Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-09-12
SECRETARY OF WAR
TO KEEP Up FIGHT
viii TakessKent Island Project from
Military Committee
QUESTION RESTS WITH SENATE
Those Opposing War Departments
Plans For Government Purchase
Confident of Victory.

Thursday TO hear the Department
side of the Kent Island controversy.
| If that day is not convenient TO the
members of the committee, the Secre-
tary asked that another early date be
sent when full membership could
be ON hand.
War Department officials are un-
dismayed by the setback received by
their proving ground plans in the last
ined effort to convince the Senate
Committee on Military Affairs that
Kent Island is absolutely vital for
the speeding up of the nations war
preparations.
The fate of Kent Island practically
rests upon the verdict of this commit
tee. AS a result of the understanding
between Secretary Baker and Sena-
tors John Walter Smith and Thomas
S Martin, majority leader, the former
agreed to let the Military Committee
act as an umpire over the question
whether or not the War Department
shall go ahead with its plans to take
over the island, using part of the
500, 100000 emergency war fund to
pay for it.
Chamberlain Almost Convinced.
If the Senate committee upholds the
War Departments plans, Secretary
Baker will at once move to take pos
session of the island without waiting
for further legislation. If, on the
other hand, the committee should de-
eide against the War Department,
severe blow will be dealt the pro-
posal to convert the island into a
gigantic proving ground, although it
officials will continue their efforts to
get the approval of Congress of the
So 200, 900 proving ground item in the
$4,000, 100000 War Budget bill with
! out any restrictions which would pro-
hibit the Department from taking over
the island If Congress as. a whole
approves the proving ground item
without restrictions some army Off
cials hold ii will be equivalent to ap-
proving the acquisition of the Chesa-
peake Bay tract in view of the wide
spread discussion of the matter.
Senator Chamberlain, of the Senate
Committee on Military Affairs, declar-
ed his opposition to the acquisition of
Kent Island upon the evidence which
has so far been submitted to him.
II have not heard the War Depart
ment's side of the controversy" the
Senator said. "but from what has al
ready been told me it looks to me a
farce to drive 5000 people from their
homes in order to- get proving
ground where there are so many
thousands OF acres of unused and
unproductive land in the United
States
Smith Thinks Fight Is Won.
Senator John Walter Smith feels
confident that death blow has been
struck the plans to take over Kent
Island Representative Price, who
has charge of the House side of the
fight, shared his confidence. Mr..
Price, in discussing the action of the
President in setting aside part of
the $100,000,000 emergency fund to
buy the island, said he did not be-
+ lieve the President fully understood
the situation.
When the President returns | have
under consideration plans to call upon
him and acquaint him with the true
facts about this proposal said Mr..
Price Il do not believe man OF
President Wilson's humane impulses
will approve a plan which will Bel
gianize' 1900 American people when
he knows the true facts"
| Representative Price continued his
activities in the House in laying the
Kent Island case before his col
| leagues. He received assurances OF
| support from Representative Roden-
Lurg, of Illinois, and Representative
Adamson, of Georgia, two of the
/ House leaders. There were also
signs. according to intimations re-
ceived by Mr. Price. that there will be
q break in the Maryland delegation in
favor of the Kent Islanders. Coady
ITalbott and Linthicum, while doing
nothing to aid the War Department
have not been helping Mr. Price in
his campaign. There were hints thai
one and perhaps two of these Mary
landers would line up with Mr.. Price
on the showdown" although they
insist upon hearing the whole ques
ton debated before announcing de
| finitely how they viii vote. zihlmar
is active at work among his Republi
can colleagues, lining up votes fol
| the Kent Islanders Mr.. Mudd, Will,
not working actively. has announced