Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-08-16
kent ISLAND PURCHASE
ABSOLUTE NfCESS|TS
Proving Ground on the Island Urged
By War Department
PRICE WILL PUT UP FIGHT
To Garry Claims to Floor Of the House
if Majority Of Committee Re-
ports Item Fayorably

The War Department fecom-
mendation of an appropriation of $3,-
000, 900 for the acquisition of Kent Is
land as a site for proving range TO
be used in testing ammunition and
guns for the army, has begun to re-
ceive consideration on the part of the
House Committee on Appropriations
which is at work on the new War
Budget bill in Congress.
General Crozier and other officials
of the War Department recently pre-
sented reasons why the Government
should be allowed to take over the is
land without delay. Today at o'clock
Representative Jesse ID. Price, with a
small delegation from the island,
| urged the committee to specifically
exempt Kent Island in the new prov
ing range legislation.
While the sessions of the committee
are behind closed doors. it is under
stood the army officers advised the
committee that new proving range is
absolutely necessary if the testing of
guns and ammunition for use of the
American soldiers abroad is to be eX-
pedited They declared that Sandy
Hook is not suitable for this work,
and that it does not provide facilities
for the testing of long range guns and
high explosive shells. They went on
to say that Kent Island is the best site
which can be found east of the Missis-
sippi river, and the needs of the de-
partment at this time make it import
ant that the island be taken over
without delay.
Representative Price will attack the
two grounds. First, he will contend
that another site can be found which
will meet the needs of the War De-
partment as well as Kent Island; sec
ond, he will declare that land as pro-
ductive as Kent Island should not be
taken when unproductive areas can
be found if thorough hunt is made
for a site.
Mr.. Price had at first intended to
attack the proposal on the ground
that it is not needed for the present
purposes of the War Department, but
the letter from General Crozier, tell
ing him the island could be made
ready in a short time after it is ac-
quired, compelled switching of his
line of attack.
1t is known that the Kent Islanders
have some friends on the committee.
These members have stated that they
are opposed to the purchase of Kent
Island because they believe if the
proper effort is made another site can
be located which will not compel so
many people to give up their homes
and will not force the abandonment of
so much fertile farming land Two
members of the subcommittee which
has the War Budget bill in charge
have expressed their opinion along
these lines in private conversations.
Whether or not they have been forced
to abandon their views on the plea of
the army officers that the question is
an emergency one has not developed.
The impression prevails at the Capt.
tol however, that the majority mem
bers of the committee will spport the
War Departments recommendation.
If it does and places the Kent Island
item in the bill. Mr.. Price will carry
his fight to the floor of the House
where he hopes to meet with more
J svmDathy