Evening star., 1917-01-14
CITES ADVANTAGES
OF MILITARY ROAD
Secretary Menk of Association
Sends Arguments for High
way to Baltimore.
BIG STEP FOR DEFENSE

A communication has been prepared
and sent TO the city-wide congress of Bal
timore, Md. by Theodore F. Menk. sec
retary of the winthrop-Indian Head
Washington Military Highway Associa-
tion. presenting to that organization ar
guments for the construction of a mill
tary highway between the points men
toned. starting at the National Capital.
In his letter bearing on the construc-
tion of the highway Secretary Menk says:
..For the purpose of this discussion at
tention is invited to certain features
which are outstanding and which will
demonstrate that the purpose of this high
way is one that is of national importance
when viewed from the standpoint Of pre-
paredness and also Of defense Of the ma
tion and its capital
The thought uppermost in the minds
Of thinking Americans is that of pre-
paredness, and any concrete suggestions
advanced along that line are worthy of
consideration
Proposd Route.
f'The proposed highway is planned to
cover area beginning at the southerly
point of the District of Columbia line
ssd extending in proximity to the Mary
land side of the Potomac river down the
same as far as Winthrop. Md. the marine
ride range. through a country not now
provided with direct and satisfactory
SsAds
.At once the most distant and per-
haps most important point to be
Neached. as a preparedness proposition.
- Winthrop. 1t is about thirty-five
Giles distant from Washington and is
Hcessible only by boat. three or four
rrrr hot fiFvna mi nd
.snsive- The founder of this rifle
.ange. Maj. William c. Harllee. says
with regard to il: A good road to
Winthrop would be the means of in
teresting a large number of the best
citizens in Baltimore. Maryland at
large. Washington and elsewhere in
rtffe practice and would be a powerful
means for facilitating the work. There
has been great demand to reach
Winthrop by automobile. the present
road now making such means of ac-
cess impossible and an automobile
road would assist immeasurably in
making real preparedness both pleas
ant and attractive. II affords a place
where the Navy Department can offer
Its services through the only federal
ri6e range in the United States used
Tor this purpose, which with its present
equipment can accommodate 500 men
per day
Another Training Place.
-Another importaAt training place
fog civilians is at Fort Washington, Nd,
about twelve miles from Washington.
which Is provided with coast defense
guns and ether necessary equipment.
A eompany compossd Of George Wash-,
,s nsey studenSs - neine
proper acceeS by land would be. more
eytensive,y fused by many more.
% ,ns bon Aione mas tnoasanos OF
sIsoe ,,i9us Ssspecl4Hy those IN tne gov
y ~ ~, VINO Wouiu pc gia0 10
n tsSGeeives OF the training Of
.ere9 sae2hste uansportatfonw were
T. nv.sueux ~. IT, y. SLuss .tnlsr 10TH has
- s,sa 49, ~ - Wv iuot0r Trans
~ ~ ycufu ne fiAr more elastic
:. -. :. Z (. ~ -
sun Heeser Important training
PI1ce 10 wesntngton ID fort Foote, now
DssnS usee oniy ~ aetachmenes OF ensi-
sCues ifom washington oar-
I@Sns Ioi prdctce purposes IN military
e&iheerIhg. ana Is also only approach
e1is oy water. Ihe proposed highway
weuid reacn TINS point. and while it Is
hot now USED by civilians or militia,
COLO ana prooaoly would anord train
ing 10 many in this important branch
or ttne military service
- Ars. ..-e-.ss---,
.a-.,,..,--'. - - '-o'
can readily he seen ,hat ~. s,,,
mentioned n,aces for int.n,rv oo..
artfylerv and epoineerir. wo,,a ~
coma mos, tmnort,rt ir.sr,,.h &C .h.
81. 30 rrorina,,I, n,ao.a ~,
x,,tb,, !. li,,,. ovsr On ho,-,. "a. -.
aufomobiie from washington. and they
should be made n, models Of service . M
efficiency since tbey would he visited
by MANY of the CAPITALS Thousands ~
annua4S visitors and would zserye TO
disxemi7nate the gospeI OF prepared-
ness i'm ali parts of the nafion CSan
such a statement be made Of any other
section OF the limited Stateso The csni.
tai is the heart Of the nation and as
sueh is worthy of anv sctinr ,aLas
that will serve in its defense in ti,ne
Of invasion and surely nrenaredn.ss
Is the greatest item in a sIccessfnI d.
Tense