Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-07-26
BAKER Determined
TO TAKE KENT island
Declares No Other Site Will
Fill Needs for Proving
Ground
FIGHT IN CONGRESS
Is NOW ASSURED

WASHINGTON. July 26.-The Gov
eminent took steps yesterday TO force
ISSUES upon the roqu ,sition OF Kent
Island. Maryland. for an artillery
proving ground, when Secretary
Baker gave out statement declaring
mat. after an exhaustive survey, this
Island was found TO be the only site
meeting all requirements and that he
would go to Congress for the power
and money to purchase It.
This means that all other possible
sites which have been offered have
been 0verruled and that the War De-
partment is determined. as a matter
Of national necessity. 20 take Kent
Island. however many people may be
dispossessed OF their homes.
The department. purposes to call
upon Congress for an appropriation
Of more than s1,000,000 for the pur-
chase OF the island and an additional
sum for its equipment. The bill to
be introduced probably will contain
a provision for condemnation OF the
land II necessary.
Secretary Bakers statement fol-
lows:
THE War Department finds that
the Sandy Hook proving ground is
inadequate TO meet the present de-
mands for the test and proof of
ordnance and ordnance material and
mat there Is imperative need OF the
prompt acquisition and equipment OF
a proving ground 20 meet the present
requirements which arc based upon
the greatly increased range and
t,,.rnt. ~ ff1f,fl. avffIIottf ranoafelItF
I'm the seaNch for a suitable site a
most exhaustive survey was made OF
all the country east Of the Mississiru
River. and the only site found to
meet the irreduclblc requirements was
Kent Island, in the Chesapeake Bay,
east OF Annapolis, Nd This Island
possesses 10 marked degree the
requisites FOR n proving ground OF the
type imperatively needed. and every
effort will be maze 70 secure the
needed funds from Congress for the
acquisition and equipment OF this is
land as n model army proving ground
for tho test OF artillery cannon, am
and accessories"
The statement OF Secretary Baker
that he would have 10 80 60 Congress
for an appropriation for this purpose
means that he will clash with Senator
John Walter Smith, who, with Repre-
sentative Price. has taken up the
fight OF the Kent Islanders against
dlspossession. The Senator has said
repeatedly that. if Il comes 70 fight
he will not hesitate 20 exercise all
bic influence he may have in the
senate against the War Department
program.
The Senator takes the position that
there are other sites to be had which
may be taken without doing violence
TO the feelings OF even a handful OF
people. He thinks that Il would be IN
outrage for tho Government 10 take
the properly OF 5000 people and force
their removal from their homes. even
though they were paid all the land
and houses m CHIT be worth.
All this was laid before Secretary
Baker at the time the Kent Island
question first came up. A delegation OF
prominent residents of the island
came 10 Washington and laid their case
before the secretary himself Mr.
Baker seemed sympathetic and prom
sed TO inquire into the whole matter
Later he let II be known that he had
directed the Ordnance Department to
look again for other sites. in the hope
N solving the problem without work
Ing a hardship upon any great body
Of people.
Secretary Of tho Navy Daniels stated
again yesterday that the navy was not
I'm the Kent Island project
He said that his service was admir-
ably equipped at Indian Head, Md,
for the naval gun tests. though much
TO passing craft had re-
suited. He doubted II the navy would
find any necessity during the war for
another proving ground.