lifeguard station, ten
miles, and preparing naval base and
fortress at the north end, within
short distance of this town and The
Tribune's Beachwood property.
Title to the tract of land which, ac-
cording to the informant, has been pur-
chased has been disputed in the courts
for twenty-seven years. The suit was
instituted by the Elijah Aumach fam
lily, claiming that the late John Allen
had purchased the property. George
W. Dorrance, Of New York, defended
his rights, and a few weeks ago OBJ
tanned a clear title in the Court OF
Chancery.
Site Controls Harbor.
Judge Gaskell, of Moorestown, attor-
ney for the owners, Dorrance and Fred
erick Libby, of New York, is now at
Pinehurst, but his son last night said
that somebody, he could not or would
not saw who, had taken an option on
the property almost Immediately alter
the ownership was settled. Inc mys-
terv about the identity OF the prospec-
tive buyer, linked here with the rumors
about the submarine base, is regardt'I
as proof positive that he Is a govern
ment agent.
The strip Of land is ten miles long,
500 feet wide. and is said TO have
DHHn
Barnegat Inlet to Seaside Park. Inc
feasibility Of this site for defensive
purposes helps to fix the rumor. 1t IS
lust half way between Manhattan and
Delaware Bay, and thus would protect
both harbors
According to the Federal engineer, an
aeroplane base and aviation school are
to complete the military outfit planned
Z 81 "a "A
probable because the site is equidis-
tant between New York to the north
and Philadelphia TO the west. and
within easy flying distance of both.
The present road system and the
new highways proposed by the New
Jersey Road Comm ssion make the Bar
negat Bay district important in case
of mobilization. It is believed here
that with this advantage on land. the
Importance of the point for defence
of both Cape May and Sandy Hook in
the submarine and torpedo service and
its advantages in the aerial defence OF
Philadelphia and New York the War
and Navy departments cannot have
overlooked the strategic value OF this
undeveloped property.
War Department officials in Wash
ington and Admiral Benson, chief OF
the Naval Operations Board, have de-
MED the intention of the government
to undertake the enterprise. George
II. Holman. however, County Clerk
here. says he has heard the rumors
connected with such variety of indl-
cations that they begin TO sound au-
thentic The identity Of the agent who
has been dealing with Judge Gaskell
remains a mystery.