The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-07-28
PRICE AND smith HOPE
TO SAVE KENT ISLAND
Both Are Antagonistic to War De-
paitmem'S Plan to t~e il For
Proving Ground.

Washington, July PA meeting
of members OF the Maryland delega-
tion in Congress will be called, it
was announced by Representative
Price today, TO discuss and probabl!
determine whether OF not an Orga-
nized fight should be made in the
House and in the Senate on the War
Department recommendation OF
$3.U00,u0o appropriation for the ac-
QUESTION OF Kent Island for PROV
ing ground TO test artillery and coast
defense guns.
Senator Smith and MI. Price, both
of whom are anita gonistic TO the War
Department. plans held confer
ence late last night and they decided
il would be best to lay the whole
matter before the Congressional del
egation before they mapped out am
program to fight the proposal. Ac-
cordingly, an effort Will be made to
get The Maryland members together
one day next week to thrash out the
Kent Island situation.
Representative Price realizes that
unless he has the support of his five
rolleu CUES from Maryland he can
make but little Roadway in the
House against the War Departments
recommendations His only hope OF
making an effective fight for the de
feat of the proposal is to have the
delegation soiidly behind him.
There were signs today that Mr.
Price might not be able to get the
solid delegation to support his fight.
Several OF the members have init
mated that they understand from the
War Department officials that the &C
quiSitiOn OF Kent Island is an emer-
gency proposition and steps must be
taken to acquire it without delay in
order to begin testing big guns and
ammunition for the American az
mics TO be sent TO France. The
Maryland members. however, will not
publicly take a stand on the Kent
Island situation until they have
heard from Senator Smith and Mr.
Price, desiring to hear their side of
the matter before announcing Their
attitude. 1t can be definitely stated,
however. that at least three members
Of the House, according to the infor-
nation at their command at the pres
ent time. are inclined 10 interpose no
objection to the War Departments
program, feeling that the Kent Is
land people should make the sacri-
fee, though be il heavy one. Whe-
lher they will adhere to this position
after discussing the matter fully with
Representative Price an& Senator
Smith is yet to be determined.
There is no question that the OPP
position to the Kent Island program
is not as strong as it was a week ago.
Secretary Baker has made it plain
that Kent Island is the only place
the War Department officials can find
which meets all the requirements for
4 range for the testing of big artil-
lery guns and ammunition. The
United States at the present time is
raising and preparing to equip the
greatest army in its history. 1t is
important, above all things. that the
best OF facilities be given the ord
nance officiai:Sror the testing OF am
munition and guns, as an imperfect
shell or an imperfect gun might cost
many lives in France among the
young men and boys who have been
called upon 20 risk their lives for
their country. This argument will
have great weight in Congress.
We are cOnScripting a million
American young men for an army to
go TO France said an official today.
Those young men have the right to
demand that the best OF guns and
ammunition be furnished them. To
determine the best, we must have
proper testing grounds. Therefore,
Congress will be told that the Kent
Island people should be willing to
make a sacrifice, just as the young
men who go to war are making sac
ritiCeS.'
Two new sites were proposed t.
Senator Smith today. One, sugges-
ted by Gen. Joseph B. Seth, is at
Point Lookout, at the mouth of the
Potomac river Gen. Seth pointed
out that almost unlimited land might
be had there al reasonable figure,
that the water is deep and that rail
road connection with the branch line
of the Baltimore and Potomac Rail
road could be made very easily. He
added that 4 fine State road extends
all the way from Washington to
Point Lookout.
Former Congressman Frank 0.
Smith proposed Cove Point, Calvert
county He referred to the admir-
able location and advantages of this
property. II is five miles from Drum
Point and, like the latter. has no
railroad connections.
According to Secretary Baker how
ever, it is too late TO consider other
sites. He has made his recommen-
dation to Congress in behalf of Kent
Island after having been told by his
advisers that there is no other known